Dynamic, powerful and with pure aerodynamics: with today’s world premiere of the ID. AERO concept car in China, Volkswagen is providing a foretaste of the brand’s first global fully-electric sedan. The future model will be positioned in the premium mid-size sedan segment. Its progressive, stylish and aerodynamic design allows the vehicle to impress with generous space in the interior. The production version for China is expected to go on sale in the second half of 2023. Volkswagen is also planning to start production of a European series version in Emden in 2023.

“With the ID. AERO show car, we are revealing a preview of the next member of the ID. family. A car with an emotional and at the same time extremely aerodynamic design, a range of over 600 kilometres, an extraordinary amount of space and a premium interior,” says Ralf Brandstätter, Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen Passenger Cars. “With our ACCELERATE strategy, we are intensively driving forward the electrification of our model range. Following the ID.4, this model will be our next global car for Europe, China and the US. ”

The concept vehicle is almost five metres long and was designed based on aerodynamic principles. The roof slopes elegantly to the rear in coupé style and contributes to achieving an excellent drag coefficient of 0.23. Volkswagen’s modular electric drive matrix (MEB) additionally permits short overhangs, a long wheelbase and an exceptionally spacious vehicle interior. The ID. AERO is equipped with a powerful lithium-ion battery with a net energy content of 77 kWh. Thanks to the interaction of the efficient drive system and the excellent aerodynamic properties, the ID. AERO achieves ranges of up to 620 kilometres (WLTP), making it suitable for long distances.

Electric offensive in China: With the close-to-production ID. AERO concept car, Volkswagen is stepping up its electric offensive in China as part of its ACCELERATE strategy. Following the ID.3, ID.4 and ID.6, the production version of the ID. AERO will already be the fourth fully-electric model series in China, with expected availability in the second half of 2023. Two versions are planned there – one for each Volkswagen joint venture. Based on its regional strategy, Volkswagen is aiming to become the leading supplier of sustainable vehicles in China. As early as 2030, it is planned that at least every second vehicle sold in China will be an electric vehicle.

Volkswagen is driving forward its electric offensive worldwide on the Way to ZERO. As the new flagship model of the ID. family, the ID. AERO will therefore be offered globally in future – also in Europe and North America in addition to China.

Elegant design characterised by aerodynamics, wrap-around light strip and metallic paintwork. Stylistically, the ID. AERO transfers the design of the ID. family to a sedan in the premium mid-size segment for the first time. The aerodynamically designed front end and roof ensure that air flows optimally over the vehicle. The air flow is calmed by the slightly drawn-in rear end with an separation edge. The sporty 22-inch two-tone wheels are designed in the style of a turbine and are integrated flush into the wheel housings. Classic door handles are replaced by illuminated touch surfaces, which reduce the drag even further. At the top of the silhouette, the bold tornado line and downward sloping roof line shape the design. The powerful shoulder section of the ID. AERO is located above the tornado line. The contour lines make the electric sedan appear flatter and give it a dynamic look.

The ID. AERO concept vehicle has a Polar Light Blue Metallic paintwork – a light metallic colour shade whose colour pigments create a golden shimmer effect in appropriate light conditions. The roof is painted in a high-gloss black to contrast with the vehicle body.

The front end is characterised by the ID. honeycombs typical for the ID. family. The front is horizontally split into two in the bumper and is a defining style element for the ID. AERO design. As another distinctive feature that makes the ID. AERO stand out in the crowd, a narrow light strip extends horizontally across the front out to the left and right of the illuminated Volkswagen badge and above the innovative IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights, wrapping into the wings and side panels. This light strip is continued visually to the rear end with a few interruptions. The dominant rear end features a striking dark light strip and LED tail light clusters with honeycomb structure that create an exclusive look.

The ID. AERO shows the versatility of the MEB. The ID. AERO demonstrates the flexibility of Volkswagen’s purely electric MEB architecture, which can be adapted for vehicles of different shapes and sizes. The MEB can be used across segments – from compact crossover or SUV and minibus through to spacious sedan. With the ID. AERO, the MEB therefore allows the ID. family to enter the mid-size sedan segment. The MEB also fully exploits the possibilities of electric mobility, allowing long ranges, a maximum of digital connectivity and over-the-air update capability.

Production of the European version in Emden. It is expected that the production version of the ID. AERO for Europe will roll off the assembly line in the Emden plant in 2023. With volume production of electric vehicles, Emden will be one of the first Volkswagen plants of this kind in Lower Saxony and will make a decisive contribution to electrifying the model range and reducing the CO2 emissions of the overall new vehicle fleet.

Articles source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

Volkswagen’s GTX brand stands for the sporty top-of-the-line models of the ID. family. The ID.4 GTX and ID.5 GTX models with dual-motor all-wheel drive – presented just last year – will now be equipped with even more comprehensive standard equipment to emphasise this claim. In addition, they provide a glimpse of the look of other GTX models with new design accents in black and red. In future, every ID. series will have its own GTX model. The ID.4 GTX from 53,255 euros and ID.5 GTX from 56,455 euros are already available for order.

Volkswagen has further enhanced the sporty GTX models. The previously optional equipment packages known as Design and Comfort have become standard equipment. They include a climate comfort windscreen, darkened side and rear windows, heated front seats, two USB-C interfaces, a variable centre console, the Air Care Climatronic air-conditioning system with active combination filter, stationary air conditioning and two-zone temperature control.

Black and red stand for GTX. The interior is also sporting some new features:The dash panel and door trim are now black. Red decorative seams throughout the interior visually emphasise its sportiness and can be found on the black leather steering wheel, among other places. The optional premium sports seats are also decorated with red seams, piping and logo, as well as a felled seam all the way around. But on the outside, black sets the accents: roof frame strip, C-pillar, exterior mirrors and diffuser now shine in glossy black. Glossy 21-inch rims in a black design are available on request. Together with the standard black roof paint and the darkened windows, this results in a progressive and at the same time elegant appearance.

GTX formula for success. The sporty GTX brand with its all-electric performance models has been part of Volkswagen’s portfolio for over a year. The dynamic vehicles combine electromobility, sustainability and intelligent sportiness. Their dynamic design also emphasises the special character and recognition value of high-quality GTX models.

“The success of the ID.4 GTX and ID.5 GTX confirms our strategy of positioning the GTX brand independently. Both models in their respective series have installation rates of almost 40 percent,” says Silke Bagschik, Head of Sales and Marketing for the ID. family. “We will continuously expand this brand and offer a GTX variant for every ID. model in future – from the ID.3 to the ID. Buzz.”

Performance and everyday suitability thanks to the 4MOTION dual-motor all-wheel drive. The GTX models use two electric motors: one on the front axle and one on the rear axle. They have system power of 220 kW (299PS), offer a total torque of 460 Nm and work together as an electric drive. A permanently excited synchronous motor (PSM) with 150 kW (204 PS) of power and a torque of 310 Nm is active on the rear axle. An additional asynchronous motor (ASM) with 80 kW (109 PS) and 162 Nm is installed on the front axle. This is particularly compact and light, can be overloaded on a temporary basis and only produces minimal drag losses when it runs without being supplied with current. The vehicle’s top speed is electronically limited to 180 km/h. The maximum trailer weight of both GTX models is 1,400 kilograms (for an 8 percent gradient), which is 200 kilograms more than the model versions with rear-wheel drive.

Vehicle dynamics manager with specially developed software. The intelligent control of the dual-motor drive of the ID.4 GTX and ID.5 GTX is handled by the vehicle dynamics manager. This software, developed in-house by Volkswagen, always aims to achieve the optimum combination of efficiency, dynamics and driving stability. The drive motor on the rear axle is often able to power the vehicle all by itself. As soon as the driver wants to shift to a sportier style or needs more traction, the asynchronous machine on the front axle is activated. This takes place in just a few fractions of a second and so smoothly that it is unnoticeable for the driver. Not only the powertrain, but also all braking, steering and chassis control systems are controlled by the vehicle dynamics manager, depending on the selected driving profile.

Electric mobility that’s even more customer-friendly. The ID.4 GTX offers a range of up to 500 kilometres (WLTP); the ID.5 GTX, on the other hand, 512 kilometres (WLTP). The maximum charging capacity of both models is 135 kW. The 77 kWh high-voltage battery can be charged from 5% to 80% in up to 36 minutes and then offers a range of 337 kilometres for the ID.4 GTX and 376 kilometres for the ID.5 GTX (both WLTP values). The intelligent Electric Vehicle Route Planner provides support for long journeys as the navigation system creates clever multi-stop route planning to get the car to its destination as quickly as possible. This is continuously adjusted while the vehicle is in motion – for example, there is no need for a short charging stop if the driver drives very efficiently.

Latest software generation and Plug & Charge: With the next generation of the ID. software the Plug & Charge function will also be available for the new GTX models, making charging on the go even more convenient. The vehicle automatically authenticates itself as soon as the customer plugs the charging cable into a compatible DC rapid-charging point and launches secure encrypted communication between the vehicle and the post. This authentication process takes just a few seconds before charging starts. Plug & Charge is already supported in many large charging infrastructures such as Ionity, Aral, BP, Enel, EON, as well as Iberdrola and Eviny. Further large providers will follow.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

The Volkswagen brand is looking into the future and releasing exclusive design sketches of the ID. AERO, the first fully-electric limousine for the Chinese automobile market. At first glance, the new concept car impresses with its outstanding aerodynamics, elegant design and generous space. The digital world premiere of the pre-production study will take place on Monday, 27 June, at 14:00 (CEST).

The future production version of the ID. AERO sees Volkswagen expand its successful ID. family in the high-volume upper-middle-class segment, and accelerate its electric offensive within the framework of the ACCELERATE strategy. Like all models in the ID. family, the elegant new limousine is based on Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB). Stylistically, it also follows the unmistakable design language of the ID. family. For example, the exterior design of the ID. AERO is flowing and precise. Particularly striking features of the pre-production study are the aerodynamic front and roof, which help to reduce energy consumption and increase range.

The next world car for a new market segment. The production version of the ID. AERO is expected to go on sale in the Chinese automobile market in the second half of 2023. The corresponding production model for the North American and European marketu will be presented in 2023. Production of the series version of the ID. AERO for the European and North American automobile market will then start at the Volkswagen plant in Emden.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Golf R, Volkswagen is launching the Golf R “20 Years” as an exclusive special-edition model. The production period limited to approximately one year makes the special-edition model a collector’s item as soon as it rolls off the production line. Like all premium performance models of the Volkswagen R with their increased power, the Golf R has its roots on the race track and stands for the transfer of innovative technologies to series production. Fan communities around the world are enthralled by the expressive design and enhanced performance. The new Golf R “20 Years” is now available to order with prices starting from 59,995 euros in Germany.

The Golf R “20 Years” surpasses everything that has been launched with the “Golf” label up to now with its drive technology. The anniversary model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds: the top speed is electronically limited to 270 km/h. The Golf R “20 Years” edition makes its exceptional nature known as soon as the engine is started. It is impossible not to notice the 245 kW / 333 PS) delivered by the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine. The driver can select an Emotion Start to activate an initial engine speed overshoot extending up to 2,500 rpm. In combination with especially striking drive acoustics, this additionally heightens the anticipation of a typical R driving experience.

When the driver shifts up manually in S and S+ gear selector positions, the DSG provides noticeable feedback from the gearbox and drive train each time the right paddle is operated. In addition, the optimised engine tuning means that the load change response is extremely spontaneous. The turbocharger is preloaded to keep it at a constant speed during part-load driving. This then allows faster power development for subsequent acceleration. The open throttle valve in overrun phases also improves dynamics and performance on the road. When the driver takes their foot off the accelerator and then accelerates again, this allows faster build-up of the engine torque and noticeably improves the engine’s responsiveness. This allows the Golf R “20 Years” to be driven even more dynamically and with a higher level of driving stability in sporty driving situations.

The Golf R “20 Years” will be available as standard with the R Performance package already familiar from the Golf R (including, for example, R-Performance Torque Vectoring in conjunction with the Vehicle Dynamics Manager and two additional driving modes, Special and Drift) and will be further enhanced by exclusive design highlights. At the rear, the roof spoiler emphasises the sporty look of the vehicle, which is fitted as standard with 19-inch Estoril alloy wheels.

The sporty and exclusive nature of the premium performance brand from Volkswagen is also evident in the interior. For the first time in a production Volkswagen, the dash panel and door trim feature decorative trim elements in Genuine Carbon. The special-edition model sports blue R logos, including on the multifunction sport steering wheel (at 6 o’clock position). The blue R logo can also be found on the vehicle key cap to underline the fact that the key belongs to a special vehicle.

Like all Golf models, the Golf R “20 Years” will be produced in the Wolfsburg factory – the home of the Golf. The Golf R “20 Years” will reach dealerships in many European markets and North America from the middle of 2022.

The Golf R “20 Years” is the fifth edition of the extremely sporty Golf R. The success story of the model began in 2002 with the Golf R32 and its 3.2-litre six-cylinder engine with an output of 177 kW (241 PS). It was the most powerful Golf that Volkswagen had built up to that point. Featuring all-wheel drive in combination with exclusive design and equipment, this highly dynamic car was the technological benchmark in its class. The Golf R32 was an immediate success, and its sales were triple the originally planned amount.

Article source: https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/press-releases/golf-r-20-years-anniversary-model-of-the-golf-r-now-available-to-order-7995