The all-electric Volkswagen e-up! goes on sale on Monday 2 December priced at £19,250 (including £5,000 Government grant or £24,250 on the road).  Customers wishing to take the lead with this innovative city specialist will be able order their e-up! from one of 24 Volkswagen EV specialist retailers across the UK, with the first deliveries expected at the end of January. 

Based on the multi-award-winning up! city car, the e-up! comes in one high-specification trim level.  With zero tailpipe emissions, a range of up to 93 miles in optimum conditions, and a standard full charge taking less than nine hours from a standard 230-Volt, 2.3 kW household socket, the five-door e-up! is as practical as it is environmentally friendly.

The e-up!’s AC electric motor produces 60 kW / 82 PS and 210 Nm of torque.  The lithium-ion battery is rated at 374 Volts and 18.7 kWh.  Depending on driving style, charge level and ambient conditions, it has a maximum potential range of 93 miles.  As well as a standard driving mode, the e-up! has two economy profiles as standard: ‘Eco’ and ‘Eco+’.  ‘Eco’ cuts the vehicle’s peak power to 50 kW, reduces the output of the air conditioning system and modifies the throttle response.  ‘Eco+’ limits maximum power to 40 kW, further modifies the throttle response and disables the air conditioning. 

On top of these different operating modes, the range of the e-up! can be greatly influenced by regenerative braking.  There are five modes available: D, D1, D2, D3 and B.  In D, the vehicle coasts when the accelerator is lifted.  In each of the next levels, lifting off the throttle pedal provides an increased level of regenerative braking.  In D2, D3 and B, the brake lights are automatically activated when the driver’s foot is lifted from the throttle pedal.

In the UK e-up! customers will be offered an optional wall box for home garage use.  This provides a 3.6 kW supply and can recharge a completely flat battery in six hours.  On top of this, all e-up!s have a DC fast-charging circuit as standard.  Using the Combined Charging System (CCS), this enables a flat battery to be charged to 80 per cent in 30 minutes, at levels of up to 40 kW using a DC supply.  Cables are provided to connect to both a standard UK three-pin socket and a CCS socket.

Where conditions permit, the e-up! can achieve a top speed of 81 mph; while it can easily keep up with urban and suburban traffic, thanks to a zero to 37 mph time of 4.9 seconds, and a zero to 62 mph time of 12.4 seconds. 

Externally, the e-up! can be identified by badges on the front wings and bootlid, as well as by distinctive C-shaped LED daytime running lights, and 15-inch ‘Tezzle’ alloy wheels. Inside, the bespoke upholstery is edged in blue, while the leather-covered steering wheel, gearlever and handbrake all have blue stitching. 

On top of the standard specification of the range-topping petrol-powered High up! model, which includes luxuries such as heated front seats, cruise control and the Maps and More navigation system, the e-up! adds a heated windscreen, DAB digital radio with six-speaker Sound Pack, City Emergency Braking system, rear parking sensors and an electronic climate control system.  As well as the standard Bluetooth connectivity and navigation functions of the petrol-powered up!’s Maps and More device, the e-up!’s unit includes charging point location details, range mapping (both one-way and round-trip) and vehicle charging management functions, including the ability to pre-set the vehicle’s interior heating or cooling for certain times. 

Certain vehicle functions can also be operated remotely using Volkswagen’s Car Net services on an Apple iPhone or Android mobile device.  The e-up! comes with a three-year Car Net subscription that allows users to control or get information on charging status, battery management, doors and lighting, driving data, climate control and the location of the vehicle.

The e-up! comes with a standard three-year warranty, with the option to extend this by one or two years.  The vehicle’s battery comes with an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty, while the standard service interval is 10,000 miles or one year, whichever comes soonest.

The e-up! is available to order from 2 December, with first deliveries expected at the end of January 2014.  More details will be available in due course.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

The dusk sensor detects light levels and automatically turns on your headlights when light is low, helping you to drive more safely. The dusk sensor system is fitted behind your internal mirror. It will turn on the dipped headlights whenever conditions demand, such as when you are driving through a tunnel, for example. Your headlights must be switched to 'auto' for the dusk sensors to work. They turn off automatically once you're back in the light.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

The Golf has been named 'Car of the Year 2013/14' in Japan, and so, for the first time in the 34-year history of this prestigious award, a foreign car has beaten the local competition. Particularly impressive was the score awarded by the 60-strong jury to the latest generation Golf, which has only been available in Japan since 25th June: 504 out of a possible 600 points - a record for an imported car and a lead of 131 points over the second-placed vehicle and 337 points over the car in third.

"We are delighted that the Golf is the first imported car to win the main prize in the 34-year history of Car of the Year Japan. This award is dedicated to everyone who has supported Volkswagen in Japan over the past 60 years," said Shigeru Shoji, Volkswagen Group President in Japan.

Explaining its decision, the jury highlighted in particular the new Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) as a core strength of the Golf: the MQB formed the basis for precise handling with simultaneously high levels of ride comfort and driving pleasure, the jurors said. Further features to earn praise included the excellent standard of safety, the clear and clean design, the high-quality interior and exterior finish and the highly modern TSI engines.

The Golf is available in Japan in three versions: 'Trendline', 'Comfortline' and 'Highline'. Customers have the choice of two efficient and nimble turbo-charged direct injection petrol engines: the 1.2 TSI and the 1.4 TSI with active cylinder management (ACT). In October, Volkswagen also extended the range with the addition of the new Golf GTI, featuring a 2.0 TSI engine that is impressing car buyers in Japan as well. Since the launch of the new Golf on the Japanese market, over 13,000 vehicles have already been ordered - an indication of the brand's strong growth in general in Japan.

The overall 'Car of Year 2103/14' victory of the Golf is the latest high point in a long list of prestigious awards. First places in the 'Car of the Year 2013' (Europe), the 'World Car of the Year 2013' and the 'Golden Steering Wheel 2013' stand out by virtue of their international significance and recognise the accomplished overall package offered by the most successful German car ever.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

As temperatures fall and you swap the sombreros for the snow hats and barefoot for boots, take a moment to think about your car and whether it’s ready for winter. 

Of course you could get out on your driveway in the rain and check it all yourself – or you could simply pop it in to your local Volkswagen Retailer where a trained technician will give it a thorough Winter Check for just £25*.  Not only does that £25 buy you peace of mind that your car is ready for those chilly mornings and icy roads, it also includes a Winter Car Care Kit worth £20. 

The Winter Check begins with an Express Visual Health Check to highlight any obvious or potential problems.  It then includes an oil and washer fluid check and free top up, battery and alternator check, as well as free fitting of any bulbs or wiper blades required when purchased at the Retailer.

Once any required work is complete, you’ll then drive away with a complimentary Volkswagen Winter Car Care Kit with screenwash, de-icer, cockpit care, ice scraper and cleaning cloth, as well as a £20 voucher towards your next battery, fitted before 31 March 2014. 

The Winter Check is available at participating* Volkswagen Retailers until 31 March 2014.  And even if you decide not to give your car a Winter Check, Volkswagen has plenty of handy hints and tips on keeping your car in top condition over the season, including a video which can be found here www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/winter-check/winter-driving-tips.

Volkswagen has also launched its cold weather wheel and tyre programme which offers a wide range of wheels for driving in colder conditions.  It doesn’t need to be snowing for them to be effective: cold weather tyres are designed to work when the temperature drops to seven degrees centigrade and below.  The tread design and compound formulation are better than those on standard fit tyres at these temperatures, so they improve grip, traction, handling and braking.  The Met office states that average temperatures between October and March are generally below seven degrees, so it makes sense to fit cold weather tyres. 

Also handy to have in the car are Snow Socks, a cheap but effective traction solution which fit around tyres and improve grip.  They are only for use on snow and icy roads and should be removed before driving onto treated/cleared roads to avoid premature wear. 

For more sustained driving in snow, snow chains, also available from Volkswagen Retailers, are ideal – and are in fact a legal requirement in certain countries during the winter season.  It is a good idea to practice fitting them before having to apply them in poor weather conditions, and your local Volkswagen Retailer will be able to assist you with this.

For more tips or details on all winter accessories, please visit www.volkswagen.co.ukor your nearest Volkswagen Retailer.

* at participating Retailers – call 0800 333666 to confirm availability.