VW Golf Plug-In Hybrid to Become Sporty GTE Model

If you thought the choice between the three hot VW Golfs currently on offer was decent (GTI,GTD and R) then we need to tell you that there may be a fourth one added to the list, and it promises to be even greener than the diesel…

Believed to gain the GTE designation, it will share its powertrain with the Audi A3 e-tron, which marries a 148 hp turbo petrol engine with a 107 hp electric motor – when working in tandem, they make a maximum output of 201hp.

What remains unclear is when it will be built and for which markets it will be addressed. The plug-in A3 is coming to market later this year, so according to Car&Driver and Autocar, it would be fair to assume that its launch could happen one year later.

However, despite the US’ affinity with all things hybrid and especially plug-ins, plus the positive reviews of the Jetta Hybrid that’s already on sale, it’s not seen as a sure thing for the GTE to make it into Stateside showrooms when it does get launched.

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All-New VW Golf R Mk7 Officially Revealed, Comes with 296HP and AWD

Following yesterday’s teaser photo, Volkswagen has revealed the new Golf R in all its conservative glory. For those who have already seen the R-Line packages for the Golf Mk7, the looks of the new Golf R won’t be a surprise at all.

The all-wheel-drive flagship Golf model sports a more aggressive body kit consisting of redesigned bumpers, new side sills, new 18- and 19-inch “Cadiz” alloy wheels and an air diffuser that integrates chrome dual tailpipes on each side.

Other new details found on the hot hatch include the darkened LED taillights and headlights, with the latter also featuring a new layout and lighting design (they also incorporate the DRLs). The matt chrome door mirror caps and black brake calipers round out the exterior changes.

Although VW hasn’t yet released photos of the interior yet, the company says the Golf R features an extensively customized and upgraded cabin, including front sport seats, optional Nappa-carbon leather package, R design instruments, redesigned radio and navigation systems and Car-Net – a series of new mobile online services.

Moving on to what’s most important about the Golf R, under the bonnet there’s the same engine from the Audi S3: a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine developing 300PS (296hp) and 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) of torque, available from 1,800 to 5,500 rpm.

Power is sent to all four wheels via a fifth-generation Haldex coupling with the 4Motion system paired to a manual six-speed transmission as standard (a 6-speed DSG will be optionally available). The Golf R also has four electronic differential locks (EDS) integrated in the ESC that act as transverse locks, while XDS+ electronic differentials are fitted to the front and rear axles.

A sport suspension setup reduces ground clearance by 20mm (0.78in) compared to the standard Golf and 5mm (0.2in) over the Golf GTI. VW said the 2.0-liter engine offers an average fuel economy of 6.9 l/100 km (34 US mpg) when mated to the DSG gearbox – that’s 18 percentbetter than its predecessor. With the manual gearbox, the new Golf R reaches 100km/h (62 mph) from rest in 5.3 seconds, an improvement of 0.4 sec over the previous Golf R, and with the DSG, in 4.9 seconds. The Golf R’s top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph (250km/h).

The Golf R will premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show and will arrive in Europe in the fourth quarter of this year. Prices in Germany start from €38,325 ($51,325). U.S. sales should start within the next year or so.

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VW Announces UK Prices for All-New Golf Estate

Volkswagen will begin accepting orders for the new Golf Estate in Britain on Tuesday, July 2, with prices for the station wagon model starting from £17,915 on the road, or £765 more than the equivalent Golf hatchback.

Naturally, the highlight of the Golf Estate is the business end of the car that boasts a luggage capacity of 605 litres loaded up to the rear seat backrest, up from 505 liters of its predecessor and 380 litres of the new Golf hatchback. If you want more space, you can tip down the rear seats via a release in the boot and increase capacity to 1,620 litres, or 125 litres more than the outgoing Golf Estate Mk VI.

Other numbers that may be of importance to future owners of the car is the loadspace that is up to 1,831 mm (72 inches) long and a minimum of 1,003 mm (39.5 inches) wide, and the payload capacity of 600-611 kg (1,323 to 1,347 lbs), depending on engine.

Talking about engines, the UK lineup includes four petrol units: a 1.2-litre TSI 85PS (84bhp) with five-speed manual gearbox, plus a 1.2-litre TSI 105PS (104bhp), a 1.4-litre TSI 122PS (120bhp) and a 1.4-litre TSI ACT 140PS (138bhp) with cylinder deactivation, all offered with a standard six-speed manual and an optional seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission.

There are also three diesel engines, including a 1.6-litre TDI 90PS (89bhp) with a 5sp manual gearbox, a 1.6-litre TDI 105PS (104bhp) with a 5sp manual or 7sp DSG transmission and a 2.0-litre TDI 150PS (148bhp) with either 6sp manual or 6sp DSG gearbox.

All engines in the Estate's range come with VW's suite of BlueMotion Technology with a Stop/Start system and battery regeneration as standard, while a ‘full’ BlueMotion model with additional modifications including revised aerodynamics will join the lineup later this year.

Standard comfort and safety amenities across the range include Buetooth, DAB digital radio with 5.8-inch colour touchscreen, iPod connector, seven airbags, XDS electronic differential and an automatic post-collision braking system.

According to VW, SE models gain ADC automatic distance control with Front Assist and City Emergency Braking, 16-inch alloy wheels, rear map-reading lights, automatic lights and wipers, a Driver Alert System, driver profile selection, and the Pre-Crash preventive occupant protection system.

Moving up to the GT level adds 17-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, 65 per cent tinted rear windows, Discover navigation system, electrically folding door mirrors and parking sensors.

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VW Details the Golf Variant, Features Huge Cargo Volume of 605 Liters

As the all-new VW Golf Variant goes on sale this summer in Europe, Volkswagen has released full details and a new photo gallery of its Golf VII-based wagon (to be sold as the Jetta SportWagen State-side). Using VW’s modular transverse matrix platform (MQB), the new Golf Variant is up to 105 kg (231 pounds) lighter than its predecessor, offers 100 liters more cargo space and new petrol and diesel engines that are up to 15 percent more fuel efficient.

The main reason for which people buy wagons is versatility and cargo capacity, with the Golf Variant’s boot accommodating an impressive 605 liters (21.3 cubic feet) of luggage loaded up to the backrest of the rear seat (that’s 100 liters more than the VW Golf VI Variant). When loaded to the backs of the front seats and up to the ceiling, cargo capacity reaches 1,620 liters (1,495 liters in the previous model). The boot is also fitted with a roll-up cargo cover with a two-stage automatic rolling feature and a variable cargo floor height. 

For the first time, the Golf Variant gets the XDS+ electronic differential lock as a standard feature and the DCC dynamic chassis control as an optional extra. As an alternative to DCC (which has 10 mm lower ride height), there is also a classic sport suspensions (15 mm lower).

Under the bonnet, the new Golf Variant gets the same range of engines from the Golfhatchback. There are seven engine versions available at the market launch in August (ranging in power from 85 PS to 150 PS) all equipped with a Stop/Start system and a battery regeneration mode that converts kinetic energy into electrical energy. Engines are mated to 5-speed and 6-speed manual gearboxes, with a 6- or 7-speed DSG being available for six of the seven TSI and TDI engines. Two of the TDI engines are also available with 4Motion all-wheel drive system.

Besides the special BlueMotion models, the most economical TSI engine is the 1.2 TSI (105 PS) which averages 5 l/100 km (47 US mpg), while the 1.6 TDI (105-110 PS) averages 3.9 l/100 km (60.3 US mpg).

The Trendline base version includes features such as 7 airbags, electric door mirrors and windows, ESP, air conditioner, electronic parking brake with Auto-Hold function and tyre pressure monitoring indicator Plus, among others. Prices in Germany start from €18,950 ($24,850) for the base Trendline model.

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VW's Super Fuel-Efficient Golf TDI BlueMotion Starts from €21,900 in Germany

The most frugal Golf model in the compact hatchback's history, the new Golf TDI BlueMotionMk7, is now available to order in Germany. The third generation of the Golf TDI BlueMotion features a 15 improvement in fuel consumption compared to the previous model, as it is rated at 3.2 liters/100 km (73.5 US mpg), accounting for CO2 emissions of 85 g/km.

Powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder diesel engine with 110 PS (109 hp) and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque available from as low as 1,500 rpm, theGolf TDI BlueMotion also features fuel-saving components such as low rolling resistance tires with higher air pressure, a start-stop system, brake energy recovery and a consumption-optimized 6-speed manual transmission with longer gear ratios.

The bodywork has received aerodynamic modifications in order to achieve a drag coefficient of 0.27. These include a 15-mm (0.59-in) lowered chassis, a special roof spoiler with black side aerodynamic elements and a partially enclosed radiator grille.

To make the Golf TDI BlueMotion somewhat stand out among other models in the range, VW offers it with an optional exclusive exterior color called “Clearwater Blue Metallic”, which costs €525 ($677). The Golf BlueMotion is available in two trim levels, Trendline and Comfortline, with prices starting from €21,900 ($28,255) in Germany.

A BlueMotion version based on the Golf Variant will also be available later this year.

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VW Introduces Three R-Line Packages for the New Golf 7 in Germany

The new seventh-gen VW Golf range has been enhanced with the addition of three new optional R-Line packages designed by the company's "R GmbH" division, which is responsible for the brand's performance cars like the Golf R as well as its sport accessories and trims. Available to order in Germany, they include an R-Line exterior package, R-Line interior pack and an R-Line Sport (handling) kit.

Previewed by the Golf Estate Concept R-Line, the exterior package includes redesigned R-Line front and rear bumpers, a rear spoiler in body color, flared sills, a rear diffuser painted black, fog lights, a gloss black grille with R-Line logo, and the option to choose between visible and non-visible exhaust pipes. This package is available for the Highline trim line for €995 ($1,300) and for the Comfortline for €1,180 ($1,540).

For the interior, Volkswagen R GmbH opted for a sporty appearance, adding “Race” cloth sports seats with R-Line logos, inlays in aluminum look for the dashboard and door panels, stainless steel front door sills and pedal caps, black headlining and ambient lighting.

There’s also a leather multifunction steering wheel and gear lever knob with R-Line logos and gray stitching, plus an R-Line logo on the Home screen. The interior package costs €640 ($835) for the Highline equipment line and €945 ($1,235) for the Comfortline. For those who want a more luxurious interior, the “Vienna” leather package is available from €1,755 ($2,295) for the Highline and €2,115 ($2,760) for the Comfortline.

Finally, the R-Line sport package concentrates on improving driving characteristics and comes with sports suspension and progressive steering, plus tinted side and rear windows. This is the cheapest of the three packages, at €430 ($560), for both Comfortline and Highline trim levels.

Volkswagen R GmbH is also offering the new 17- and 18-inch "Salvador" alloy wheels, compatible with all R-Line packages. Expect the upcoming Golf R performance hatchback to borrow elements from these three R-Line packages.

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