The Jetta TDI Cup “street version looks to be finally heading to dealers. This, a sporting version of economical cars, is something I’ve long been a proponent of. And in Volkswagen’s case this looks to be a car that’s both fun, and light on the wallet – and potentially the environment as well.
German body shop custom builder and highly recognized nameplate Karmann has been having a rough time of it lately. Really rough, as a matter of fact. Last I was reading, it looked like Karmann was going down for good. Now comes word that VW, long time working partner/client of some of Karmann’s best known work – the Karmann Ghia for one, and Karmann also was responsible for various VW cabriolets throughout the years, for another – might just by the struggling firm outright.
To launch the all-new 2010 GTI, VW teamed up with Firemint, the creators of the excellent iPhone racing game Real Racing to produce a free game based off of Real Racing, but with the 2010 GTI the only drivable car. The game is available worldwide in the iTunes App Store.
Play the game regularly and you could win a customized GTI MkVI. VW will be giving away six of these cars, one per week, to players of the game. The customized version of the 2010 GTI includes a performance tuned suspension, all-new 18-inch wheels, and special interior touches including carbon fiber-look trim, a numbered dash plaque, and unique stitching in the front headrests.
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David Richert in Volkswagen Factory in Dresden, Germany
A race car driver’s perspective…
Over the last few years I have had the opportunity to experience things which many can only dream of doing. Though the path has been filled with many risks, trials and a lot of hard work, it’s moments like these when I realize how incredibly fortunate I am.
Over the last 2 years I have been driving race cars for Volkswagen in the Jetta TDI Cup. I was fortunate enough to earn a spot as a driver in the series and then was even more fortunate to be able to win the coveted Public Relations Contest in both years as well.
Last season the prize for winning was an all expense paid trip to race at the world-famous Hockenheimring for the Volkswagen Polo Cup event in Germany. This season, the prize was an all expense paid trip to Volkswagen headquarters in Wolfsburg to attend the North American media launch of the 2010 Golf and Golf TDI together with dozens of this continents most influential automotive and lifestyle journalists.
Sitting in Executive Class on my return trip, I have had a short chance to reflect on the whirlwind events of the last few days. I was given a very unique opportunity to experience the life of an automotive journalist and also take a glimpse behind the scenes at what makes Volkswagen so special. Continue Reading…
Here’s some numbers that will warm the heart of almost any gearhead out there: 270HP and Four-Wheel drive. That’s what the new Golf R from Volkswagen is cranking and how it’s putting that power to the ground. That translates into the fastest ever Golf produced by the factory (aftermarket tuners don’t count).
Not only is it the fastest, it’s also the quickest. The Golf R does away with the old Golf R32’s 3.2-liter V6 FSI and puts a new mill under the bonnet. In the case of the Golf R, it’s a lightly modified version of the Scirocco R’s 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder engine. Said mill develops 270HP at 6,000 rpm and 258 lbs ft of torque at 2,500 rpm. The Golf R also gets a new hydraulic all-wheel drive system that VW says is able to react more quickly than the AWD on the R32 while also limiting the torque is channeled through either axle to reduce wheelspin.
And here’s another number for you gearheads: 100%. That’s the amount of torque that VW says can be sent to the rear wheels ” in extreme cases”.
It looks like one of consequences of VW buying Porsche is that the controversial Porsche Panamera is likely to become some sort of permium, high end VW product. If not ending up a VW, the four-door coupe’s platform might end up with one of VW’s other brands, either Bentley, Bugatti or Audi. After amortizing all the development costs, the platform will most likely go away all together next decade.
