The new Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR has the seal of quality in its name: 40 years after the launch of the first Golf GTI, the customer sports version also possesses the acronym that, since 1976, has been synonymous with the Wolfsburg-based car maker’s sporting character, powerful engines and maximum performance. Since it was first unveiled in July 2015, the Golf GTI TCR has been hugely popular on the racetrack: all the customer sports models for the 2016 season had already been snapped up by mid-January. The teams can field the 20 cars, which were developed by Volkswagen Motorsport, in up to 16 national and international TCR touring car championships. The cars for the international TCR championship are to be handed over to the customer sports teams from 11th March in Abrera/Barcelona (E). An initial roll-out with the opposition is planned for the test drives at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia (E) from 14th March.

Dynamic appearance: production-based Golf GTI TCR embodies racing genes

The acronym GTI stands for Gran Turismo Injection and is more than just a seal of quality – it is a trademark and an identity. Even to look at, the Golf makes no secret of its motor racing genes: 18-inch racing rims, a chassis that is roughly 40 centimetres wider than the production Golf, and a striking rear wing also guarantee optimal handling. An aerodynamic front splitter and carbon rear wing are among the modifications for the racetrack. Among the features that ensure maximum safety for the driver are a racing seat with head protectors, racing safety cage, and an FIA-approved safety tank.

Powerful and efficient: turbo engine with direct fuel inject, generating 330 PS

A powerful straight four-cylinder engine, a sequential gearbox with shift paddles located on the steering wheel, a consistently developed racing chassis – the new Golf has been meticulously prepared for its outings on the racetracks of this world. Volkswagen Motorsport developed the car in cooperation with the sport department at SEAT. This made it possible to call on the extensive experience gained with the SEAT Leon Cup Racer. As with the Volkswagen Group’s production cars, the MQB platform also offers many synergies when it comes to racing cars, thus reducing the costs involved in assembling and running the touring car. The 2-litre turbo engine with direct fuel injection is the same one used in the top sporting model, the Golf R. The racing version generates 243 kW (330 PS) and produces 410 Nm of torque.

Successful start: concept car shows great potential at TCR outings

The racing car based on the seventh generation of Golf has already enjoyed success in competition. In 2015, cooperation partner Liqui Moly Team Engstler fielded two cars in the TCR International Series. The production-based concept car showed great potential: at its first race weekend, the Golf promptly won the second race at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.

Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport: the most powerful production GTI ever celebrates its anniversary

The racetrack is not the only place the Golf GTI is celebrating its 40th birthday. To mark the anniversary, Volkswagen is launching the most powerful production GTI ever: the Golf GTI Clubsport. Volkswagen presented sketches of the new car at the GTI meeting at the Wörthersee in May 2015, before unveiling a production model at the German International Motor Show (IAA) in September. The 2-litre TFSI engine generates 265 PS – that is 35 PS more than the previous most powerful Golf GTI. Another feature of the turbocharged direct- injection engine is a boost function, which allows the driver to briefly increase the engine power by ten per cent to 290 PS.

Quotes on the customer sports project with the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director

“The Golf GTI TCR allows customer sports teams to partake in reasonably-priced motorsport with a Volkswagen. Furthermore, the teams can expand their motorsport commitments innumerous TCR championships, both at national and international level. We are providing them with a car that is ideally suited and prepared for this purpose: the Golf has not only made an outstanding impression at tests, but also shown its great potential in competition. We are delighted by the high demand for the car among customer sports teams, which confirms that we are doing a good job.”

Eduard Weidl, Head of Customer Sports

“The use of the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR in customer sports is a great opportunity, the likes of which we have not seen before on the motorsport scene at Volkswagen. When developing the technology, our main focus was on keeping the running costs at races as low as possible.Together with the customer sports teams, we now face the challenges in the various TCR championships. We will provide on-site contact partners on race weekends, to ensure that the Golf GTI TCR is perfectly prepared when it takes to the grid. Furthermore, a co-operation is planned with SEAT in the TCR International Series.This will deal with service, logistics and on-site supervision, in order to make the outings as efficient as possible for the teams.”

TCR International Series – Calendar 01/04–03/04/2016 Bahrain* 22/04–24/04/2016 Portugal (Estoril)

06/05–08/05/2016 Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps) 20/05–22/05/2016 Italy (Monza) 03/06–05/06/2016 Austria (Salzburg) 17/06–19/06/2016 Germany (Oschersleben) 01/07–03/07/2016 Russia (Sochi) 26/08–28/08/2016 Thailand (Buriram) 16/09–18/09/2016 Singapore* 30/09–02/10/2016 Malaysia (Sepang)* 18/11–20/11/2016 Macau

* On support programme for the FIA Formula One World Championship.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Volkswagen world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show

The T-Cross Breeze is the first convertible SUV in the Polo class

The T-Cross Breeze concept car offers a first look at a newly developed SUV model series.

In future, the Tiguan and Touareg will be joined by three more SUV model series.

Ten key facts – the T-Cross Breeze in keywords

1. The striking, fresh design of the T-Cross Breeze offers the first exciting look at an entirely new Volkswagen SUV.
2. The T-Cross Breeze concept is a progressive SUV with the added appeal of a modern soft-top convertible.
3. In the T-Cross Breeze, SUV and convertible blend to become a cool, affordable compact car.
4. The T-Cross Breeze showcases extremely dynamic body proportions and crisp, short overhangs.
5. With the T-Cross Breeze, T-Roc, Tiguan, Tiguan XL, mid-size SUV and Touareg the new and growing Volkswagen SUV range is taking shape.
6. Volkswagen aims to make its mark in every class with stylish and charismatic SUVs such as the exciting new T-Cross Breeze.
7. The four-seat T-Cross Breeze is equipped with an interactive cockpit and a next-generation operation concept.
8. Touch-sensitive surfaces and newly developed “by-wire” solutions replace conventional switches and buttons.
9. A 300 W BeatsAudio™ sound system makes open-top cruising an acoustic pleasure, too.
10. The T-Cross Breeze is powered by a highly efficient 1.0 litre TSI turbo petrol engine with an output of 81 kW/110 PS.

In brief – the world premiere of the T-Cross Breeze

Wolfsburg/Geneva, March 2016. The new T-Cross Breeze will take centre stage on the Volkswagen stand at the 86th Geneva Motor Show. “This open-top Volkswagen enhances the world of compact cars with a completely new attitude to automotive life”, says Dr Herbert Diess. With this, the Chairman of the Board of Management Volkswagen Brand gets to the core of the bold theory behind this concept car, which celebrates its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show. The Volkswagen Brand Chairman continues: “Our T-Cross Breeze is the first open-top SUV in its class and, at the same time, an affordable, cheeky cabriolet with a raised seating position that gives you a perfect view.” With this concept, Volkswagen underlines the fact that the brand is blazing a trail and making mobility more of an experience than ever before. Herbert Diess: “At the moment the T-Cross Breeze is purely a concept, but we can well imagine putting such a convertible on the market as a production model. An affordable fun car that is also entirely suitable for everyday use. A genuine ‘People’s Car’.” And so the concept car, which is equipped with an 81 kW/110 PS 1.0 litre TSI (turbocharged direct injection petrol engine), gives a glimpse of a new model series. Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design for the Volkswagen Brand, explains: “The T-Cross Breeze is a teaser for the most compact sport utility vehicle that Volkswagen plans to make – and the nucleus of a new SUV and convertible design in the compact sector.”

New Volkswagen. “The T-Cross Breeze reflects the new start of our brand”, says Klaus Bischoff. “We want to stir enthusiasm for ‘New Volkswagen’. In this instance we are doing that with an unprecedented vehicle concept in this class; a completely redesigned cockpit and design that is equally crisp and expressive. We have pulled out all the stops and put what is surely one of the most exciting four-metre SUVs of the modern day on its wheels”, the Head of Design explains. This is why the world premiere of the new T-Cross Breeze at the Geneva International Motor Show (1 - 13 March 2016) heralds a radical reorientation for the design of compact Volkswagen cars.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Two genuine trendsetters are set to make waves in the small car segment, with the overall conceptof both the up! beats and the Polo beats being defined by impressive sound. Both new models feature a 300 W premium sound system from audio specialists Beats AudioTM, promising a state-of-the-art sound experience.

Few brands share the same attitude to life as “Beats”, and now two new special editions from Volkswagen being unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show also bear this iconic name. Both the up! beats and the Polo beats will feature a new, state-of-the-art sound system as standard. The system’s 300 watt, 8-channel amplifieris fitted with a digital signalprocessor (DSP). To deliver this crystal-clear sound, the system has seven high-end loudspeakers distributed around the interior: two tweeters in the A-pillars, two woofers in the front doors, two broadband loudspeakers in the back as well as a subwoofer integrated in the spare wheel well, which delivers powerful, punching bass tones.

Over and above this, the two models boast impressive equipment. The up! beats can, for instance, be recognised by various features such as new 15-inch “Radial” alloy wheels, special beats design decals and contrasting colour door mirror caps, while the interioris given an individual look thanks to a specially designed dashpad, a multifunction steeringwheel, a special door sill plate and colour-coordinated seat belts.

The Polo beats, meanwhile, features new 16-inch “Syenit” alloy wheels, coloured door mirrors and a gloss black radiator grille. The interior is characterised by the special “beats” design seats and door trim panels, coloured seat belts and a leather steering wheel.

The audio specialist Beats Electronics – founded in 2008 by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine – redefined how we listen to music, primarily with its studio headphones. Now the Californian company has significantly expanded its range of productsto include earbuds, wireless headphones, wireless active buds, and wireless speakers.

Product film about the new up!: https://youtu.be/oA4uwI8Sla0

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Wolfsburg/Geneva, March 2016. The smallest Volkswagen is becoming yet more colourful and sharper still. At the end of May the second series of the up! will be launched in Europe – with newly designed body panels, new colours, new wheels, new individualisation options, new equipment, a completely redesigned interior, a new infotainment system and an outstanding new engine that offers a significant boost in performance and torque. Volkswagen is presenting the new version of the up! to the public for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show. The up! has been one of the most successful small cars in Europe for over five years. Its ever-increasing sales volume secures for the up! market leadership in its segment in countries such as Germany and the Netherlands. However, the up! has also enjoyed great success outside Europe, with strong performances in markets such as Brazil, Japan and South Africa.

New design and interior elements. Every version of the up! presented in Geneva will come with new headlights (optionally available with LED daytime running lights), new bumpers, a prominent rear diffuser, newly designed tail lights, new exterior mirror housings with integrated indicator lights, new colours and décors for the dashpad (dashboard styling panel) as well as new seat designs. Just like the larger Volkswagens, the latest up! is now also available with the “Light and Sight” package (“Coming home” and “Leaving home” functions as well as rain sensors). Fog lamps will now also feature cornering lights. Volkswagen is also offering the up! with a multi-function steering wheel and Pure Air Climatronic (automatic air conditioning) for the first time. Pure Air includes an air quality sensor with an active biogenic filter that keeps the atmosphere in the cabin at a consistently high level and prevents pollutants, fungal spores or allergens from entering via the system.

New turbo engine. The outstanding new engine of the up! offers a ground-breakingly efficient drive system: the 1.0 TSI. This turbocharged direct petrol injection (TSI) delivers a powerful 66 kW/90 PS. The maximum torque of 160 Nm is available from 1,500 rpm. The three-cylinder engine is the first turbo for the up! and the most powerful motor to date. It delivers truly dynamic performance, with a top speed of 185 km/h, and takes just 10 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h. This up! even strives to match the driving performance of the first Golf GTI. Its dynamism is paired with high efficiency: 4.4 l/100 km (equating to 102 g/km CO2) mean that the up! 1.0 TSI can cover up to 800 km on a single tank of fuel. The sportiness of the most powerful up! is emphasised by the visible exhaust tailpipe.

New smartphone integration. Another innovation in the new up! is its smartphone integration. Just connect the smartphone above the dashpad, pair via Bluetooth and it becomes an infotainment system with navigation system and on-board computer functions.

New up! beats with a 300 W sound system Coinciding with the market launch of the new up!, Volkswagen is offering a new equipment version: the up! beats, a car whose overall concept is defined by sound, because it comes with a 300 W sound system – from the American audio specialists BeatsAudio™ - as standard. In this case, smartphone integration also comes as standard.

More colours and décor. The up! is a dynamic little car that makes mobility fun. With the new series, Volkswagen is putting the spotlight even more clearly on the individuality of each up! So the up! presented in Geneva comes with a choice of 13 body colours, 12 exterior decals, ten new dashpad designs, three roof colours, three design packs, two colour packs and two basic colours for the interior trim (“Titanium Black” and “Ceramique”), coloured alloy wheels and individualised-colour ambient light available for the top-of-the-range models.

• Exterior colours. Of the 13 colours available, seven are new: “Teal Blue”, “Coral Red”, “Costa Azul” (blue), “Honey Yellow”, UK White Silver, “Blueberry” and “Savanna Gold”.
• Dashpad designs. Depending on the body colour, interior trim and model, up! buyers can choose from a selection of ten new dashpad designs, using a new labelling process that allows an even greater degree of customisation.

More engines. Previously the range of engines comprised two three-cylinder units with multi-point injection (MPI) that deliver 44 kW/60 PS or 55 kW/75 PS. This duo of 1.0 litre petrol engines has now been augmented by the sporty new 1.0 TSI (66 kW/90 PS). As a zero-emission vehicle, the e-up! cruises through the city (60 kW/82 PS).

More standard equipment. A total of four trim levels available: take up!, move up!, high up! (all of which are available as two- and four-door versions) and e-up! (available as a four-door version only). An overview of the vehicle equipment upgrades:

• take up! In future, the base version take up! will come with features such as LED licence plate lighting, door mirror casings with integrated indicators, a chrome trim strip between the headlights as well as remote-controlled central locking. The gloss black application on the centre console (with heating and ventilation controls; plus optional climate controls and radio) is framed by a narrow chrome strip.
• move up! In contrast to the first series, the move up! is the first model in the revised range to feature the newly developed “Composition” radio system and a customised “Black Cube” design dashpad as standard.  (Uk spec plus 15” “ Fortaleza” alloy wheels and Air conditioning)
• high up! In the high up! the additional features include a newly developed ambient lighting system (white), a new and enlarged multi-function display, a customised dashpad (with a choice of three versions of the “Pixels” design), fog lamps with integrated static cornering lights and the new 15-inch “Calzone” alloy wheels. Air conditioning still comes as standard.
• e-up!. The new e-up! is characterised by the new “Shark Skin” design dashpad and ambient lighting (blue) as well as the new smartphone integration feature.

More equipment packages. Volkswagen is also offering three new roof packs designed to match the paint schemes – including roofs painted in contrasting black, white or grey as well as contrasting colour door mirror caps and tinted rear windows. Other additions to the range are three design packs, including a dashpad, design decals for the exterior, and contrasting door mirror caps. The range of equipment packages is rounded off by the colour packs, with the up! being given a final eye-catching flourish – along with the contrasting colours “Hot Orange” or “Gold Beige” – with 16-inch alloy wheels, design decals for the body and matching door mirror caps.

New up! 300 watts from Dr. Dre. The American audio specialist Beats Electronics – founded in 2008 by the rapper Dr. Dre – made a big impact on the music scene, primarily with its headphones. Now the Californian company also offers a wide range of other technologies, including full in-car sound systems. Volkswagen is unveiling these BeatsAudio™ sound systems for the first time at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show in the T-Cross Breeze SUV concept car, in the Polo and in the new up!. In the case of its city specialist, this results in a completely new equipment version: the up! beats. The sound system’s 300 watt and 8-channel amplifier is fitted with a digital signal processor (DSP). To ensure crystal-clear sound, the system has seven high-end loudspeakers distributed around the interior: two tweeters in the A-pillars, two woofers in the front doors, two broadband loudspeakers in the back as well as a subwoofer integrated in the spare wheel well, which delivers powerful, punching bass tones.

• up! beats equipment. The up! beats also has added customised flair thanks to the new 15-inch alloy wheels, special beats design decals and contrasting colour door mirror caps. In the interior, an individual dashpad, a special door sill plate as well as colour-coordinated seat belts to match the new equipment version give the car a very distinctive look. The up! beats also comes with smartphone integration and ambient lighting (white) as standard.

Two new radio systems. Volkswagen has given smartphone integration a complete make-over. A new infotainment generation has been developed: the Composition system, with a 3.1-inch monochrome display, and the top-of-the-range Composition Phone system with a 5.0-inch colour display. Both of the systems feature a twin tuner, AUX IN connection and SD card slot. The base system also has a CD player, while Composition Phone has a Bluetooth interface with hands-free function. The Composition Phone system also offers a rear view camera, available for the first time in the up! As an option, both of the systems can be supplemented by a DAB+ (digital radio receiver), the Sound Plus package (with six loudspeakers) as well as a USB port (in the centre console). The Composition Phone system is also available with the new smartphone integration feature and the BeatsAudio™ sound system.

Smartphone integration. “Maps + More” can be used to integrate current smartphones, running either Apple or Android, into the Composition Phone’s control system, simply by connecting the smartphone above the centre console and pairing it with the radio system via Bluetooth. The Volkswagen app “Maps + More” can now be used to run “Navigation” (offline navigation without roaming costs, 2D or 3D map mode), “MFA” (multi-function display with vehicle data), “Phone” (with hands-free kit), “Think Blue. Trainer.” (energy-saving tips), “E-charging Manager” (in the e-up), “Car Function” (various vehicle functions), “Media Control” (access to music details, display title, artist and cover, search function with handwriting recognition) and “Radio Control” (selection of FM, AM or DAB+; display, search and save radio stations). The smartphone integration system also includes a USB port that can be used to transfer data or for charging.

The New up! will be available Summer 2016.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk