Volkswagen Golf 2015 News

We've seen the leaked patent images, the spy shots, and even the almost-ready-for-prime-time concept, but today, we get our first official look at the Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet--the drop-top version of Volkswagen's hottest hatch. With 201kW of power and 350Nm of torque on tap from a turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, 4Motion all-wheel drive, and classically understated Golf looks, the Cabriolet is sure to be one quick little convertible. But does it make sense for the enthusiast? Perhaps. The Golf R in America is crippled by an always-on traction control system that has annoyed owners since its launch. The Golf R's European owners don't have to deal with this lawyerly bit of intrusion into the driving experience. Fortunately, some enthusiasts have found ways to circumvent the system by hacking the ABS code--though VW of America still hasn't come forward with an official resolution. With that in mind, Golf Rs of any flavor are likely to see little in the way of serious track duty, so why not cut the top off and make one fast and furious little cabrio? It will still be blisteringly quick, likely hitting 100km/h in well under six seconds. And as our experience with MX-5s and R8s has shown, taking the top off almost always results in more fun, even if it's not the quickest way to do things. Look for more official information and details soon. www.motorauthority.com

The hot new hatch doesn't look at all menacing on the Volkswagen stand at the Paris show, where it only wears a 'concept' label, but a big change is coming. There will be two models of GTI for the first time in 2013. Even the cooking Golf has been upgraded to the level of the outgoing Golf R, with 350 Newton-metres of torque and a 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.6 seconds. It also has a handy 162 kiloWatts of power to feed to the front wheels through its six-speed manual and DSG gearboxes. But wait, there's more. Volkswagen has developed a Performance Pack that lifts output from the 2.-litre petrol engine, with turbocharging and direct fuel injection, to 169 kiloWatts. The 0-100km/h time comes down just fractionally to 6.5 seconds. But the big changes are in the driveline, where the PP GTI gets bigger disc brakes and a mechanical limited-slip differential. “We're looking at both models,” the spokesman for Volkswagen Group Australia, Karl Gehling, confirms to Carsguide. He hints that both are likely to make the trip, although not until the back end of 2013. “It will be late next year. It's not launched in Europe until the middle of next year.” There is no hint yet on GTI pricing, although the current model is priced from $38,990 as a three-door hatch and $49,490 with five doors. Despite the performance push, Volkswagen says the new GTI will also be the greenest car to wear the tag. Both GTI versions come with a stop-start system and satisfy the upcoming Euro 6 emissions standard, with fuel economy but by 18 per cent to as good as 9.65 litres/100km and CO2 emissions of 140 grams/kilometres. Both cars also come with variable-ratio steering and a flat-bottomed wheel for the driver. The package for the new car is slotted into the seventh-generation Golf body, which means reduced weight, anti-collision system and a high-end infotainment system. But it also gets predictable GTI tweaks including red-painted brake callipers, chromed 80-millimetre exhaust tips and smoked LED tail lamps. The Paris show car also has cloth tartan seats and a golf ball gear knob, although these are not likely to be standard in the production model.  As well as causing double trouble for shoppers forced to make a choice, the new GTI has the potential for mayhem in showrooms. The waiting time in Australia for the previous-generation GTI blew out to more than 18 months when the car first arrived and Gehling cannot promise any better in 2013. “We'll have to wait and see. With any new model there is likely to be a waiting list if demand exceeds supply,” he says.  

The hot hatch hero is being previewed at the Paris motor show today as the regular seventh-generation Golf closes on showrooms.Carsguide drives the Golf for the first time next week and will have a drive report as the engine is cooling in Corsica.The GTi has been a huge star in Australia and the previous model created a waiting list that stretched for more than 18 months during the early part of its reign.The MK7 GTi is only being called a concept in Paris but it's a car that looks ready to go, based on leaked pictures on the eve of the show opening.Without official confirmation, it appears the GTi will have around 160 kiloWatts from a turbocharged 2-litre engine coupled to six-speed manual and DSG gearboxes.Visually, the car has big alloys, red brake callipers, twin tailpipes, a rear diffuser and small spoiler at the back of the roof.More detail as it comes to hand.

The first Volkswagen Golf GTI in 1976 had a kerb weight of 810kg, but over the past 36 years it has stacked on 570kg and now weighs in at 1380kg. The GTI of today is a far cry from the tiny pared three-door that spearheaded the nameplate. But Volkswagen is working on a limited edition that will retain all the technology but get 200kg closer to the lighter weight of its ancestor - and the extra agility promised with that. The Volkswagen Golf GTI Carbon will - logically, with that name - rely on carbon-fibre for the bonnet and roof, with the latter a strong laminate wrapping a steel core, according to a report by Autocar in the UK. Aluminium will also be put to work to lighten the rear floor pan, front bulkhead and windscreen frame - with the part-alloy platform destined to be used in future hybrid and electric versions of the Golf. The Golf GTI Carbon is likely to be powered by the same 165kW 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine tipped to be under the bonnet of the standard GTI in the coming Mk 7 line-up next year. 

The tweaked Cabrio shows there is still plenty of life in the existing Golf body... ...even though the all-new hatch is little more than a month away.

Volkswagen's Golf R races on a closed course as a driver competes against speed Rubik's cube specialist, Anthony Brooks. The VW driver of the Golf R has to complete one lap around track before Anthony Brooks solves his Rubik's cube one-handed.  

... when the soft-top models go on sale later this year.VW teased fans at this week's 30th annual Worthersee car show in Austria with "concepts" of the two cars that look ready to roll off the production line tomorrow.They were joined on the massive VW stand by what the 30,000 devotees of VW Group products, and specifically the GTI, had hoped to see, a 35th anniversay model fitted with the 2-litre direct-injection engine usually found under the bonnet of the Golf R.That gives the Golf GTI Edition 35 an 18kW lift over regular GTIs to 173kW, while torque is up from 280Nm to 300Nm.VW said the car will use 8.0 litres of fuel for 100km with either the six-speed manual or six-speed DSG twin-clutch automatic transmissions and a 0-100km/h time of 6.6 seconds.Externally the special edition GTI runs unique 18-inch wheels, a revised front spoiler with winglets on the lower edges to improve airflow and black mirror housings. Inside the "golf ball" gearshift knob recreates the look of the first generation GTI and both the door sill plates and front headrests carry a "35" logo.VW Australia spokesman Karl Gehling said limited numbers of the special edition will make it Down Under. He touted the company line that the cabrios were purely “concepts” but admitted there will be a receptive audience for the roofless performance pair."The GTI has always been the halo car in the Golf range and I’d expect the cabrio versions to have the same impact," Gehling said.VW Group stablemates Audi and Skoda also previewed one-off concepts in the form of a track-ready A1 Clubsport quattro and a vRS 2000 speedster respectively.The 370kW/660Nm A1 uses a wildly worked version of the the 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo engine found in the TT RS. It also inherits the TT’s six-speed manual gearbox and quattro all-wheel drive system. That gives the A1 quattro a 0-100km/h time of 3.7 seconds, helped by the removal of most of the interior features from the sound system to the rear seat.The Skoda concept is based on the Fabria RS hatch, but engineers lopped off the roof, widened the track to match the Skoda S2000 rally car and created a glasshouse that slopes down to the rear to give the car a slick, clean look. Unlike the VW “concepts” the Audi and Skoda models aren’t expected to make it to showrooms.

Volkswagen Australia has confirmed it will draft in a new player to sit at the bottom of its Golf line-up and significantly undercut the current entry level model that starts off at $24,990.  Neither of these prices include on-road costs. The new bargain model, called the 77 TSI, will run a 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine producing 77kW and 175Nm of torque.  It slips in $3000 below the 90 TSI petrol turbo model and has much of the same equipment but misses out on cruise control, a multi-function steering wheel and also runs steel rims instead of alloy wheels. The new model might be cheaper but it will still have crucial safety gear including seven airbags and electronic stability control.  It runs a five-speed manual as the standard transmission, while a seven speed dual-clutch automatic is a $2500 option.  The 77 TSI is already sold in several European markets and is also popular in England, where small economical engines are the top sellers. VW has already introduced the 77 TSI engine with the Polo baby car and says it has received good feedback.  Volkswagen Australia managing director Anne Koeckler says the new entry level model will extend the appeal of the new model. "It allows us to target new customers who wanted to have a Golf but couldn't afford it," she says.  The Golf is the first volume pillar and to make sure it is the volume pillar into the future into the future we started the shift to get it in the sweet spot." The most popular Golf in the range is the 103 TDI turbo diesel model and Ms Koeckler that is not likely to change for some time. However she would not provide any estimation of the sales the new 77 TSI model could achieve. The new entry level Golf is a key part of VW Australia's plans to dramatically boost its sales in line with Volkswagen's plan to be the top selling brand in the world by 2018.  "We will not discuss our internal target," Ms Koeckler says. "You can assume we have the opportunity to double our volumes from where we are right now and go further. With all the new products that are coming next year we have a lot of opportunity." So far, VW Australia is planning on launching the Amaraok one-tonne ute, the next generation Passat and the new Touareg next year.  It will also introduce the super efficient Bluemotion Golf model and roll out fuel saving Bluemotion technology on some other models.

The new European star is doing big things in Australia off the back of impressive quality, comfort and driving enjoyment.

When the doors open on the ‘project lab’ it looks like you’re going to be treated to a bit of computer-generated artwork. But in fact the track, the cars – and every possible outcome – have been filmed for real. When you crash, expect the project engineer’s giant hand to come in and pick you back up. If you get a time of less than 40 seconds (and live in the UK) you’re in the running to win a three-month visit from a Golf VI GTI. If you live anywhere else, just have fun with it. Play the GTI Project race