Volkswagen is writing a new chapter in mobility in presenting its first fully electric production vehicle: the new e-up!. The four-seat car – which operates with nearly zero noise – is being shown at today’s Annual Press and Investors Conference in Wolfsburg. The new e-up! impresses with its driving range of 150 km and excellent everyday practicality.

Innovations that fascinate: the e-up! offers entry to a new pioneering vehicle concept with an electric drive and four seats. A car for daily use in the city − but it is also ideal for commuters or as an innovative second car. It can handle distances of up to 150 km effortlessly. Afterwards, the e-up! can be recharged to as much as 80 per cent of its energy storage capacity within 30 minutes.

With nearly zero noise, the e-up! is powered by an electric motor with 60 kW / 82 PS peak power – without any disturbing gearshift interruptions or powertrain noise. Its continuous power is 40 kW / 55 PS. Its maximum torque of 210 Newton metres is available immediately with the first revolution. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h within 14 seconds and reaches a top speed of 135 km/h. The lithium-ion battery integrated in the underfloor area has a total energy storage capacity of 18.7 Kilowatt-hours (kWh); this means that the car can cover up to 150 km (per NEDC) on a single charge thanks to its low vehicle weight of 1,185 kg.

The port for charging the battery in the e-up! is hidden behind the ‘fuel filling flap’. As an option, the Combined Charging System (CCS) is used, which has been standardised by Volkswagen and other carmakers. It supports both DC and AC charging, so that drivers can easily charge their cars at most charging stations – regardless of the power sources or charging rates that they offer.

The styling of the e-up! is subtle and expresses high quality. One distinctive exterior feature is the curved layout of the LED daytime running lights in the front bumper. In addition, the front end, sills and underbody have been aerodynamically optimised.

The e-up! can be made out at first glance by its machine-polished 15-inch alloy wheels, Volkswagen emblems with blue backgrounds and an e-up! logo at the rear.

The vehicle’s interior features e-up! light-grey seat covers with blue top-stitched seams. Special leather and chrome accents have been used to convey a puristic impression that matches the vehicle concept of a full-fledged urban electric car.

In autumn, the e-up! will make its show debut at the International Autoshow in Frankfurt and following this will become available to order.  First UK customer deliveries are expected to take place from early 2014.

 
Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

With the introduction of the newest Volkswagen Golf Variant, we get an early look at what will most likely be the next-generation Jetta SportWagen here in the US. To further whet our appetities, VW is now teasing something a little sportier with the Concept R-Line. Looking the part of a GTI wagon (or a stretched Golf R), the Golf Variant Concept R-Line has a production-ready appearance that has us hoping we'll see this sporty wagon sooner rather than later.

The R-Line starts off with a new fascia that isn't quite as aggressive as the recently introduced GTI, but it gives the new styling some extra punch. Below the fascia is a lower splitter that visually carries back into the rocker panel extensions, and the rear of the car gets some bright exhaust tips and a rear diffuser. The Lapis Blue Metallic paint job probably does enough on its own to add a sporty flair to the Golf wagon, and it's all finished off with 18-inch split-spoke wheels. Inside, the Concept R-Line shows off sport seats wrapped in carbon leather featuring blue nappa inserts in the middle.

Rightfully so, VW brought the Concept R-Line to Geneva with its TDI and 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. A sporty, all-wheel-drive diesel wagon? Yes, please.

Article source: www.autoblog.com

Driven: VW Golf GTI Cabriolet

 

Volkswagen's legendary Golf GTI is available as a cabriolet once again. Erin Baker takes it for a spin.

On a freezing but sunny November Saturday, frost-starched pavements and clouds of breath in the clean air, convertible owners are the magicians of the morning. You see them, roofs down, faces wreathed in grins, clad in bobble hats and Puffas, darting about the open roads, and wonder what fresh madness it is that makes them volunteer for extra chilliness.

Then you become one of them, and you understand. No wonder the UK has the highest number of convertible owners in Europe: we have an unquenchable thirst for sunshine. Give us a sniff of it and we’re off, like a greyhound after a hare. Which sums up the new Volkswagen Golf GTI well.

Decades after the MkI, this is still the car to which all other hot hatches aspire. It’s got that perfect mix of responsive chassis, willing 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, direct steering, progressive brakes and supple suspension, together with room for four adults, an adequate boot and user-friendly controls. There are no alternatives: this is it, the Alpha and Omega of hotness and hatchness. the Port and stilton, the bacon and buttie of all GTIs. And now you can have it with a folding fabric roof.

Our test car was lairy red, with a smart black roof, big silver discs for alloys, and tartan-fabric seats that had "GTI" embroidered on them. The only letdown was a measly thin gearknob for the six-speed manual 'box where, as everyone knows, there should be a fat golf ball.

 

On the motorway, with the roof up, there is commendably little noise from outside, and fuel consumption is bearable; zipping around town will see you drop to 19mpg or so, but you’ve got to have a bit of fun in a car with tartan seats, don’t you think?

Article source: www.telegraph.co.uk

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Rugged-looking Cross up! ready for Geneva show debut

Volkswagen is expanding its range of striking Cross models with the Cross up!, which will go on sale in Europe from late summer.  It will join the CrossPolo, CrossGolf and CrossTouran models, which have been a big success in Europe.

Cross models are individualised Volkswagen models with a particularly rugged design and tough, lifestyle qualities.  Thanks to numerous striking exterior elements, the Cross up! is instantly recognisable as a stand-alone model: sideways on, for example, black mouldings on the wheel arches and sills, plus full-length door protector strips topped with ‘Cross up!’ lettering create a sporty look.  Further unmistakable features of the Cross up! include the silver roof rails, the wing mirrors in a light silver metallic finish and bumpers also incorporating silver elements.  The robust, sporty character is defined above all by the extra ride height and the ‘Cross’ 16-inch alloys with a high-sheen finish and 185/50 tyres.

High-quality details are also to be found in the interior of the Cross up!, from kick-plates with ‘Cross up!’ lettering to seats in a special trim (in a choice of red or anthracite), an instrument panel with high-quality dash-pad (in a choice of red, black or dark silver), and a leather-covered steering wheel and handbrake lever.

The Cross up! is equipped to a high specification: included as standard are remote central locking, electric front windows, fog lights, electrically adjustable heated wing mirrors, an asymmetrically split, folding rear seat with headrests, a variable-height boot floor, a rev counter, a multifunction display and ESC electronic stability programme.

A 55 kW / 75 PS three-cylinder petrol engine combined with a five-speed manual transmission serve as the power train for the lifestyle-oriented Cross up!, which is available in Germany from late summer at a starting price of €13,925.  UK sales are under consideration, but not confirmed.

 
Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk