VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE 2000 – 2016

  From the late 1950s and well into the ’70s the original “dak-dak” VW Beetle was a much-loved car that sold in large numbers. But it eventually become hopelessly out of date when compared with competitors and sales plummeted and it was taken off the market. When the Volkswagen New Beetle arrived in Australia in 2000 many past owners of the original model VW looked at it with loving eyes and fond memories. Then they learned that it had a water-cooled front engine that drove the front wheels and stayed… Read more

VW SHOWCASES ELECTRIC GOLF GTI

If you’re Volkswagen, the one thing you don’t want to get wrong is the iconic Golf GTI. They got it wrong with the launch of the Golf V back in 2003 and quickly went to a facing- saving update. Fast forward and the Wolfsburg-based carmaker has just taken the wraps off an electric version of the GTI which it has confirmed it will go into production. Fingers crossed. The world premiere of the electric concept took centre stage at this year’s IAA Mobility in Munich, exactly 48 years after the… Read more

RANGER DANGER – AMAROK ABOUT

Mercedes-Benz gave it a crack with the X-Class utility. A re-badged, reskinned version of the Nissan Navara, buyers saw right through the charade. Now, Volkswagen is heading down the same path with the release of its latest Amarok 4×4 ute – a Ford Ranger under the skin. Amarok sits on the same platform as Ranger, with the same engines and transmissions. Designed and conceived in both Germany and Australia, it will be built by Ford at its South African assembly plant in Silverton as part of a 2019 Ford-VW global… Read more

VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2011 – 2022

Volkswagen Passat is a medium-large German car that has a reputation for being solidly built and is well regarded by those who have loved this marque for many years. Interestingly it shares quite a few out of sight components with Audis as that prestigious company is controlled by the Volkswagen Group. The Passat works well for those looking for comfort, it has well-shaped seats and suspension which is able to soak up just about anything, even rough and ready Aussie backroads. Handling is good, with neutral road behaviour at normal… Read more

VW PROMISES FIVE EVS BY 2025

They include a Golf-sized hatch, along with a more premium ID.3, family SUVs the Tiguan-sized ID.4 and ID.5, plus the funky ID.Buzz people mover and its ID.Buzz Cargo van derivative. All five are scheduled go into production before 2024, all within about the next 20 months – at an average of one all-new EV every five months. And, all 100 plus Volkswagen dealerships nationwide will be equipped to sell and service EVs in preparation. The line-up for the Volkswagen ID.3 will pursue maximum attainability in a premium and drivable way,… Read more

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R WAGON

Volkswagen Golf R Wagon is the latest high-performance model from the German giant. It will join the Golf R hatch and Tiguan R. The Golf R Wagon has chromed roof rails, an electrically operated tailgate with Easy Open and Easy Close functions With the 60/40-split backrest folded the wagon measures1.845 metres between the tailgate and the backs of the front seats. Poor comes from 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine with 235kW from 5200rpm until 6000rpm. There’s 420Nm between 2000rpm and 5550rpm. It does the zero to 0-100km/h time in just 4.9… Read more

VOLKSWAGEN POLO 2010 – 2020

The Volkswagen Polo is a relatively small car that’s noticeably down in size from its big brother Golf. It has the solid German feel and owners we have spoken say they feel safe and secure. Just as importantly, they love the way they handle in a European manner. Polo was a relatively slow seller in Australia prior to 2010 when a new model was introduced in April of that year. Older Polos had been on the bland side in appearance, the new 2010 one had a bit of oomph to… Read more

VOLKSWAGEN T-ROC R COMING DOWNUNDER

Volkswagen Australia is continuing what it calls its ‘Year of the R’, high-performance flagships, with the first-ever T-Roc R when set to arrive in August priced from $59,300. A 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine delivers 221kW of power and 400Nm of torque, mated to a seven-speed Direct Shift Gearbox with 0-100km/h acceleration in just 4.9 seconds. It will have the Digital Cockpit Pro, 9.2-inch Discover Pro navigation, wireless phone charging, wireless App-Connect, voice control and DAB+ digital radio. Keyless Access and an electric tailgate with Easy Open and Close function are standard…. Read more

VOLKSWAGEN-PORSCHE 914

When introduced in 1969 the mid-engined Volkswagen-Porsche 914 showed that the traditional British roadsters from MG and Triumph had rested on their laurels for too long and were now hopelessly outmoded. Breaking into the American market had long been the key to success for any sportscar with sales success in the USA virtually guaranteeing a profitable production run. By the end of the 1960s Porsche and Jensen both planned to add cars to that list and both would do so in conjunction with another well-known name. Volkswagen and Porsche have… Read more

UPDATED VOLKSWAGEN POLO GTI

Volkswagen Australia has provided information on the updated VW Polo GTI. The entry-level Polo Life is priced from $25,250, before on-road costs, with a manual gearbox. The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic adds $3000 to that price. The manual Polo Life is powered by a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing 70kW and 175Nm. Automatics use the same basic engine but tuned to give 85kW and 200Nm. New standard features include more sophisticated automatic emergency braking that now detects cyclists. Previously it only detected vehicles and pedestrians; lane-keep assist that stops drivers who… Read more