Volkswagen launches Arteon boasting a unique character: with the Arteon R-Line Edition, limited to 250 units, Volkswagen focuses even more on the dynamics and travel qualities of the Gran Turismo. Exclusive design features, extensive standard equipment and a selection of four powerful turbocharged engines with 140 kW/190 PS to 200 kW/272 PS characterise the special edition, which is available from EUR 55,970 (in Germany).

The Arteon R-Line Edition has a wide range of standard equipment that is not available in this combination in any other version of the series. And the expressive two-tone Moonstone Grey finish with black roof is reserved exclusively for the Arteon R-Line Edition. The exterior finish is rounded off with 20-inch Rosario alloy wheels and darkened rear windows.

The interior is perfectly matched with the exterior. It is fitted out with the Nappa leather package and can be customised in terms of colour by means of ambient lighting. As part of the standard winter package, the outer rear seats are also available with heating, in addition to the front seats. As well as its navigation function, the Discover Pro infotainment system also features Wireless App-Connect, voice control and DAB+ digital radio reception. Discover Pro and the Digital Cockpit (fully digital instruments) form a single entity similar to the Innovision Cockpit familiar from the Touareg. Thanks to the keyless locking and starting system Keyless Access, the car key can remain in the driver’s pocket.

Standard high-tech systems for perfect comfort and safety: the Area View feature complete with rear view camera provides a view of the vehicle surroundings and facilitates manoeuvring, as does Park Assist. Dynamic Road Sign Display, the lane change system Side Assist, the Autonomous Emergency Braking Front Assist and the predictive Adaptive Distance Control (ACC) increase safety in flowing traffic as well as increasing comfort and safety on lengthy journeys. With the standard Dynamic Light Assist for the LED headlamps, the driver also enjoys the comfort of a dynamic cornering light and automatic main beam control.

The engine range of the Arteon R-Line Edition clearly focuses on the sporty flair of the Gran Turismo, with the four most powerful units of the series being available for the limited special edition. They are all efficient 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines combined with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG). The range starts with a TSI petrol engine and a TDI turbocharged diesel, each with an output of 140 kW/90 PS. The all-wheel-drive top-of-the-range diesel engine offers an output of 176 kW/240 PS, while the most powerful version is the Arteon R-Line Edition with the 2.0 TSI, providing a peak output of 200 kW/272 PS as well as all-wheel drive (4MOTION). The ESC system has also been adapted. As in the sporty R models, it can now be completely deactivated.

The two most powerful versions of the Arteon R-Line Edition are fitted with what is currently the highest development stage of the adaptive chassis control DCC; the latter is optionally available for the 140 kW models. The system allows the regulated dampers to be configured on a continuously variable basis from Comfort+ to Sport+ over and above the settings in the driving mode selection (Comfort, Normal, Sport, Individual). This is another reason why the limited special model stands out as a particularly dynamic business class travel vehicle. The Arteon R-Line Edition is available for order right away at a price of EUR 55,970 (for 2.0 TSI with 140 kW/190PS) and will be delivered from February 2020.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

This week, the Volkswagen brand is introducing a new maintenance concept for its vehicles with the launch of the Golf 8. Over the course of next year, the concept will be extended to all the models of the brand. Achim Schaible, Head of the After Sales & Dealer Network of the Volkswagen brand, explains: “The high quality of our vehicles allows us to double the inspection service interval in Europe to 24 months. We are therefore one of the few volume brands to call our customers into the workshops less frequently. In addition, our new standard inspection service is to replace the previous service. This way, we are considerably simplifying the maintenance program and making it more transparent for our customers and partners.”

In 2020, the new maintenance concept will be successively extended to all Volkswagen brand models as part of the launch of new models, facelifts and the beginning of the new model year from the middle of the year. There will be a separate maintenance concept for the ID. model family, which will be published before the market launch.

A key improvement in the new maintenance concept is the doubling of the inspection service interval to 24 months in Europe 1. In other markets, arduous operating conditions such as heat or dust still require annual servicing of vehicles. The regional and national kilometer limits continue to apply.

The new standard inspection replaces the previous format of large and small inspection. The standardized content of maintenance and new intervals allow more reliable and more transparent price information, which has a considerable impact on perceived service quality and therefore customer satisfaction.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

In mid-December at the Autostadt, the Volkswagen brand delivered the 250,000th electric car since the introduction of the e-up! in 2013. The brand’s electrified model range has been continually expanded in the following years: e-Golf and Golf GTE followed in 2014, the Passat GTE and Passat Variant GTE in 2015. Since 2018, the Passat and Tiguan have been available as plug-in hybrids in China, where they were followed by battery electric versions of the Bora and Lavida this year. The best-selling electric car has been the e-Golf with 104,000 units delivered, followed by the Golf GTE (51,000), Passat Variant GTE (42,000) and e-up! (21,000). Half of the customers opted for a battery electric vehicle and the other half for a plug-in hybrid.

The 250,000th car is a “Pure White” e-Golf. Sandra Fleischer from Herne took delivery of the car at the Autostadt in Wolfsburg in mid-December.

Jürgen Stackmann, Board Member for Sales, Marketing and After Sales, says: “With the 250,000th electrified vehicle, the Volkswagen brand has reached a major milestone on the way to carbon-neutral mobility. Especially all-electric vehicles such as our new ID. family are the answer to major challenges of our times. They offer considerable driving pleasure and advantages we could only dream of a few years ago. They have a carbon-neutral balance, offer more space with comparable outside dimensions, and are quiet, highly efficient, economical and inexpensive to maintain. This is why we will be selling the next 250,000 electrified vehicles in a considerably shorter period of time. At Volkswagen, we are convinced that the future is electric.”

Despite some model changes, the Volkswagen brand delivered more than 70,000 electrified vehicles in 2019 - following 50,000 last year. The main sales markets in 2019 were China, Norway, Germany, the USA and the United Kingdom.

Dream start with five stars: the new Golf has achieved the highest score in the Euro NCAP crash test (European New Car Assessment Programme). Auditors gave the new compact model very high ratings on all criteria – for the protection of adult occupants, children and vulnerable road users as well as in terms of assistance systems.

A small test fleet of Golfs lined up for the Euro NCAP test. In the “Protection of adult occupants” category, the cars had to undergo various crashes: head-on with 40% overlap against a deformable barrier, head-on with full overlap against a rigid wall, side impact and pole impact. Collision speeds ranged from 32 to 64 km/h. Further tests focusing on such aspects as the infliction of whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions were carried out on seat crash sleds. The effectiveness of the Front Assist emergency braking system in preventing imminent rear-end collisions at city speeds was also put to the test. All in all, the new Golf scored 95% of the points available for the protection of adult occupants.

The results of the front and side impact were included in the rating for the protection of accompanying children, supplemented by an installation test for standard child seats and a check of mounts such as ISOFIX. In this category, the new Golf scored 89%. The score for pedestrian and cyclist protection was 76%. The focus here was the impact of the car on head, thighs and lower legs as well as the effectiveness of the emergency braking system.

Other assistance systems such as the speed limiter, the area monitoring system for higher speeds and the lane keeping system were assessed in the “Safety Assist” category. Volkswagen has fitted the new Golf with an all-round package of assistance systems, some of which are drawn from the higher vehicle categories. Two standard safety systems are particularly important: the Lane Assist lane keeping system and Front Assist, which monitors traffic in front of the car using a radar sensor and front camera. The car brakes automatically in dangerous situations – even at very low speeds in the city. The system’s spectrum has been extended to include Cyclist Monitoring and swerve support – all of which are available for the first time in the Golf. The Euro NCAP crash test demonstrates its effectiveness: with a score of 78% of the points available, the new compact car by Volkswagen put in an excellent performance in the “Safety Assist” category, too.

Six airbags – two front airbags, side airbags and head airbags – are standard features of the new Golf, as are belt tensioners and belt force limiters on all outer seats. The proactive occupant protection system is available as an option. This is able to mitigate the consequences of an imminent collision by tightening the belts or closing open windows, for example. It also includes side airbags in the rear.

Volkswagen offers further high-end assistance systems on an optional basis including Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with predictive speed detection. Travel Assist makes assisted driving possible at speeds of up to 210 km/h. Another feature contributing to safe, relaxed driving is Car2X communication, which in dangerous traffic situations enables the new Golf to communicate with other vehicles – and in future also with the infrastructure. The same applies to Traffic Jam Assist, Rear Traffic Alert, Emergency Assist and Park Assist.

With its score of five stars for the new Golf, Volkswagen continues its success series in the Euro NCAP crash test – the T-Cross likewise achieved the maximum point score in May 2019. The European New Car Assessment Programme has served as a strict benchmark for the safety level of new cars for 20 years. It provides car buyers with prompt information on the safety of popular, new models. In recent years, test procedures and the requirements placed on standard driver assistance systems and passive safety have become increasingly rigorous. Full details are publicly accessible at www.euroncap.com.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com