Automotive Intelligence - the web for automotive professionals and car enthusiasts
May 9, 2007
This Week:
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Long Way Down: McGregor and Boorman ready to drive their BMW R1200 GS through all Europe and Africa
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Mazda Announces Second LifeTM Kite-Surfing Board Design Competition Winner
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Bentley appoints James Rosenstein as new Global Director of External Affairs
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New Golf Variant targets market leadership in Germany Volkswagen is introducing a new Golf to the worldwide market: The “Variant” that is as spacious as it is variable. On June 1, dealers will be presenting the model in Germany; all other countries and continents will follow successively. The new Variant – like the classic Golf and the Golf Plus (including CrossGolf) – is already in its third single remake of the successful “Golf” album. Earlier editions of the station wagon were also sales hits: More than 1.2 million cars have found buyers since 1993, and 660,000 units have been registered in Germany alone. Now the third generation is arriving.
New Golf Variant targets market leadership in Germany Despite progressive fragmentation of the station wagon segment, wagon models of the so-called Golf class are still enjoying high demand. About 650,000 specimens of this species are sold in Western Europe every year. Seven out of every 10 cars go to the five largest countries in Europe (Germany, Italy, Great Britain, France, Spain), almost 200,000 of them to Germany. |
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Not to be underrated is the high proportion of commercial customers. Volkswagen estimates that nearly two thirds of all Golf Variants are registered as company and commercial cars. Of these, a majority are paired with the 1.9-liter TDI – an especially economical car for high-distance drivers – which couples its good performance (187 km/h top speed) with exceptionally low fuel consumption (5.2 liter/100 km on average). ´ |
Cargo area with up to 1,550 liter capacity
Like its predecessor, the new Golf Variant, now 15.9 centimeters longer, is marked by an ideal ratio of interior and exterior dimensions. Its maximum cargo capacity grew from 1,470 to 1,550 liters, for example, and when used as a five-seater 560 liters of cargo (with spare wheel well) still fit into the cargo area.
Classy basic equipment features, enormous panorama sunroof
Volkswagen is offering the new Golf Variant in the equipment lines Trendline, Comfortline and Sportline. Even the Trendline base equipment line comes with ESP, six airbags, 16-inch wheels, power windows front and rear, central locking with remote keyless entry, tilt-up cargo floor and asymmetrically split folding rear bench seat with armrests.
Distinctive special equipment, and in the case of the Golf Variant Sportline even standard, is the newly designed, two-piece glass panorama sunroof (standard on the Sportline) with a length of 1.36 meters and width of 0.87 meters.
Highly efficient engines; power range from 75 kW to 125 kW
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The new Golf Variant is being launched with two diesel and three gasoline engines, including four direct injection engines. Serving as the entry level engine is a 1.6-liter four cylinder that outputs 75 kW / 102 PS. Positioned above it are the twincharged TSI engines with high-end technology. These high-torque power packages deliver 103 kW / 140 PS and 125 kW / 170 PS, respectively. Factory equipped with diesel particulate filters are the two strong TDIs of the Golf Variant at 77 kW / 105 PS and 103 kW / 140 PS. Innovative: The DSG dual clutch transmission. It is optional on all engines with the exception of the 1.6-liter gasoline engine. All Photos: Volkswagen |
(May 7, 2007)
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