VW Specialist London Blog

The two latest Volkswagen models attain very good figures in all key test areas: ‘Adult Occupant’, ‘Child Occupant’, ‘Pedestrian’ and ‘Safety Assist’ (assistance systems). Dr Frank Welsch, Member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management responsible for Development: "Volkswagen has been democratising safety for decades now. The outstanding Euro NCAP ratings for the Polo and T-Roc demonstrate once again how we are making maximum safety available to the drivers of mini and compact models as well." The Polo is available at prices from 12,975 euros, and the T-Roc from 20,390 euros (prices for Germany). The base versions of both the Polo and the T-Roc are already well equipped with six airbags, ESC including counter steering assistance, the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and the Front Assist area monitoring system with City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring. The T-Roc also comes with the Lane Assist lane keeping system as standard.

The Polo in Euro NCAP testing. The new Polo was tested in the class of ‘Superminis’ in the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP). In the tests, Euro NCAP examines the loads to which ‘adult occupants’ are subjected in various accident scenarios. In this rating, the Polo attained a very good value of 96 per cent (out of a maximum of 100 per cent) in its class. The Polo also received an impressive rating in the side impact test that is challenging in vehicle design – because the crush zones on the sides are of course smaller than those at the front and rear.

Commenting on both the crash test with a side barrier and the crash test with a side pole, Euro NCAP noted that "the protection of all critical body areas is good; and the Polo attained maximum points". In the ‘Child Occupant’ protection test area, Euro NCAP rated the Polo with a figure of 85 per cent – a new top figure in its segment. In its competitive field, the new compact model also achieved exemplary figures in ‘Pedestrian’ protection (76 per cent) and in the area for assistance systems, ‘Safety Assist’ (59 per cent).

The T-Roc in Euro NCAP testing. At the same time, the first compact SUV from Volkswagen also achieved top figures: the new T-Roc. It was categorised in the segment of ‘Compact SUVs’, a class that also includes much larger SUVs. The results for the T-Roc were consistently impressive. Consider ‘Adult Occupant’: here, the SUV received a rating of 96 per cent.

The T-Roc also finished very well in the ‘Child Occupant’ protection rating with a result of 87 per cent. Here tests were performed with dummies in child seats. Consider the offset frontal crash and side impact: Euro NCAP commented: "In the Front Offset Test, protection of all critical body areas of the two child dummies was good. Similarly, protection of all critical body areas of the dummies was also good in the side impact test." Deformable front body elements and standard pedestrian detection also result in a figure of 79 per cent for ‘Pedestrian’ protection, which is remarkable in the competitive field. In addition, the new T-Roc attained top figures in the ‘Safety Assist' area for its assistance systems.

The European New Car Assessment Programme. Euro NCAP is an international and independent consortium of governments and non- governmental organisations. The headquarters of Euro NCAP are located in Brussels (Belgium). The stated mission of Euro NCAP is to provide automobile buyers with information on the safety of the most popular vehicles sold in Europe in a timely manner.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

The GTI for rallying: With the Polo GTI R5, Volkswagen returns to rallying under a new guise. In the second half of 2018, Volkswagen will make the 270 hp rally version of the Polo available to professional teams and aspiring drivers to enable them to compete in championships across the globe – including the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). A sketch of the car, which is based on the new Polo of the sixth generation, gives a foretaste of what’s to come.

“With the Polo GTI R5 we are hoping to transfer our expertise from four WRC titles to customer racing successfully, and offer a first-class racing machine for countless rally championships from national series to the WRC,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets. “Before the first race outing next year, we will subject the Polo GTI R5 to rigorous testing to make sure it is prepared for the extremely varied track conditions around the world.”

The development of the Polo GTI R5 has been in full swing since the start of the year, with initial test drives planned for this year. The experience gained from the successful WRC era is being incorporated directly: Volkswagen Motorsport Technical Director François-Xavier “FX” Demaison, father of the record winning Polo R WRC, is responsible for the development of the Polo GTI R5. And Gerard-Jan de Jongh also brings all his expertise as the senior project engineer. The Dutchman was previously Sébastien Ogier’s race engineer; Ogier won the drivers’ title with Volkswagen four times in a row.

Like the production model – which is due to be launched at the end of this year – the Polo GTI R5 has a powerful four-cylinder turbo engine with direct fuel injection. Other features include four-wheel drive, a sequential five-speed racing transmission and a comprehensive safety package, which are the most important features of the R5 category brought into being by the international automobile association, the FIA, in 2012. This gives privateers, teams and importers the opportunity to contest national, regional and international championships with cost-effective, powerful rally cars.

For Volkswagen Motorsport, the Polo GTI R5 represents another important milestone in their strategic realignment: After the successful introduction of the Golf GTI TCR, which has brought home wins and titles in numerous championships on the circuit since 2016, Volkswagen Motorsport is expanding its involvement in customer racing to rallying.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

The next phase of the staggered market launch begins
TV and print advertisements complement comprehensive digital activities
Focus on design, spatial concept and connectivity

Volkswagen is further developing the international marketing campaign for the market launch of the new Tiguan Allspace. Under the motto "The new Tiguan Allspace 7-seater," the digital activities, which have been ongoing since the official pre-sales launch, will be complemented with TV, print and poster advertisement.

The new Tiguan Allspace is the long-wheelbase version of the best-selling Tiguan, offering a slightly modified design, greater flexibility in the interior and an attractive equipment range. At the same time, with the optional third row of seats, the Tiguan Allspace can seat up to seven people. The 360° marketing campaign underlines these qualities, illustrating how the Tiguan Allspace perfectly combines spaciousness, flexibility and connectivity features.

"The new Tiguan Allspace is a perfect fit for all drivers and families who have, until now, been reliant on vans for the space they require, but are looking for the design and convenient equipment of our successful Tiguan model. The campaign combines humour and feeling in demonstrating just how the Tiguan Allspace offers comfort, modern design and room for adventures as one complete package," noted Jürgen Stackmann, member of the Volkswagen Board of Management responsible for Sales.

The TV advert uses humour to show how the Tiguan Allspace's innovative spatial concept with up to seven seats is full of surprises. At a wedding with a twist, the Tiguan Allspace helps guests arrive just in the nick of time.

The print campaign also highlights the Tiguan Allspace's expandable seating arrangement and showcases the vehicle at various viewpoints outside the gates to the city. What's more, the highlights of the new Tiguan Allspace, such as the gesture command and Cam-Connect, are presented to the relevant target groups via social media channels in an entertaining online film, shown from the perspective of a dog.

The creative agency responsible for the campaign is Grabarz & Partner.

Article source: www.volkswagen-media-services.com

A Volkswagen Winter Health Check can ensure your vehicle is ready to face the worst of the winter weather. Available from participating Volkswagen Retailers nationwide, the central element of this seasonal service is the Express Visual Check. This 34-point inspection is intended to help identify any parts that require work or replacement for safety reasons. It will also point out areas of the car that may require attention at a later date.

All of the information gleaned from the check is relayed to the customer via a simple ‘traffic light’ reporting system where green means an item is in full working order; yellow means it is safe and legal, but may need maintenance in the future; and red means it could require immediate attention.

Among items included in the Winter Health Check are tyre pressures and tyre tread depths, both of which are important for safe winter motoring thanks, of course, to the season’s often difficult driving conditions.

The Volkswagen Winter Health Check also sees the car washed and vacuumed so that it is returned in good cosmetic, as well as mechanical, condition. Customers can keep their car in tip-top shape through the worst of the weather, too, as they go home with a car care kit that comprises anti-freeze, de-icer, rubber care materials and a handy ice scraper.

Last year thousands of UK motorists helped to ensure their cars were prepared for winter by purchasing a check from their Volkswagen Retailer.

For more details of the Volkswagen Winter Health Check please visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Group's core brand reports further growth in sales revenue and operating profit before special items in third quarter
"Transform 2025+" strategy brings sustainable results
Cost development remains under control despite biggest product offensive in history of brand
Turnaround program in North America taking hold
Return on sales for 2017 as a whole expected to be moderately higher than previously forecast range of 2.5 to 3.5 percent (before special items)
Brand CEO Diess: "We are well on the way to achieving our key strategic goals"

The Volkswagen brand continued its successful business development in the third quarter of 2017. Sales revenue from January to September based on the new demarcation between the Group and the brand, which has been applied since the beginning of the year, climbed 8.3 percent compared with the previous year to €58.9 billion. In the first nine months, Volkswagen more than doubled operating profit before special items to €2.5 (1.2) billion. This was impacted by additional provisions for the buyback/retrofit program for 2.0l TDI vehicles in North America in approximately the same amount already announced by the Group and recognized in the brand's figures for the third quarter. Adjusted for this special item, the brand's operating margin improved to 4.3 (1.6) percent after nine months. In light of the good development, Volkswagen has slightly raised its forecast for 2017 as a whole. The Brand Board of Management expects the operating return on sales (before special items) to be moderately higher than the previously forecast range of 2.5 to 3.5 percent.

"The Volkswagen brand is systematically implementing its Transform 2025+ strategy. Our model offensive is increasingly paying off, the turnaround programs in the markets are taking hold, the brand's new strategic orientation is producing good results overall. Our operational earning power has improved faster than we anticipated and we are well on the way to achieving our key strategic targets: to make Volkswagen competitive for tomorrow's mobility", Dr. Herbert Diess, CEO of the Volkswagen brand, said.

Deliveries to customers reflect this positive development at the Volkswagen brand in the first nine months. 4.49 million vehicles were handed over to customers worldwide in the period up to the end of September, an increase of 2.7 percent compared with the previous year. Deliveries gathered significant momentum as the year progressed, with particularly strong gains in the South America region during the first nine months (+24.0 percent). The situation in the home market of Germany, where the debate on the future of diesel powertrains affected deliveries during the course of the year, is also showing signs of recovery.

"Volkswagen has sent a strong signal so far this year with new models and the associated trend in unit deliveries We have returned to growth in all regions – and have every reason to look to the future with optimism", Jürgen Stackmann, Brand Board Member for Sales, commented.

Financial figures further improved, forecast for return on sales raised

The visible market success has been a significant factor in positive sales development so far this year. Volume, mix and margin effects had a positive impact on operating profit before special items. This upward trend was also attributable to further improvements in the cost situation, in part as a result of the successful implementation of the Future Pact agreed the previous year. Despite the continued product offensive, fixed costs were maintained at the level of the previous year. Ongoing progress with the turnaround in North America and Russia also contributed to the improvement in the margin situation.

For the remainder of the year, the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management expects the positive business development of the first three quarters to continue. On a comparable basis, sales revenue is still forecast to rise by about 10 percent over the previous year. The operating return on sales before special items is now expected to be moderately higher than the range of 2.5 to 3.5 percent. In light of the future investments expected during the coming years, Volkswagen's medium- and long-term return on sales targets of at least 4 percent by 2020 rising to 6 percent by 2025 remain unchanged.

Dr. Arno Antlitz, Volkswagen Brand Board Member for Finance, commented: "Step by step, we will achieve a sustained improvement in our earning power in the coming years. We will focus on further improving competitiveness, systematically implementing the turnaround in the regions, and continuing the biggest model offensive in the brand's history." In addition, Volkswagen will forge ahead with preparing for the offensive with innovative electric vehicles from 2020.

Article source: www.volkswagen-media-services.com

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