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Volkswagen Golf GTD DSG

This Test Drive-Video of the fabulous Volkswagen Golf GTD was done on a very cold january-weekend in 2011 … Stop by my website and support my videos at www.thegetawayer.com TheGetawayer
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Volkswagen Golf R

The Volkswagen R performance sub-brand isn’t just a niche cog in the massive machine known as the Volkswagen Auto Group. If R GmbH’s heads are to be believed, it’s an instrumental component of the German automaker’s push to offer something for everyone. And after speaking with the two men shepherding R into the future, it appears that good things are on the way.

With the Golf R set to go on sale in the U.S. early next year and R-branded performance parts already proliferating throughout VW’s core products, Ulrich Riestenpatt gt. Richter, R’s Executive Director, and Dr. Hendrik Muth, R’s marketing head, are looking to the future. Fortunately, they were thoughtful enough to provide Autoblog with a small glimpse into what’s on the way.

“The future is diesel and all-wheel-drive,” Richter told us on the floor of last week’s LA Auto Show. That could mean that the next great performance offering from VW R could come in the form of an AWD diesel hatch – essentially an oil-burning Golf R. Further, Richter contends that he can make an R version of any vehicle in the VW stable, so don’t be surprised to see a Passat R in the coming years and the Beetle R getting the green light.

Just as telling, Richter says that while hybrids have their place (VW will be introducing a Jetta hybrid at the Detroit Auto Show), the fuel savings of hybrid-electric systems pale in comparison to weight reduction. “You can get the same efficiency [as a hybrid] by dropping 100 kilos,” Richter admits, but the high cost of advanced composites – namely carbon fiber – is still too high. So that means more aluminum is on the way, and partnered with a high-performance diesel powerplant, enthusiasts should be able to have their tire-shredding cake and eat less at the pump in the process.

Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 35 – Vanishing car

This year, Volkswagen is celebrating 35 years of the iconic Golf GTI. To celebrate the much loved model’s anniversary, Volkswagen has not only launched a special edition anniversary model, but also turned it into a ‘time machine’ and sent it back in time to revisit the brand’s unique history.
The online campaign launches with a film which opens at an event for the Golf GTI Edition 35. The live audience is introduced to the new car by TV presenter and racing driver, Amanda Stretton, and the Golf GTI’s engineers, before witnessing it vanish before their eyes as it travels back in time. Viewers can then follow the journey of the Golf GTI ‘time machine’ through a series of videos on Facebook. The first shows the time travelling car appear at Volkswagen’s German headquarters at Wolfsburg in 1976, where the Golf GTI ‘time travel’ journey begins.
Fans of the Golf GTI can watch the viral film and follow the time travelling Edition 35 as it takes a trip through the decades and visits a range of historic moments, on the Volkswagen UK Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/VolkswagenUK

2010 Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI SC 200

The word ´downsizing´ resounds everywhere. Small volume engines with turbo charging and up-to-date technology promise favourable usage and exhaust values with reasonable performance. That less really can be more is emphasised by Sportec with its Sportec SC 200 based on the VW Golf VI 1.4 TSI. The agile Golf is here turned into a real GTI killer that at the same time has the typically discreet Sportec external look. However, after its makeover the small Golf engine proves to be a crafty one. From a modest 1.4 litre cubic capacity the masterly electronic manipulation of the Swiss vehicle summons a full 200 PS with a torque of 300 Nm, which lies between 1,800 and 3,000 U/min (VW Series 160Ps/240 Nm by 1,500 U/min). This ensures impressive driving values. The Sportec SC 200 shaves a full 1.4 seconds off the 8.2 seconds taken by the VW Series for the sprint to 100 Km/h and is a full 3.2 seconds faster for the time taken to accelerate to 180 Km/h. Fuel consumption still remains favourable: it does, however, require the octane richer Superplus fuel (Super series) after its modification. Externally the only visible signs of the increased performance can be found in the Sportec sports exhaust, which, although visually very similar to the original, with its heartier tone and above all lesser back pressure ensures increased capacity and optimum use of the combustion chamber.

In order to safely bring the increased performance onto the road Sportec also recommends fitting the sport suspension that was exclusively devised for the tuner. Furthermore, a sports braking system is available for those drivers with special sports ambitions.

VW Golf Tops European Sales Chart in First Half of 2009

Despite the heavy competition from the new Ford Fiesta that increased its sales in Europe by a hefty 34.2 percent to 243,340 units in the first half of 2009, VW’s Golf continues to dominate the sales charts in the Old Continent with sales up 12.7 percent to 254,023 units in the same period, according to data released by Jato Dynamics. The rest of the top five list was rounded out by the Peugeot 207 with 193,778 units (-20,6 percent), the Opel – Vauxhall Corsa with 181,751 units (-14.1 percent) and the Renault Clio with 144,512 units (-28.0 percent).

Notably, the first ten places were occupied exclusively by European automakers – okay Opel / Vauxhall (at least for the time being) and Ford are controlled by their American parent companies.

Volkswagen was also Europe’s top-selling car brand in the first half of the year with 842,787 vehicles sold, up 0.7 percent over the same period in 2008. Ford finished in second place with 666,548 units, down 3.6 percent over last year, followed by GM’s Opel – Vauxhall division with 557,739 units (-16.8 percent), Fiat with 542,115 units (-1.4 percent) and Renault with 520,763 units (-18.4 percent).

Data: Jato Dynamics

Volkswagen Golf GTI by ABT

ABT Sportsline has now been customising vehicles for five decades – and right on time for the Anniversary, the Allgäu Company is presenting the new, sixth GTI. Sporty and fast “Golfs” in particular have carried these three letters since 1976. ABT was the place to go for everyone who wanted even more dynamic and driving fun from the very beginning. The latest generation of the compact sports car also bears the magic abbreviation, and of course it is now available in a breathtaking ABT version. The engine output is impressive, because due to optimized engine management (ABT POWER), the standard 210 HP (154 kW) become a dynamic 260 HP (191 kW). ABT POWER S makes the GTI even hotter: a new turbocharger, „Made in Kempten”, is used additionally in this case. The 2.0 TSI then has an output of a sporty 300 HP (221 kW) and accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in around six seconds. Thanks to ABT chassis springs, the GTI’s centre of gravity is located a good 30 mm lower, so the Über-Golf can be driven even more sportily. The chassis setting, which was designed by Christian Abt, is especially good fun on winding roads. And in the extreme case, the powerful ABT braking system also kicks in.

But an ABT Golf GTI is not only a hot piece of sports equipment for the road, it also looks like one: the bodywork package that designers have created underlines the car’s pure dynamics: no matter how you look at the GTI, it is always impressive. Rear spoiler and rear apron superstructure, side mouldings, front grill and apron as well as the diagonal 4-pipe exhaust system form one unit. ABT engineers also designed a front lip, which provide s a power-performance in combination with the front apron and the new ABT Daytime Running Lamp. The equally elegant as expressive colouring matches this: the paintwork in carbon steel grey metallic harmonises perfectly with side mouldings and front lip in the contrast colour red. The design also continues consistently in the interior, for all screens, the ornamental rings of the combination instrument and the steering wheel panels are painted in the signal tone. One look at the Allgäu sports car will tell you that it’s more than a “normal” Golf GTI – and consequently the sixth variation of the fast compact car with the large tailgate is steeped in the best tradition. Namely, its five predecessors also became powerful Golfs at ABT. ABT and GTI: these six letters have simply belonged together for 33 years.

Volkswagen Golf GTD – Comeback of a Classic

The Golf model lineup has been growing by leaps and bounds: At the end of 2008, the sixth generation of the bestseller was launched. Shortly thereafter, in early 2009, the new Golf Plus appeared. Then, the current Golf GTI was vaulted to center stage, closely followed by the new Golf Variant. And now the lineup continues: with the new Golf GTD. Its 125 kW / 170 PS power level makes it the highest-performance production Golf with a diesel engine today. The code letters GTD have a magical effect on diesel drivers and carry on a long tradition: 27 years ago the first GTD debuted and revolutionized the diesel market with its turbocharged diesel engine; for the first time, a diesel was not only economical but exceedingly sporty too. The GTD paved the way for the worldwide breakthrough of the TDI – the direct-injection high-tech diesel of the Volkswagen Group.

GTD key performance data: The new Golf GTD generation is powered by a highly advanced common rail TDI engine, which makes it stronger (350 Newton-meter), more economical (5.3 liter), cleaner (139 g/km CO2 / Euro 5) and quieter than ever before. The GTD is also sportier: 8.1 seconds for the sprint to 100 km/h and a 222 km/h top speed prove it.

GTD affinities: The Golf GTD speaks to all diesel fans who value a maximum in dynamic performance. That is why the GTD shows such a clear affinity to the new Golf GTI (155 kW / 210 PS). While the GTI is in a league of its own with an efficient turbo gasoline engine that offers the performance of far more expensive sports cars, the Golf GTD is making its debut with phenomenal fuel economy and a range of approx. 1,000 kilometer (with a 55 liter fuel tank).

GTD high tech: The car’s technical ingredients are among the most advanced that the market has to offer. Naturally, the focal point of this high-tech composition is the TDI engine. Its specific torque is 177.8 Newton-meter per liter engine displacement. In practically any driving situation, the 16-valve four-cylinder engine offers the power of a sports car engine with six cylinders. Just as pioneering is the six-speed DSG gearbox from Volkswagen: Just as on the Golf GTI, on the Golf GTD too there will be an optional dual clutch transmission in place of the standard six-speed version; no other automatic performs more quickly or efficiently. The Golf GTD with DSG is capable of achieving 220 km/h, also accelerates to 100 km/h in 8.1 seconds and consumes just 5.6 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers on average (147 g/km CO2).

GTD exterior: The car’s visual appearance is impressive too. The GTD – equipped with a chassis lowered by 15 millimeters, 17-inch alloy wheels (“Seattle”) and 225 section tires – shows parallels and once again a similarity to the GTI in terms of its styling and features. Consider the front end, for example: Among the hallmarks of the GTD and GTI are their bumper designs with standard front fog lights in a typical vertical layout. Their headlights and radiator grilles share the same construction as well. In the case of the GTD, the horizontal stripes in the radiator grille – typical of the GTI – are styled in chrome. At the rear, the turbo-diesel also has a diffuser, but it is modified: The diesel Golf can be recognized by the twin chrome tailpipes of its exhaust system in the diffuser. The taillights are smoked on both top Golf versions.

GTD interior: The car’s interior follows Volkswagen’s GT philosophy as well. And this means ergonomics in its purest form, supplemented by features tailored to the Golf GTD. The “top sport seats” – the same as the ones used in the Golf GTI – define a higher standard. Their long-distance touring and racing properties are legendary, as is their styling. In contrast to the GTI, the black sport seats of the GTD are complemented by a light gray color in the diamond stripe pattern instead of red. Another highlight is the three-spoke leather sport steering wheel. And, as on the steering wheel, the parking brake grip and gearshift surround are also finished in leather. The instrument and door trim areas are treated with “Black Stripe” gloss-black accents.

GTD is fully equipped: Furthermore, Golf GTD features include details such as chrome bezels for various switches, a black roofliner and black roof pillar trim, automatic climate control, multifunctional display “Plus”, center armrests and the RCD 210 radio system. Standard features also include lowering of the passenger’s side mirror when backing up, heated windshield washer nozzles, headlight cleaning system, “ParkPilot” (with sensors in front and rear bumpers), ESP with countersteer assist and braking assistant, as well as seven airbags, including a knee airbag on the driver’s side.

Volkswagen GTI-R with AWD coming to Frankfurt

The rumored Volkswagen Scirocco R20T never made an appearance at the Geneva Motor Show, but according to CAR, V-Dub has something else up its sleeve for this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The Brit pub is reporting the imminent arrival of the Volkswagen Golf GTI-R, a hotter version of VW’s iconic hatch with a more powerful variant of the turbocharged 2.0-liter motivating all four wheels.

The turbo’d four-pot is related to the Audi S3′s mill, so expect output to be up and over 260 hp. And, according to the report, a major element of the GTI-R is weight reduction, so VW has opted to use the 2.0-liter turbo in favor of its 3.2-liter V6. The supposed weight-loss regime might come in the form of lighter structural and body components, along with a less luxurious interior that won’t infringe on the premium confines of the R32 and Scirocco. Then again, with the additional weight of the AWD system – versus the Focus RS and Renaultsport Megane 250, which both use a trick front differential to limit torque steer – the overall weight could be a wash over the standard GTI. CAR says the GTI-R should debut in Frankfurt this fall, with sales beginning in late 2009 or early 2010.

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