Seats with air conditioning and a massage function offer luxurious comfort, relaxation and bonus points for physical health and safety.

Air conditioning: 
heating and cooling by means of the ventilated seat backs and cushions deliver a high feelgood factor and prevent cramped posture. There is no further need for movement-restricting winter clothes thanks to the heated seats. Consequently the seat belts fit better and offer better protection. This also means, for example, that the restraint systems work more effectively.

Massage function: 
the massage function takes the strain off the spine and contributes to physical fitness. Once activated by a pushbutton, it moves the lumbar support with a massaging action for ten minutes. The advantage of this mechanical system over pneumatic solutions lies in the more effective movement of the spine, which provides natural relaxation of the back muscles.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Driving Mode Selection enables you to choose different settings that will change both your car’s performance and your driving experience – all at the push of a button. You can quickly and easily select one of the five driving modes using the touchscreen and change between normal, comfortable, sporty, individual or eco style. So depending on what type of driver you are and your driving situation, you’ll be able to tailor the car to your requirements.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Last week the Volkswagen brand recieved the award "Most Innovative Volume Brand" from the Center of Automotive Management (CAM). The established industry award was presented at a gala in Frankfurt to Stefan Gies, Head of Passenger Car Chassis Development at Volkswagen. In addition, Volkswagen recieved two further awards as the most innovative brand in the categories "Interface & Connectivity" and "Autonomous Driving & Safety".

According to a study by CAM in cooperation with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), this year the Volkswagen brand was the most progressive volume brand once again. This meant that the carmaker from Wolfsburg was able to successfuly defend it's position from the previous year, For years, the study AutomotiveINNOVATIONS has identified the future trends and innovation profiles of different car brands based on technical vehicle innovations. In the official justification for this year's award, CAM and PwC stated: "With 60 seperate innovations Volkswagen is by far the most innovative volume brand. Highly rated features include Trailer Assist, which is available for the Golf and Tiguan for the first time, and also a worldwide innovation in the respective segments."

The current CAM study also emphasises that the innovative strength of the Volkswagen brand lies in the category "Interface & Connectivity" among others and provides the following justification for this: "For the first time in this class gesture control is available for the infotainment systems of the Golf update, enabling intuitive operation. In addition, innovations such as the Doorbird app, where the car can connect with the home intercom system, led to the success of the Volkswagen brand in this category."

According to the CAM study, the Volkswagen brand also confirmed its pioneering role in the field of "Autonomous Driving & Safety". "With 'Side Assist Plus', the Tiguan is the first vehicle in its segment to feature an active asistance package that monitors the blind spot among other features. Furthermore, Rear Traffic Alert can alert the driver to approaching vehicles and also brake autonomously should the driver fail to react."

The Center of Automotive Managment in Bergisch-Gladbach (D) under the direction of Professor Stefan Bratzel is an indepedent scientific institute for empirical automotive and mobility research. It has conferred awards to the most innovative car manufacturers of the year for a number of years in cooperation with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Sixty global car brands were considered for this year's analysis.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Volkswagen is displaying the potential of its flagship Golf R hatchback in the muscular form of the Golf R 400 concept. If the ‘400’ in the name doesn’t give the game away that this is a seriously powerful machine, then the body and bumper modifications and flared wheel arches should give more than a hint.

Based on the standard Golf R hatchback, which with its turbocharged 300 PS engine and 4MOTION four-wheel drive is hardly a shrinking violet, the Golf R 400 ups the ante considerably, with 400 PS and an extra 70 Nm of torque, making for 450 Nm in total, available from 2,400 to 6,000 rpm. 

Developed by Volkswagen R GmbH, the arm responsible for high-power and customisation projects, the Golf R 400 uses a modified version of the engine found in the Golf R: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine (Type EA888). The extra power of the 400 helps propel this six-speed DSG-equipped model from rest to 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds, a whole second faster than its 300 PS sibling. Its top speed is 174 mph (governed). 

To achieve the increase in power, the Golf R 400 features a newly developed turbocharger with a higher maximum charge pressure and reinforced crankcase. A water-cooled exhaust gas feed to the turbocharger integrated in the cylinder head helps to reduce full-load fuel consumption, while variable valve control with dual camshaft adjustment improves economy and performance.

At 1,420 kg, the Golf R 400 weighs the same as the standard Golf R, but its appearance has been substantially altered. The body is 20 mm wider on each side, with flared wheelarches that are reminiscent of those on the 1988 Rallye Golf G60. These arches, like most of the body, are painted in ‘Silver Flake’ metallic, and contrast with the gloss black roof and carbon door mirror caps. New sill extensions seamlessly bridge the gap between the widened arches. Filling those arches are 19-inch alloy wheels on an increased offset. A development of the Golf R’s standard ‘Cadiz’ wheels, these are highly modified, with high-gloss back inserts that act as air vanes, helping to cool the reinforced braking system. The tyres are 235/35 R19s.

At the front, the bumper has been completely redesigned to take into account the greater cooling requirements of the R 400. A carbon fibre splitter and aerodynamic ‘wing element’ help to push air towards the honeycomb mesh of the grille – one of many aspects influenced by motorsport. The ‘R’ badge on the gloss black radiator grille sits on a ‘Lemon Yellow’ background, while the horizontal stripe across the grille (which, like the chrome strip on the Golf R, continues into the bi-xenon headlights) is also ‘Lemon Yellow’.

The redesigned rear bumper includes vents on each side, and the Golf R’s four tailpipes have been replaced with two centrally mounted items, like those on the 2002 Golf R32. These 110 mm diameter items are 200 mm apart, and point slightly upwards, displaying a honeycomb mesh. A black double spoiler with LED brake lights atop the tailgate finishes the look. Inside are motorsport shell seats with integrated head restraints and belt openings. These are upholstered in cross-quilted panels covered in Alcantara, and ‘carbon leather’, as are the two individual rear seats. Stitching throughout the interior is in contrasting ‘Lemon Yellow’.

The Golf R 400 is only a concept at this stage, with no production plans.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk