By the time the Avanti was introduced in 1962, the once competitive Studebaker was steadily and quickly approaching its last legs. The Avanti’s basic shape and concept, on the other hand, were produced until 2006.

The basic sketch was allegedly made on the middle of a flight by the newly-in-charge Sherwood Egbert. After some perfecting it was launched on April 26th, 1962.

Not much needs to be said about the design, it is unbelievably pretty and in my opinion could hold a candle against the Citroen SM. Unfortunately, there was a problem: fiberglass.

There was simply no end to the problems Studebaker had with the fiberglass body of the Avanti. Oddly enough though, the plant that was chosen to make the bodywork was the same one that did the Corvette, a car the Avanti was supposed to take on.

It lasted just a year before it was axed, with the tooling sold to the local Avanti dealerships. And then, the Avanti II was born.

Similar as it was to its predecessor, it was made from leftover Studebaker chassis’, but now they were hand built and, ironically, powered by a Corvette engine.

In 1982, it was bought up by a real estate developer, who stuffed square headlamps on the car, dropped the “II”, and called it a day. But the company folded in 1986. Enter Michael Kelly. Mostly known by the FBI for screwing innocent, elderly people out of their retirement funds. He bought Avanti, redesigned it, and placed it on a Chevy Monte Carlo platform. It was no longer the nice car of the 60′s, it couldn’t even hold a candle to it.

Somehow it managed to run until 2006, when Kelly was arrested. Truth be told, however, it was probably a mercy kill. So there you have it: our latest Car of the Week, and a textbook example on how things can go horribly wrong.

Image Credits (From top to bottom):

Image 1: Wikimedia Commons

Image 2: Adam Minter | CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Image 3: Wikimedia Commons

Image 4: Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 2.0

Why Teijin Limited? Well, the company has worked out a technology called carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP), which allows components to be produced with cycle times of less than a minute. This is a much faster cycle than traditional carbon fibre composites, allowing for quicker, and hopefully cheaper, production.

These advantages make the composite a much better candidate for use in mass-produced cars. And in a day and age where fuel economy has become so important, the decreased weight of carbon fibre would be very beneficial (And it looks cool unpainted).

Press Release

Advanced Carbon Fiber Nears Broad Automotive Use

2011-12-08

• GM and Teijin will co-develop technology to reduce vehicle weight, improve fuel economy
• Teijin to open U.S. technical center to facilitate collaborative development

DETROIT – General Motors and Teijin Limited., a leader in the carbon fiber and composites industry, will co-develop advanced carbon fiber composite technologies for potential high-volume use globally in GM cars, trucks and crossovers.

The co-development pact signed today involves use of Teijin’s innovative carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) technology, a faster and more efficient way to produce carbon fiber composites that potentially could be introduced on mainstream vehicles. For Teijin, the arrangement could lead to widening its portfolio beyond specialty and high-end automotive carbon fiber applications.

“Our relationship with Teijin provides the opportunity to revolutionize the way carbon fiber is used in the automotive industry,” said GM Vice Chairman Steve Girsky. “This technology holds the potential to be an industry game changer and demonstrates GM’s long-standing commitment to innovation.”

To support the relationship, Teijin will establish the Teijin Composites Application Center, a technical center in the northern part of the United States early next year.

As carbon fiber is 10 times stronger than regular-grade steel yet only one-quarter of the weight, carbon fiber composites used as automobile components are expected to dramatically reduce vehicle weight. Consumers benefit from lighter weight vehicles with better fuel economy and all the safety benefits that come with vehicles of greater mass.

Teijin’s proprietary breakthrough is its ability to mass-produce carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic components with cycle times of under a minute. Conventional carbon fiber-reinforced composites use thermosetting resins and require a much longer timeframe for molding.  This time factor has limited the use of carbon fiber in high-volume vehicles.

Teijin recently received a 2011 Global Automotive Carbon Composites Technology Innovation Award by Frost & Sullivan. The technology also was selected by ICIS Innovation Awards 2011 as the overall winner and the recipient of the Best Product Innovation award.

Increasingly, strict global environmental standards and fuel economy regulations have intensified the need to reduce vehicle mass by using lightweight materials in place of high-tension steel or aluminum.

The Teijin Group, which has identified automobiles as a key growth market, accelerated the new technology development through collaboration by the Teijin Composites Innovation Center and Toho Tenax Co. Ltd., where the mass-production technology for carbon fiber reinforced plastic components using thermoplastic resin was successfully developed.

“Teijin’s innovative CFRTP technology, which promises to realize revolutionarily lighter automotive body structures, will play an important role in GM’s initiative to bring carbon fiber components into mainstream vehicles,” said Norio Kamei, senior managing director of Teijin. “We believe our visionary relationship with GM will lead the way in increased usage of green composites in the automotive industry.”

The launch of any carbon fiber-intensive vehicle applications resulting from the relationship would be announced closer to market readiness. The agreement does not involve an exchange of equity between the companies.

About General Motors – General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world’s largest and fastest-growing automotive markets.  GM’s brands include Chevrolet and Cadillac, as well as Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

About the Teijin Group – Teijin is a global technology-driven group operating in eight main fields: aramid fibers, carbon fibers & composites, polyester fibers, plastics, films, medical & pharmaceuticals, fiber products marketing and IT businesses. Teijin Limited, the holding company for the Teijin Group, is listed on the Tokyo and Osaka stock exchanges. The group, comprising 150 companies and 17,542 employees worldwide, had consolidated sales of JPY 815.7 billion (USD 10.6 billion) and total assets of JPY 761.5 billion (USD 9.9 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011. http://www.teijin.co.jp/english

Source: General Motors

Since this is just a teaser, not much at all is known about the Mugello. All we know is that it will be a mid-engined supercar. We can, however, see some very odd-looking bodywork, with plenty of air intakes, and a lot of LED lights at the front and rear. It doesn’t seem to be a very good first impression, but we’ll be awaiting further details.

Source: WorldCarFans

The engine in question is said to be a turbocharged version of the FA20 flat-four seen in the Subaru BRZ. In addition to the power boost, it should bring improved fuel economy to the WRX as well. The current car is rated at 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, while the naturally-aspirated FA20 brings 30 highway mpg to the table.

While there’s no word on when we can expect to see the next WRX hit showroom floors, Subaru’s product cycle timing of the past points towards a 2012 launch, as a 2013 model.

Source: Motor Trend

At first glance, not much appears to have changed, save for the lightweight, gloss black alloy wheels from RAYS. But on closer inspection, you can see that Nissan has added brake cooling ducts to the front bumper, which they claim can reduce front brake temperature by as much as 100 degrees during track use, helping to improve braking (Although they did not specify whether that is in Celsius or Fahrenheit). While they can’t be seen, similar ducts have been added to cool to rear brakes as well.

The car’s suspension has also been revised, with spring rates improved for track use. The dampers are adjustable however, and can be retuned by the owner for more comfort – provided that they know what they’re doing. The engine, however, remains untouched, continuing to produce the standard 550 horsepower.

On the interior, Nissan has trimmed the Recaro front seats with blue bolsters, and a high-grip material to keep the driver in place while indulging in some spirited driving. And the rear seats? Scrapped to shed weight of course. As a finishing touch, a ‘Track Pack’ emblem has been placed on the centre console.

It’s shaping up to be a nice package for track rats. But the price? A rather hefty 10,000 GBP, or over $15,000. And even if that doesn’t stop you, there’s no word if it’s going to be available anywhere but the UK.

Press Release

GT-R GETS HARDER WITH TRACK PACK

• Model Year 2012 line-up includes new track-focused edition
• Features designed to improve lap times
• Fully road legal, available to order now

The 2012 Nissan GT-R may well be one of the fastest cars in the world, but its owners are the most demanding in the world. So Nissan has developed a new version of the GT-R for drivers who want an extra edge on the race track.

Called ‘Track Pack’, this new version of the GT-R offers a harder edge and yet remains fully road legal.

Externally the Track Pack is easily identified by lightweight six-spoke RAYS alloys with gloss black painted centres.

The brakes behind these are cooled by additional cooling ducts built into the front bumper. These reduce the operating temperature of the front brake discs by as much as 100 degrees during track use, improving the stopping performance. Similar ducts, hidden behind the rear wheels, channel cooling air over the rear discs.

To reflect this GT-R’s harder edge, the suspension’s spring rates have been revised to be optimal for track use. Like all GT-Rs though, the dampers are adjustable to offer more comfort when the car is being used on the road.

Internally, Recaro front seats are trimmed with blue bolsters and an innovative high grip material to help keep the driver in place during hard cornering and braking. The rear seats have been removed to save weight. A ‘Track Pack’ emblem on the centre console identifies this model as a special GT-R.

The engine retains the same specification as the ‘regular’ 2012 model GT-R, which means 550PS of power. The 0-60 mph time is just 2.7 seconds.

The Track Pack adds £10,000 to the £74,450 list price of the standard MY2012 GT-R, making it £84,450.

Orders for all 2012 GT-R’s can now be taken at any one of the 21 Nissan High Performance Centres around the UK. The first deliveries are expected in March 2012.

Source: Nissan

The list this year is as follows:

• 3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 (Audi A6)
• 2.0L N20 Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (BMW Z4/528i)
• 3.0L N55 Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (BMW 335i coupe)
• 3.6L Pentastar DOHC V-6 (Chrysler 300S/Jeep Wrangler)
• 2.0L EcoBoost DOHC I-4 (Ford Edge)
• 5.0L DOHC V-8 (Ford Mustang Boss 302)
• 2.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Buick Regal GS)
• 1.6L DOHC I-4 (Hyundai Accent/Kia Soul)
• 2.0L Skyactiv DOHC I-4 (Mazda3)
• 3.5L DOHC V-6 HEV (Infiniti M35h)

With the pressure of increased fuel economy hitting the industry hard, the majority of the engines in the list are indeed quite small, save for the Ford 5.0, and just three of the engines are not equipped with direct injection. Despite the struggles for fuel economy however, the powerplants on the list are still capable of having some good old-fashioned fun. The list lacks any workhorses though, with no truck engines making the list. But hey, there’s always next year.

Source: Ward’s Auto

The fuel injector pulses could coincide with the natural frequency of injector line number 2, creating additional stress in the fuel line. The added stress could lead to cracks in the line, which would leak fuel and create the potential for a fire.

The affected models are as follows: 2009-2012 Volkswagen Jetta and Jetta Sportwagen, 2010-2012 Volkswagen Golf, and 2010-2012 Audi A3, all equipped with Volkswagen’s 2.0L TDI engine.

To resolve the issue, Volkswagen will be fitting an improved fuel injector line on cylinder 2, as well as vibration dampers for all injector lines, all free of charge. Owner notifications begin to go out in November.

Press Release

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):      AUDI / A3 2010-2012      VOLKSWAGEN / GOLF 2010-2012      VOLKSWAGEN / JETTA 2009-2012      VOLKSWAGEN / JETTA SPORTWAGEN 2009-2012 Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC Mfr’s Report Date: SEP 30, 2011 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 11V490000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A

Component: FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

Potential Number of Units Affected: 168,275

Summary: VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL 2009-2012 JETTA AND JETTA SPORTWAGEN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2008 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 AUDI A3 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L TDI COMMON RAIL DIESEL ENGINE/CLEAN DIESEL ENGINE. THE FUEL INJECTION PULSES COULD COINCIDE WITH THE NATURAL FREQUENCY OF THE INJECTOR LINE #2, IN SPECIFIC LOAD AND RPM CONDITIONS. THIS RESONANCE CREATES ADDITIONAL STRESS IN THE FUEL LINE.

Consequence: DUE TO THE RESONANCE CONDITION, INJECTOR LINE NUMBER 2 COULD DEVELOP SMALL CRACKS WHICH COULD LEAD TO FUEL LEAKAGE. LEAKING FUEL IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED FUEL INJECTOR LINE FOR THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER AND WILL INSTALL VIBRATION DAMPERS ON ALL OF THE INJECTOR LINES. VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS TO HAVE THE VEHICLES REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Notes: VOLKSWAGEN RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 23J9/V5. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Source: NHTSA

These issues include condensation in the headlamps, door operation, or rather lack of, and a battery-draining problem. On a relative scale they are indeed minor, but last I checked, the ability to open your car door was necessary to, you know, drive it.

Nonetheless, at least McLaren has recognized the issues and is currently working on getting them fixed. They also claim that not all delivered models have been affected. However, the 179 North American units on order will be delayed by two to three weeks while McLaren sorts everything out, but dealership demonstration vehicles are expected to be delivered to the US as scheduled.

Source: AutoWeek

The Transits are expected to begin rolling off the line by 2013. However, they may be sold under a different nameplate here in North America. Ford recently filed trademark applications for the T-250, T-450, and T-550 nameplates. The trademark application claims they will be used for “motor vehicles, namely, vans and cutaway van chassis, and their structural parts; exterior insignia badges for motor vehicles.” This seems to indicate that the Transit could wear the T-Series moniker here instead. Such a name would also help avoid confusion with the smaller Transit Connect.

While Ford has not given a direct confirmation, a spokesperson has said that both the E-Series and the Transit will be part of their “global vehicle-platform approach,” the driving force behind the global Fiesta and Focus. Moreover, the spokesperson claims Ford “fully recognizes that today’s E-Series customers in North America have differing needs from Transit buyers in Europe, Asia, and other markets.” This suggests that the Transit will be treated to some tweaks before hitting showroom floors in North America.

Now if only we could be treated to a SportVan like the one at the beginning of this article, I think we’d all be happy campers.

Source: UAW via Car and Driver

Volkswagen has finally released pricing for the US-spec Golf R, nearly a year after we found out the car would be coming to these shores. The range-topping Golf will set you back a rather pricey $33,990, excluding destination.

For that money, you’ll get the two-door model, powered by a turbocharged 2.0L inline-four engine developing 256 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. That power is sent through a six-speed manual to the Haldex all-wheel-drive system. The whole setup will return an estimated 19 miles per gallon in the city, and 27 mpg on the highway. You’ll also get a fair bit of equipment, including dual-zone climate control, Bi-Xenon headlamps, loads of leather, an eight-speaker sound system, and Bluetooth connectivity.

If that’s not enough for you though, you can spend $35,490 to add a sunroof, keyless entry, touchscreen navigation, and an upgraded sound system. And if you want four doors, you’ll have to opt for the $36,090 range-topping model, which includes all the aforementioned goodies, just with the additional rear doors.

While the car sounds like a great package, the price tag is indeed quite over the top for a hot hatch, and represents a roughly $10,000 jump from the Golf GTI which it slots above. Would you be willing to pay the premium for this range-topper?

Press Release

VOLKSWAGEN ANNOUNCES PRICING FOR THE NEW GOLF R: $33,990 FOR THE TWO-DOOR MODEL

With 256 horsepower, the Golf R is the most powerful VW sports performance vehicle ever sold in the U.S.—and Volkswagen’s new performance icon is now available in two- and four-doors

 

• • Well-equipped two-door model starts at $33,990
• • Sunroof and Navigation models have MSRPs of $35,490 (two-door) and $36,090 (four-door)
• • Most powerful Golf production engine to be sold in the U.S.
• • Six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive standard
• • Predicted fuel economy of 19 mpg city, 27 mpg highway
• • Bi-Xenon headlights and LED DRLs standard on all models
• • On-sale early 2012 as a 2012 model, in both two- and four-door versions

 

Herndon, VA – Intelligent downsizing. That’s what the new Golf R represents. The heir to the 2004 and 2008 Golf R32 models, the new R manages to have more power, more performance, and consume less gasoline than its illustrious iconic performance forebears. And it offers all this for just $33,990, plus destination, for the two-door Golf R model.

Whereas the R32 models used 3.2-liter VR6 engines, the new Golf R is fitted with a high-output version of the award-winning turbocharged 2.0-liter TSI® engine. This engine makes 256 horsepower, six more than the VR6 fitted into the 2008 R32. As well as offering more power and performance, the Golf R is also more economical, with manufacturer estimated fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway compared with EPA estimated mileage of 18 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway for the prior model.

Like the previous R32 models, the Golf R is equipped with Volkswagen’s 4Motion® all-wheel-drive system: the latest generation of this system can divert up to 100 percent of the torque to the rear wheels, if needed. All Golf R models sold in the U.S will be equipped with a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission. For the first time, the Golf R will be available in two- and four-door guises as well as in two trim levels: well-equipped Golf R and luxurious Golf R with Sunroof and Navigation.

 

Exterior

The Golf R is a refined vehicle that’s marked by clean, minimalist lines that are mixed with sharp, intricate detailing. The style is sleek and contemporary, yet timeless and elegant.

The changes made for the Golf R are subtle yet striking, in keeping with the car’s mission of providing sophisticated and understated performance. Up front, there’s a new bumper that incorporates LED daytime running lights and three large black air intakes that help cool the engine. The radiator grille is finished in gloss black and features an “R” logo that sets the front of the car apart from the rest of the Golf range. Unique Bi-Xenon headlamps that are framed in black also have the Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), whereby the lights turn with the steering wheel, up to a maximum of 15 degrees, to provide better visibility around bends.

The car’s streamlined profile continues toward the rear, with a pair of subtly flared side skirts running along the lower edge of the body. The new 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels expose gloss-black-painted brake calipers that incorporate the “R” logo; the exterior mirrors also have a gloss-black finish.

There’s further differentiation at the back of the R, where a new rear bumper was needed to accommodate the central twin pipes for the exhaust system, similar to the tailpipes fitted on the original 2004 R32. The bumper also features a gloss-black diffuser. The back end is highlighted by a slightly larger tail spoiler than that of the GTI and a subtle “R” badge. The R is available in five colors: Rising Blue, Candy White, Carbon Steel Gray, Black, and Tornado Red.

Interior

Just like the exterior, the interior has been enhanced to make it even more purposeful and demonstrate its role at the apex of the Golf range.

On opening the door, the driver and passenger will note aluminum “R” kickplates on the sills, before sliding into deep bucket seats. These are adorned with an “R” logo on the head restraint and are upholstered in supple leather.

The squared-off steering wheel is also swathed in leather, with gloss-black-finished spokes that carry through from the exterior design. Other R-specific features include: blue pointers for the instruments; the shifter knob with an “R” motif; aluminum trim for the dashboard and doors; and aluminum pedals.

The Golf R comes extremely well equipped, even in base form. Fully automatic dual-zone climate control is standard, along with a multifunction steering wheel, Premium VIII audio with eight speakers, aux-in, a Media Device Interface with iPod® connectivity, and Bluetooth®. The Golf R with Sunroof and Navigation adds the RNS 315 touchscreen navigation system; a 300-watt Dynaudio® sound system; a sunroof; and Keyless Entry with push-button start.

Just like the rest of the Golf range, the R is practical and versatile. The high-lifting tailgate provides easy ingress and egress to a load area that offers 15.3 cubic feet of space. And with the folding rear seat back split 60/40—and featuring a pass-through—there’s real flexibility for load carrying.

Engine and Transmission

The Golf R is fitted with the most powerful Golf production engine ever seen in the U.S. The car uses an updated version of the EA113 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, rather than the EA888 engine used in the current GTI. Like the EA888, the EA113 uses direct fuel injection and double overhead camshafts with variable intake timing. Because the Golf R develops more power and torque than the GTI—256 horsepower and 243 lb-ft compared with 200 hp and 207 lb-ft—a number of changes have been made. The cylinder block is reinforced, stronger connecting rods are fitted, and a BorgWarner K04 turbocharger is used, boosting at up to 17 psi. With manufacturer estimated fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, this is the most fuel-efficient Golf R model ever sold in the U.S.

The Golf R is offered with a slick shifting, close-ratio six-speed manual transmission that features a magnesium selector housing and cable operation with very short lever movements. The latest-generation 4Motion all-wheel drive is also standard on the Golf R. This system uses a Haldex® clutch pack that continuously varies the amount of torque sent to the rear wheels, depending on whether slippage is detected at the front. In normal driving, the Golf R acts like a front-wheel-drive machine, which has benefits for fuel economy. However, if needed, up to 100 percent of the torque can be directed to the rear wheels for traction on more challenging surfaces.

Suspension

The Golf R has unique calibration for its suspension, even compared with the GTI. At the front, it uses a damper-strut layout with lower control arms and a stiff, tubular anti-roll bar that combine to help keep the front tires planted during hard cornering, reducing body roll and heightening steering feedback.

At the back, there’s a compact multilink independent layout that features coil springs, telescopic dampers, and an anti-roll bar. The four-link layout features three lateral control arms—the spring mounting, the track rod and upper control arm, and a trailing link at each wheel. Suspension assemblies are attached by way of a rear-axle subframe and, as at the front, rubber and metal mountings that are soft in torsion but stiff radially are used to help ensure the anti-roll bar responds immediately and suppresses body roll effectively.

The spring and damper units are located separately on each side of the car at the rear, with the coil spring bearing directly on the trailing link and the damper attached to the wheel hub assembly. This enables the suspension geometry on the compression stroke to generate a toe steering effect that maintains neutral behavior, or some slight understeer, in all driving and load-carrying situations. It also helps ensure excellent driving stability on rough, uneven road surfaces. Stylish 18-inch-diameter aluminum-alloy wheels are shod with 225/40 all-season performance tires.

Steering and Brakes

The Golf R uses a third-generation electro-mechanical power steering system that is able to vary the feel of the steering to suit the speed and driving situation. It is firm and direct when driving at highway speeds, requiring less effort at parking speeds. Other advantages of the system include its mild self-centering action, and its ability to help compensate for driving hazards like crosswinds and steep road cambers. In the Golf R, the steering ratio is quicker than the GTI’s for an even sportier on-road feel.

The brakes were modified to cope with the Golf R’s higher level of performance as compared to the GTI. Golf R gets vented 13.6-inch-diameter front and 12.2-inch rear discs, up from the GTI’s 12.3-inch-diameter vented front and 10.7-inch solid rear discs. Naturally, anti-lock brakes (ABS) are standard, along with electronic brake pressure distribution (EBS) and hydraulic brake assist (HBA). The latest version of HBA is able to discern whether the braking is “normal” or an emergency according to the speed with which the pedal is depressed. In the event of an emergency, HBA helps increase the brake pressure and activates the ABS.

 

Safety and Security

The 2012 Golf R comes with an array of standard safety features. For driving security, enhancements include Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR), and an Electronic Differential Lock (EDL). A hill holder function automatically applies the parking brake when the vehicle comes to rest and the brake is depressed in traffic, preventing the car from rolling backwards or forwards. The brake is released once the driver presses the accelerator pedal. This is especially useful in slow traffic on long inclines.

Should the car be involved in a crash, the occupants are protected by driver and passenger front and front side thorax airbags together with Side Curtain Protection® head airbags for front and rear passengers. Volkswagen’s advanced Intelligent Crash Response System shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors, and even switches on the hazard lights if the car is involved in certain types of collisions.

Like all 2012 Volkswagen models, the Golf R is covered under the no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program. All scheduled maintenance is covered for the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty—three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

 

Model Line-up

The base Golf R is a sophisticated and luxurious performance car, with a high level of standard equipment.

Golf R

Starting at $33,990, the two-door Golf R comes equipped with Bi-Xenon headlights; dual-zone Climatronic® air conditioning; cruise control; leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel; power windows with auto up/down function; leather seating surfaces; 60/40-split folding rear seat with pass through; aluminum pedals; a leather shifter knob and brake lever; and Bluetooth® technology. The eight-speaker sound system has an in-dash six-CD changer, AM/FM/SiriusXM™ Satellite Radio, and auxiliary input jack along with an iPod® adapter.

Golf R with Sunroof and Navigation

Starting at $35,490 for the two-door model, this adds: a power tilt-and-slide sunroof; Keyless Entry with push-button start; the RNS 315 touchscreen navigation system; and the eight-channel 300-watt Dynaudio® premium sound system.

About Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Beetle, Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan vehicles through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. All 2012 Volkswagen models come standard-equipped with Electronic Stability Control. This is important because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has called ESC the most effective new vehicle safety technology since the safety belt. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.

Source: Volkswagen