Volkswagen Golf Mk 7 due in 2012?

If at all that is true, then the current Mk 6 model cycle would be the shortest among all Golf generations. The Mk 5 was after all running from 2003 to 2009 while the preceding Mk 4 Golf production has equal longevity from 1997 to 2003.

Could it be that the current generation of Golf Mk 6 uses a slightly modified platform of the Golf Mk 5? And that the overall dimensions and silhouette shadows much of its predecessor? Perhaps in German automotive application just a major facelift of the Mk 5?

As such, the Golf Mk 7 will be a completely new model. To be built on a new platform known as MQB - which will have a longer wheelbase yet lighter - the all-new 2012 Golf will allow the introduction of hybrid powertrains which include petrol-electric and diesel-electric combos. The Mk 7 Golf will probably sport a full-EV variant rumoured to debut a year later in 2013.

Expect the following pure internal combustion range of 1.2-litre TSI engine (86 and 105 hp), 1.4-litre TSI engine (122 hp and 160 hp), 1.6-litre TDI engine (90 hp and 105 hp), 2.0-litre TDI engine (140 hp, 170 hp and 220 hp). The Mk 7 Golf GTI and Golf R versions are likely still powered by top-range 2.0-litre TSI engine (220 hp and 300 hp).

The all-new Mk 7 Golf is expected to be unveiled by end 2012, with production target for the Mk 6 to be around 1.6 millions units. In contrast, the Mk 5 with its good-and-ripe 6-years production run had clocked up some 2.3 million units.

Volkswagen Passat CC 2.0TSI

Click on all images to enlarge

Human beings, being consumers, can be a funny lot. When it comes to the obsession of automobiles, they can be very discerning and critical. Take for instance the subject of headroom in a car. A case in point would be the Proton Gen.2 which has the rear headroom much like an under-the-staircase storeroom of a double-storey link-terrace house. The Persona has a slightly better headroom - due to lowered rear seats' bottom et al - but sadly that didn't come before the Gen.2.



Other automakers are craftier. Take Mercedes-Benz for example: their W211 E-Class vs their other 'clone' the CLS-Class, allegedly the world's first 4-door coupe. BMW with their X5 vs their very own X6 SAV Coupe. Volkswagen with their Passat sedan versus their latest Passat CC. Do you hear people complaining about seating only two at the rear and the accompanying sloping roofline that shaves off a significant amount of rear headroom? With rear ingress & egress may be an orthopaedic nightmare for those having Osteoarthritis of hips. No?

Well, that's because it's by choice that these paying motorists are buying a 'coupe' over the mundane regular-sedan version of the same thing. Pity then the folks at Proton didn't name their Gen.2 as Gen.2 coupe or GT (ala 5-series GT?) and the Persona as the Gen.2 sedan, launching time-line of both these vehicles notwithstanding. But we are not here to discuss about that.





I am now writing about a squashed Camry - especially its frontal visage. Yes, that was my initial visual impression when I spotted one of the first new Passat CC running on the road months ago. However, the actual car when parked right before your very eyes instantaneously play tricks on your visual cortex. You'd get a barrage of endorphins shooting a high in your brain - depicting something very handsome, sleek, classy and cutting edge in design - in short: very desirable. So much so, you'd find that the rear double individual seating isn't an issue. So is the smaller shoulder room for bigger sized rear occupants due to the shapely tapering rear flanks. Or that the CC's dashboard may be a tad old-school having been nicked form the sedan sibling. Even the moon-roof for its namesake doesn't open beyond a minute tilt but hell, I didn't care.





Truth be told, I was initially doubting how could a front-wheel driven (FWD) saloon like the Passat CC be selling at a price hovering near to stalwarts like the BMW 320i, Mercedes-Benz C200 Kompressor and to a certain extent, the Audi A4 1.8 TFSI. I couldn't possibly explain the multiple "Wow" factors - not just aesthetic brilliance - in words here. Go to the nearest VW showroom, see the car in the flesh and ask for the keys to a Passat CC tester yourself.

For one, the DCC - adjustable dampers rate in regular speak - in this Volkswagen works solidly well. The chassis doesn't hop and jump as in many of M-Sport spec BMW E90 - not even in 'Sport' mode. Though FWD, its steering rack has better weighting and feel than M-B's hot-selling W204 C200K/C230 V6. Credit also goes out to the VW engineers for their extra-edge over their counterparts in Audi AG e.g. with their quattro A4 (B7) - in both the steering and rear passengers' (calmer) ride composure department.

In all, the Passat CC may be 'soft' compared to the other iconic GTI in the same stable or any BMW 3-series so to speak. Yet the Passat CC is very convincing in its whole package. The CLS-esque looks is simply miles better than the very car it seeks to mimic. With a DSG 'box now standard issue for all 2010 Passat CC and a rear three-seater version coming soon - perhaps by Q3/Q4 this year - it will make a stronger case for this fluidly sleek and avantgarde (no pun intended) 4-door coupe. Oh! Did I forget to mention that the EA888 engine in the 2010 Passat CC has a boosted power ratings that matches the Mk6 Golf GTI's 210 ps/280 Nm (previously capped at 200ps)?

For those who could get pass their blue-propeller and three-pointed star 'inertia', the Passat CC is all a knowledgeable and tasteful buyer's choice that'll keep him/her serene and unruffled on long highway journeys, yet at the same time still able to adrenalise the owner should he/she wants to hurry things up a bit.

Volkswagen Mk6 Golf R

It looks like Golf Mk6 hottest version - slated to boot out the Mk5 Golf R32 - has swapped the latter’s 3.2-liter V6 (250hp) for VW Scirocco R's 2.0-liter (EA113) direct injection-turbocharged 4-pot. Beefed up and boosted to pump out 270hp and 320Nm worth of torque, and rightfully (but more costly) powering all four wheels via an all-wheel drive system nicked from the new Audis S3.

A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, while the 6-speed twin-clutch DSG transmission will be optional. 0 to 100km/h sprint is dispatched in 5.7 seconds for the stick shift, while the DSG ‘box will further shave sprint timings down to 5.5 seconds! To put things in perspective, that’s even quicker than the latest Porsche Cayman 2.9 with PDK (5.8 seconds). Top speed however, is electronically limited to 250 km/h for both versions. In contrast, the ‘regular’ Mk6 Golf GTI (EA888 with 209hp) with a DSG gearbox zips to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds and Vmax at 239 km/h.

The wicked Mk6 Golf R will be available as both three and five door hatchbacks. It is expected to go on sale in Europe by the end of this year, while its U.S. market debut is projected by early 2010. No news from Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM) on this most exciting Golf version to come in Mk6 form but a probable guesstimate will be H2 2010? On a related note, the Mk 6 GTI is due to be officially unveiled and sold in Malaysia at RM209k (one thousand ringgit per hp?) by Nov/Dec 2009.

VW Golf GTI Mk6

Here are some images of a finalised pre-production unit of the new Golf GTI Mk6, slated to go on sale in later part of this year. Power is expected to come from the same turbocharged 4-pot with direct gasoline (petrol) injection, albeit bumped up to 210ps and likely higher torque of perhaps 300Nm (?). No official performance figures are available as yet, but you can expect sub-7 secs 0-100km/h sprint to be maintained with the use of VW's superb DSG twin-clutch tranny. A marginally higher top speed will be possible with the gain of 10ps in horsepower over the stock standard Mk5 Golf GTI.




More significantly, the Mk6 Golf GTI will sport Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC), VW speak for adaptive damping, throttle response tweaks and variable steering weight/assistance, all dialled by a switch on the dash, much like Audi Drive Select, as experienced in the new A4 (B8) 1.8TFSI.

It remains to be seen whether the Mk6 GTI will sport an LSD called XDS to rein in the potential understeer should the GTI go near torque figures like 350Nm or even loftier levels (great for aftermarket ABT rechip/remap et al)!

Still want that 3-door Scirocco or this real deal GTI? Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM) will launch the former sometime H2 2009 (and the Mk6 Golf 1.4 TSI along the way) but no words on this iconic hot hatch yet being available this year.







Related post:
VW Golf GTI Mk6 Concept

VW BlueRoadster Concept 2.0TDI

Click on all images to enlargeComing across more like a Honda S2000 successor than a Volkswagen (imagine swapping the 'VW' emblem for one of that framed 'H'), the BlueRoadster Concept 2.0TDI is looking very sleek, modern and sporty.

The beauty of this roadster - and rarity for a modern VW - is its mid-engined layout and rear-wheel drivetrain. Powered by VW's 2.0litre turbodiesel pushing 180ps and 350Nm of max torque, the drop-top needs only 6.6secs to zip from 0 - 100km/h, on the way to a Vmax of 226km/h.

All these being achieved with frugality of a diesel powerplant returning 4.3l/100km, part of the fuel efficiency being aided by VW's superb 6-speed DSG gearbox.

Nothing official from VW at the 2009 Detroit Motor Show whether this will make it to showroom, but Famous Cars Design reckon perhaps sometime in say, 2010? The concept shown above looks very much production ready, save for the dashboard and centre dash console. "Das Auto" it will be indeed if this does come true!

VW Golf GTI Mk6 Concept

The latest images released by Volkswagen of its pinnacle GTI variant from the Mk6 Golf range is the GTI Concept. Looking every bit production ready, the iconic sports hatch successor for 2009 model year adopts a frontal visage not unlike the Golf Mk5 GTI W12 Concept. Yes! The 2009 Mk6 Golf GTI will dump the goateed grille look (ala Audi's Novulari style) for a slim horizontal honey-comb grille, highlighted by twin parallel red stripes flanking the large central VW emblem.


The question mark remains over its uprated power output of 210bhp and (?)350Nm or maintaining 280Nm(?) from the award-winning 2.0TFSI engine. Rumour has it that the Mk6 GTI may even have the option of VAG's new 7-speed DSG twin-clutch automated manual gearbox, not to be confused with the Golf (1.4TSI) GT's simpler, lighter and more compact 7-speed DSG 'box.





The Mk6 GTI is said to have variable damping suspension, much like the new Audi A4 (B8) whereby the driver gets to select between Auto, Comfort and Dynamic (Sport) setting. These variable drive settings will also affect throttle response, gear shifts and steering feel (weight).








Related posts:
Spied: VW Golf Mk6 on Test
2009 Golf GTI Mk6 to have TSI twin charging?

You may want to read these:
Road Test: Audi TT Coupe 2.0TFSI
VW Jetta 1.4TSI and Golf GT coming soon to Malaysia?
Audi TTS Coupe

VW Jetta TSI and Golf GT coming soon to Malaysia: both twin charged?

A reliable VW point-of-sales source has revealed that the lacklustre selling VW Jetta range will receive a boost in the form of 1.4TSI engine (twin charge), expected to be in showroom next month at VW dealers nationwide. Price is estimated to be RM148,800(excluding insurance).
If truly twin charged, this Jetta TSI will have output figures of 170hp with a max torque of 240Nm! VW's famed - and much-copied - DSG tranny is reportedly standard with the Jetta TSI.
In this form, the Golf-based saloon can do the century sprint in 8.1secs, on the way to a top whack of 219km/h.

On a related note, the new Golf GT TSI (twin charged) is expected in showrooms sometime this October 2008.
Indicative pricing of the new Golf GT 1.4TSI is circa RM170k. It will be a 5-door hatchback Golf GT, unlike the pics (3-door hatch) you see below:

Monster lurking here despite its dimunitive cubic capacity.


Exciting times indeed from VW Group Malaysia (VGM) for 2008 with further plans to launch the Tiguan SUV as well as VW Passat 1.8 TFSI.

Note: VW Polo GTI was launched today to the Malaysian media. Priced at RM139,960 (without insurance) the turbocharged 1.8L (20V) Polo GTI has 150hp and 220Nm driving the front wheels via a 5-speed manual 'box. Claimed performance figures are 8.2secs from standstill to 100km/h while top speed is 215km/h.

TGM Drive: Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 FSI

By Dr Long

Sibling rivalry: something quite inevitable and as old as mankind itself. Ask anyone who has a brother or a sister or both, and they will likely concur with you, to some degree at the very least. So what do you do when you have an high-achieving ‘elder’ sibling like the iconic Golf GTI?

Find out whether the VW Jetta 2.0 FSI is able to hold its own fort in the shadow of the ever attention-grabbing Golf GTI Mk V...only in the December '07 issue of TopGear Malaysia!

Japan Car of The Year 2007-08: Other Categories Receipients

The Japan COTY committee also selected the following finalists for its 2007-08 COTY special awards:

Most Advanced Technology for 2007/08: Volkswagen Golf GT TSI

Best Import Car for 2007/08: Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Most Fun car for 2007/08: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X

Related post:

http://famouscardesign.blogspot.com/2007/11/all-new-honda-jazz-is-japan-car-of-year.html

Volkswagen Space Up!

Hot on the heels of its Up! concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Volkswagen chose Tokyo 2007 to reveal the enlarged version called Space Up! Still an unfinalised concept, it's 230mm longer than the previous three-door hatchback Up!

With a longer wheelbase and larger dimensions all over, the Space Up! Offers improved packaging in a vehicle measuring just 3.68m in length. The concept also features ‘suicide’ doors and can seat four people comfortably, including two children in the integrated child seats.

Like the smaller Up!, the engine is also mounted at the rear, thereby freeing up space in the front for stowing gear while maintaining rear hatch luggage space as well. It looks like Volkswagen is really getting serious with its small, compact and affordable global car, set for world market domination. Going Up! Yes?

Related post:
http://famouscardesign.blogspot.com/2007/11/vw-up.html