VW CrossBlue and CrossBlue Coupe to be built in China

Volkswagen has just confirmed the CrossBlue and CrossBlue Coupe will be produced in China by the Shanghai-Volkswagen joint venture.

Production is expected to start in 2015 at a new factory located in Changsha in Hunan Province with a capacity of 300,000 units per year. Both models will represent an SUV based on the company's new MQB platform, with the CrossBlue becoming a seven-seat model and the CrossBlue Coupe a five-seat variant.

At this plant, Volkswagen will also build a new sedan, codenamed VW511, which will be positioned between the Passat and Phaeton. Also in 2015, the German carmaker will launch an even more luxurious model aimed at the local market.

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Volkswagen Scirocco Million Edition announced

Volkswagen has recently announced plans to offer a Scirocco Million Edition to celebrate the record of one million built Scirocco models.

Painted exclusively in "Deep Black Metallic", the special edition is distinguished by Galvanic Grey mirrors, silver body stripes, R-Line bumpers and R-Line side sills. There's also smoked taillights, "Million" stickers on the wings, dark tinted rear windows and 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels with 235/40 tires.

Inside, the cabin comes with black leather seats, "Snap Orange" contrast stitching, brushed aluminum trim and "Million" decals on the door sills. Other highlights include stainless steel pedals, special floor mats and a RCD 310 audio system.

Under the bonnet, customers can order with five different engines. The petrols produce 122 hp, 160 hp and 210 hp, while the diesel develops 140 hp or 177 hp. With the exception of the 122 hp petrol, all engines can be mated to a dual clutch gearbox (DSG).

The Scirocco Million Edition will be offered exclusively in China and Germany, with production will be started later this month. In Germany, it will have a starting price of €27,325.

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Volkswagen still considering a compact roadster

In an recent interview, Volkswagen design chief has revealed the brand is still considering a roadster like the BlueSport concept that was introduced at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

Speaking to Auto Motor and Sport, de Silva said "I'm not the only one in our company, who is pushing for a compact roadster. This is a vehicle that we particularly like, and we always have in mind."

As a small reminder, the BlueSport concept featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder TDI engine which produced 180 hp and 350 Nm of torque. This allowed the car to sprint from 0-100 km/h in 6.6 seconds and hit a top speed of 226 km/h.

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Video: 2013 Volkswagen Golf GTI Performance goes from 0 to 259 km/h

German car magazine Sport Auto has recently conducted a speed test with the 2013 Volkswagen Golf GTI Performance.

On a quiet side road, the most powerful version of the new Golf GTI has managed to reach an electronically-limited top speed of 259 km/h (160.94 mph) in approximately 49 seconds.

As we have previously reported, the Performance variant is powered by the same 2.0-liter turbo engine as the standard GTI, producing 230 hp. This allows it to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 6.4 seconds.

The 2013 Volkswagen Golf VII GTI range will go on sale in the United States next year.

 

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Volkswagen Groove Up! & Rock Up! announced for UK

Volkswagen has recently announced plans to offer two new special editions of the award-winning Up! in the United Kingdom, called the Groove Up! and Rock Up!.

According to the German carmaker, the Groove Up! is available as a three- or five-door hatchback and comes with black gloss door mirror caps, tinted windows and 16-inch 'Upsilon' alloy wheels. Other highlights include heated front seats, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and a Fender audio system, complete with six speakers, a subwoofer and a 300-Watt amplifier. Also standard is the Maps & More personal infotainment device, which along with touchscreen satellite navigation provides Bluetooth phone connectivity and music streaming.

Meanwhile, the Rock Up! is available only in a three-door body style which features anthracite body stripes and a full body kit, consisting of gloss black front spoiler, side skirts, rear diffuser and rear spoiler. The door mirror caps are also gloss black, apart from on vehicles ordered with Deep Black Pearl paintwork, in which case they are chrome. The sporty appearance is completed with 16-inch “Upsilon” alloy wheels. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, heated front seats, a Maps & More infotainment system and a six-speaker audio system.

Both versions are powered by a 1.0-liter three-cylinder petrol engine which produces 75 hp and 95 Nm of torque. It is mated to a five-speed manual transmission which allows the cars to return 4.7-liter per 100 km (60.1 mpg UK or 50 mpg US) with CO2 emissions of 108 g/km.

Set to go on sale in July, the models are currently available for order. The Groove Up! costs £11,640 to £12,015, while the Rock Up! is priced from £12,980. All are available with a three-year or 30,000-mile Fixed Price Service Plan for just £299.

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2013 Volkswagen Passat Wolfsburg Edition announced

German carmaker Volkswagen has announced plans to offer a special edition of the Passat in the United States.

Called the Wolfsburg, the "value-oriented" model will come with perforated V-Tex leatherette seating surfaces, a power driver’s seat, heated front seats, satellite radio and a Media Device-Interface with an iPod cable. There's also Bluetooth connectivity, a multi-function steering wheel and distinctive 16-inch alloy wheels.

Power will come from a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine which produces 170 hp and 240 Nm of torque. It is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission which could the car to sprint from 0-96 km/h in 8.7 seconds.

The 2013 Passat Wolfsburg Edition has a starting price of $23,495 and will go on sale in late spring.

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2013 Shanghai: Volkswagen CrossBlue Coupe Concept

At the Auto China 2013 in Shanghai, Volkswagen has officially unveiled the CrossBlue Coupe Concept, which provides a spectacular glimpse at the future and at a new era of SUV design.

"The disproportionate growth in the SUV segment gives designers the opportunity to implement an even greater diversification of models. The CrossBlue Coupé shows the potential of our Volkswagen design DNA and will undoubtedly have an influence on future SUV models," said Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design for the Volkswagen Brand.

Motivation is provided by a new plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain which includes a 3.0-liter V6 TSI engine, producing 295 hp and 500 Nm of torque, working together with two electric motors, one at the front axle with 53 hp and another one for the rear axle with 113 hp. This setup provides a total of 415 hp and 700 Nm of torque, allowing the car to sprint from 0-62 mph in just 5.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 147 mph. In hybrid mode, it returns an average fuel consumption of 3.0-liter per 100 km (94.1 mpg UK or 78.4 mpg US) in the European driving cycle (NEDC).

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Volkswagen CrossBlue Coupe Concept coming to Shanghai

Volkswagen has just released the first sketches of the CrossBlue Coupe Concept, ahead of its public debut at the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show on April 20.

Based on the MQB platform, the concept measures 4,890 mm long, 2,020 mm wide and has a 2,980 mm wheelbase. It hints at the future design direction for the German carmaker and could be a preview of the next-gen Tiguan.

Power comes from a petrol-electric hybrid system consisting of a direct-injection V6 turbocharged engine working together with two electric motors providing a combined output of 415 hp. This allows the SUV to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds and return around 3-liter per 100 km (78.4 mpg US or 94.1 mpg UK). It can travel up to 33 km in electric mode.

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2013 Volkswagen Golf Variant starts at €18,950

Volkswagen has recently announced the 2013 Golf Variant can now be ordered in Germany from €18,950.

Power comes from a 1.2-liter TSI engine that produces 85 hp. This direct-injection EA211 gasoline engine also comes with 90 hp and 105 hp, while the larger turbocharged 1.4-liter TSI is offered with 122 hp and 140 hp. On the diesel side, the EA288 engine will develop 105 hp, 110 hp and 150 hp.

The Golf Variant BlueMotion diesel with 110 hp is linked to a six-speed manual gearbox which allows it to return 3.3-liter per 100 km (71.3 mpg US or 85.6 mpg UK) with CO2 emissions of 87 g/km. Depending on engine selection, the German carmaker offers five- and six-speed transmissions, as well as a dual-clutch DSG.

Standard features include seven airbags, stop/start system, electronic stability control, five-inch TFT touchscreen display and air conditioning. Using the options list, customers can get Front Assist, Automatic Distance Control, Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane Keeping Assist and Park Assist.

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2013 Volkswagen Golf GTI UK pricing released

According to Volkswagen, the 2013 Golf GTI is now available to order in the UK with pricing starts at £25,845 on the road - just £195 more expensive than the outgoing Golf GTI despite substantial enhancements.

Motivation is provided by a 2.0-liter turbo engine that develops 220 hp and 350 Nm of torque. It is mated to a six-speed manual transmission, which allows the car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 6.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 246 km/h.

For an additional £980, customers can opt for the GTI Performance variant which increases power to 230 hp. Aside from the additional horsepower, it also adds uprated brakes and a limited-slip differential. This version takes 6.4 seconds to perform the 0-100 km/h run and can reach a top speed of 250 km/h.

Standard features include 18-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, sporty seats with Jacara cloth upholstery, sports steering wheel, a black roof lining, red ambience lighting, stainless steel pedal caps and standard touchscreen infotainment system with DAB digital radio, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity.

Optional equipment includes 19-inch Santiago alloy wheels, Vienna leather upholstery, keyless entry, High Beam Assist, Lane Assist, Park Assist (parking sensors are standard), a rear view camera, ACC Adaptive Chassis Control, touchscreen satellite navigation and a Dynaudio sound pack with 10-channel amplifier and eight speakers.

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