The GTI meeting at Worthersee is a veritable cult and pure automobile passion. Just like the car everybody is celebrating and driving there. There ought to be 150,000 fans showing up again in 2013. From 8 through 11 May 2013, they will turn the Austrian city of Reifnitz into a Mecca of the GTI scene. Traditional highlight: the world premiere of a concept car conceived by Volkswagen engineers and designers especially for the meeting. This year, it is a visionary GTI for car racing—the “Design Vision GTI.” An unmatched 370 kW / 503 PS Golf. The progressive design study is based on the seventh-generation GTI that was launched just now in Europe, transferring the design and power potential of the icon to the world of car racing. Visually, particularly intriguing: The design team under the aegis of Klaus Bischoff (Head of Design of Volkswagen Brand) has drawn the C pillars and side sills outward as autonomous body elements, thus creating space for substantially enlarged track widths and specially developed 20-inch wheels (with 235 tires in the front, 275 tires in the rear). The “Design Vision GTI” achieves 300 km/h, and despite extreme modifications, it comes across as very homogeneous thanks to the precise styling based on the Volkswagen design DNA: this “Super-GTI” could start tomorrow in a racing series! Continue reading ‘Worthersee 2013: +500hp VW Design Vision GTI’
For at least a decade now the “R” model identifier has referred to the most powerful Volkswagen cars in the compact class. So far, they have always been cars with solid steel roofs and some with sliding sunroofs. Now, Volkswagen is introducing an open-top R model for the first time: the new Golf R Cabriolet. This sports car will be delivered to customers by spring 2013; and these early purchasers will be driving the most powerful and fastest Golf Cabriolet cars ever. Continue reading ‘Volkswagen introduces Golf R Cabriolet’
The reigning APR Volkswagen Racing Cup Champion, James Walker, has announced that he will not be returning to defend his crown. However, his old team, KPM, is to field a multi-car squad and has every hope of scoring another championship victory.
Walker, 26, is to take a year out of racing to concentrate on the family haulage business and to get married. He hopes, however, to fit in a race or two in the family Golf GTI, in which his father, Richard, and other relatives are planning to compete. “I’ll be sorry not to be out there for a full season,” said James, “but I fully intend to return to the track with a proper campaign in 2014.” Continue reading ‘KPM aims for more Volkswagen Racing Cup wins, but without Walker’
Volkswagen of America, Inc. announces its most comprehensive product portfolio ever. Leading the product offensive is the 2012 Beetle which will initially be offered in 2.5L and 2.0L forms, with a TDI® Clean Diesel becoming available in 2012. The 2012 Passat is a compelling mid-sized sedan that is pitched at the heart of this ultra-competitive market. It offers class-leading rear-seat legroom, German-engineered ride and handling, and the only available TDI® Clean Diesel in its class; when equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, this offers an EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 43 mpg on the highway and a range of 795 miles. Continue reading ‘Volkswagen Reveals Most Complete U.S. Product Line Ever For Model Year 2012′
Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced the launch of the Vehicle Pre-Order (VPO) program, an easy-to-use online reservation process for consumers. The pre-order system is designed to allow consumers to be the first in line to reserve one of a limited quantity of certain Volkswagen cars, starting with the all-new 21st Century Beetle. Continue reading ‘Pre-Order your Special Edition 2012 Beetle’
Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced pricing for the 21st Century Beetle, the third generation of the classic people’s car. The new Beetle will start at just $18,995, offering an agile, driver-oriented coupe that respects the Beetle’s past yet looks to the future.
The 21st Century Beetle is an automotive icon reinvented, a nod to the heritage and character of Volkswagen and our remarkable history, said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. This new interpretation of the original Beetle holds true to the traditional spirit of the car, with all the benefits of modern technologies and efficiencies. Continue reading ‘Volkswagen Beetle pricing to start at $18,995′
35 years of the Golf GTI! Volkswagen is celebrating the anniversary of this icon with the new Golf GTI Edition 35. 173 kW / 235 PS of power (25 PS more than the normal GTI) and a fast 247 km/h top speed; 6 kg/PS power density. It will be a collector’s item from day one – arriving right on the 35th anniversary of the GTI legend. Back in the summer of 1976 – when the very first production GTI was launched – no one ever would have surmised what Volkswagen had just unleashed. No one. Not even Volkswagen itself. Some things simply cannot be planned – icons included. And so the first Golf GTI surprised everyone: buyers, competitors, the carmaker and – on the Autobahn – all those drivers of other sports cars and luxury saloons who had never heard of such a thing from Volkswagen, but were now being passed by it. Since then, the GTI advanced to become the most successful compact sports car in automotive history. 5,000 GTIs were planned – yet the GTI of our day is irrepressibly approaching the production milestone of 2 million units built! Continue reading ‘World debut of the Golf GTI Edition 35 at Worthersee’
Put the car roof down and bring on the summer! Now, it will once again be: Put the Golf’s roof down and bring on the summer. Because Volkswagen is introducing a new generation of its open air bestseller to the cities, streets and beaches. It offers all the advantages of a Golf – the most successful car in the world. And one more advantage as well: the soft top opens fully automatically in 9.0 seconds, and this can be done while driving up to 30 km/h. And what happens in autumn when the Golf top is closed and summer is over? The answer is clear: the four-seat Volkswagen is a versatile, year-round cabriolet thanks to its practical traits and the sophisticated design of its soft top. And that’s how it has always been. Continue reading ‘Summer time the new VW Golf Cabriolet’
