Volkswagen, now the biggest car producer in the world, is set to start a new partnership with the guys from Suzuki.
Tag Archives: Volkswagen Group
Car of the Week – Volkswagen Golf GTI
The first and the last Golf GTI's - probably 2 of the best from the bloodline.
This week, although a bit late, we have one of those great originals in the Car of the Week section – the VW Golf GTI. This is a car that revolutionised the world of hatchbacks, the very first hot-hatch. The GTI badge has been taken since then by a million companies and all the other tried to emulate the brilliance of the Golf GTI but none of them succeeded.
As it is a bit special this week, we won’t designate a specific Golf generations as the winner but 3: The GTI Mark I, V and VI – all of them brilliant, all of them worthy of the mighty GTI badge. You might wonder why? Why not all of them? Why just these random numbers: 1,5 and 6. Well, let me explain why. First of all, the Golf Mk. I was the original, the very first hot hatchback, one of the fastest cars at its time. It’s just brilliant: practical, good-looking in a subtle kind of way and fast like stink. However the next generations, the 2,3 and 4, all become more civilised and slower, eventually ending no longer as a hot hatchback but just as a normal one with a bit more power. VW got their act together though and the last 2 GTI’s, the 5 and the 6 were absolutely brilliant. Not the fastest anymore, but the best overall. Being the fastest today with cars like the Renault Megane R26.R is very hard while trying to keep practicality, so bear in mind the Renault is a hot-hatch, but transformed into a track day car.
Clean is the word I would use to describe the style of the very first GTI.
The Golf GTI offers you quite literally everything: from tedious practicality to insane speed, all in this decent, quite cheap package. The most amazing thing however is that the Mk. I Golf is one of the longest lasting cars in history having being produced from 1984 to 2009. Yup, until this year they were still making them in South Africa. It’s that good. And the fast, hot version is the best. It handles like a dream as it is quite a small car so weight isn’t a problem. Even though it’s front-wheel drive it’s responsive and accurate and corners neat and flat. Just brilliant. The first one may have been cheap at its time and sold like hot cakes, but it’s already a classic today, and a good one will set you back quite a lot more than you’d think for such a small car. Anyway, this is one of the best cars ever made so it’s definitely worth a shout in our Car of the Week section.
You don’t believe me? Then watch Jeremy Clarkson being seduced by the Golf in this classic video:
Audi says: "We're not a green brand"
Audi’s Rupert Stadler has stated that they will not be trying to position themselves as a green brand like BMW. They will still make efficient cars though.
“We will stick to our Vorsprung Durch Technik philosophy, not have a catch-all marketing claim such as Efficient Dynamics,” said Stadler. “We’re convinced in Vorsprung Durch Technik, we’re a dynamic, sporty brand but not necessarily positioned as a green brand. That will come about as a matter of course.”
“We want to take out weight and want to further diesel and FSI technology. We can still improve fuel consumption. But we will not position Audi as a green car brand – we will fulfil regulations – but we are also an emotional brand.”
Some may bring up the e-tron and say this is marketing lies. But Stadler says otherwise. He says the possibilities of electric cars are interesting, and that they wouldn’t put an electric car on sale unless they were convinced it would give the sort of performance an Audi should.
“We have to optimise performance of electric cars,” he said. “Performance is part of our emotional appeal, so it’s very important.
“Electric power will also give Quattro more possibilities, such as powering the rear axle like in the A1 concept, or four wheels in motors like the E-tron. In fact, we want to launch a production E-tron in small volumes at the end of 2012.”
Speaking of the e-tron, reports are indicating that 1,000 units will be produced, when if it goes into production in 2012.
It’s nice to see that they’re interested in innovation rather than satisfying Greenpeace. Keep it up Audi.
Subaru to Make Rally Comeback
The Japanese manufacturer Subaru has entered next year’s IRC – International Rally Championship. However, they will not register any factory teams but instead will allow privateers running Subaru’s in the championship to score manufacturer points. Alongside Fiat, Honda, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Proton, Skoda and Volkswagen from next year we will be finding Subaru there as well, making them the 8th team in the championship. After their WRC withdrawal, Subaru hasn’t had a factory team in any other rally championship but they now claim that the IRC is the way to go: “The IRC provides an ideal arena to develop our customer competition activities. With approximately 1000 Subaru cars rallying around the world, this is a great opportunity for our customers.” said Subaru’s motor sport director.
There isn’t much else to say really, maybe this “entry” in the IRC is the first step in preparing a factory team for the championship, maybe they want to acquire precious data to set up their street cars better, with the chaotic motor sport climate lately, anything is possible. Anyway, we wish them good luck and a speedy return to the WRC as Subaru is was one good rally team.
VW Jetta Name Confirmed for Small Sedan
It seems like VW will be using the Jetta name for a new compact sedan built in Mexico. Unlike the last Jetta, this one apparently won’t be a Golf with a trunk glued to its bottom but a bespoke car. Given the fact that the Golf Mk 6, the new Polo, and the new Fox look exactly the same, differing only in size, we can surely believe them that the new car will be bespoke indeed. In size. Apparently the new Jetta will arrive in June 2010 but it could get another name in Europe. The car will be first launched in the US and only then prepared for its European debut.
Another possibility for VW is to bring the Polo in the US. As Ford did it with the Fiesta and Mazda with the 2, so bringing the Polo to America sounds like the sensible thing to do as it is a good little car which can easily rival the other two. Whatever the plans of VW, now the biggest car maker in the world, for the US it will be interesting to see what they’ll come up with.
Source: Car and Driver via Autoblog
Next Generation Porsche Cayenne Spotted Almost Undisguised
The next generation Porsche Cayenne has been spotted almost undisguised. By the looks of things, it will remain every bit as hideous.
The car will be adopting a more street focused setup, with bits meant for off-roading being scrapped in favour of a lighter and more responsive car.
More details and pictures will be available when the car is unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.
Source: WorldCarFans
Next Generation Porsche Cayenne Spotted Almost Undisguised
The next generation Porsche Cayenne has been spotted almost undisguised. By the looks of things, it will remain every bit as hideous.
The car will be adopting a more street focused setup, with bits meant for off-roading being scrapped in favour of a lighter and more responsive car.
More details and pictures will be available when the car is unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.
Source: WorldCarFans
Audi A7 to be Launched in Moscow
The Audi A7 (Spy shot above) will likely be launched at the Moscow Motor Show in August 2010.
It will be a rival to the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class. Sources suggest that the car will start at around $46,000.
All models are likely to have range-topping engines and AWD at first, but Audi is still deciding whether four or five seats will be standard.
Source: Autocar
VW New Beetle Final Edition
Apparently the Dodge Viper isn’t the only car we’ll have to say good-bye to soon. The Volkswagen New Beetle will be replaced by a new one soon, and Volkswagen have decided that the Beetle needs a good bye, just like the Viper. So they’ve released a special edition called the Final Edition at the LA Auto Show.
Green Car of the Year – 2010
With the nominees being posted a few hours ago on the blog, it is finally time to reveal the 2010 Green Car of the Year.