The Golf’s success story enters the seventh generation as the car continues to inspire both customers and the specialist media. The Golf has been honoured with two dozen prestigious awards over the last twelve months. It was voted European “Car of the Year” and crowned “World Car of the Year 2013”. The new Golf also recently beat the competition in Japan, becoming the first imported car in the 34-year history of the country’s top award to claim the accolade and be named “Car of the Year 2013/2014 Japan” with a score that was streaks ahead of the field. Other awards include the “Golden Steering Wheel 2013”, the “Auto Trophy”, “Auto der Vernunft” (Car of Reason) and “Best cars of 2013”. Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, CEO of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, commented: “The Golf will remain the most important model and a powerful engine for the Volkswagen brand.”

The 500,000th latest-generation Golf will be delivered in a few days’ time just one year after the car was launched. And the bestseller has yet to make its debut in key countries such as China and the United States. Moreover, important derivatives in the Golf family are waiting in the wings: The new Golf Estate has just arrived in showrooms and will be followed next year by the Golf Sportsvan which Volkswagen premiered at the IAA in Frankfurt. There will also be innovative versions such as the e-Golf and the Golf Plug-in Hybrid. “We are delighted the Golf has got off to such a brilliant start and is enjoying such a positive reception from customers. That is first and foremost due to a committed team. Our people very definitely went the extra mile for the Golf and have done a great job,” Winterkorn added.

For years now, the Golf has been the best-selling car in Europe, enjoying this status in several individual countries and taking pole position, for example, in Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Croatia, Luxemburg, Norway, Austria, Switzerland and, of course, its home market of Germany.

The first generation of the Volkswagen Golf went on display at dealers in May 1974 as the successor to the legendary Beetle and has continued its predecessor’s success story for almost 40 years. The Golf has lent its name to an entire vehicle class and has always been available in a range of variants. From the ultra-economical Golf TDI BlueMotion to the sporty GTI, from the three-door model to the estate version, Volkswagen has a Golf to suit every taste and need. That has convinced customers: Volkswagen celebrated the 30 millionth Golf in June 2013.

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

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