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Volkswagen driver Mortara second in Grand Prix of Macau

Sat, 16 Nov 2008 14:25:34 GMT

posted by rookieracing

Successful season end for Volkswagen in Formula 3: The Italian Edoardo Mortara finished in an outstanding second place in a Dallara Volkswagen F308 at the Grand Prix of Macau. Finn Mika Mäki and also Laurens Vanthoor from Belgium completed the excellent record for Volkswagen drivers at the toughest and, at the same time, the world’s most prestigious Formula 3 race. Congfu Cheng, the first Chinese ever to take the start in the Formula 3 race around the legendary street circuit, finished 13th after a strong drive. A total of 30 drivers representing 14 nations and engines from four manufacturers formed the grid.

Edoardo Mortara, 2008 Formula 3 Series runner-up with Volkswagen, put in an impressive performance throughout the 55th running of the invitation race in the former Portuguese colony. The Italian from the French ‘Team Signature’ dominated the majority of the practice session, won Saturday’s qualification race and secured pole position in the process. In the feature race on Sunday he was narrowly beaten by the Japanese driver Keisuke Kunimoto (Toyota-Dallara) and finished second in front of Brandon Hartley (Mercedes-Dallara).

For Mika Mäki, newcomer in Volkswagen partner team Signature, the invitation race in Asia was an emotional roller coaster ride. It started with stomach problems, which prevented him from participating in first qualifying, reached a low-point following a slip-up on the last lap of the qualification race and peaked with an excellent fourth place in the Grand Prix. The 17-year old Laurens Vanthoor, fourth in the German ATS Formula 3 Cup with two win, shone with a flawless performance in which he finished sixth in his debut race for RC Motorsport. Congfu Cheng was involved in an accident at the start of the race, which was briefly neutralised by two safety car periods, before working his way towards the front. Italian Nicola de Marco, in the second RC Motorsport Dallara Volkswagen, took the chequered flag in 19th position on his debut in Macau.

Kris Nissen, Volkswagen Motorsport Director: "Congratulations to Keisuke Kunimoto, the Tom’s Team and Toyota for winning in Macau. I think that they didn’t have things easy and we were a strong opponent. With Volkswagen drivers finishing second, fourth and sixth on our return to Asia we can be very happy. He combination of Edoardo Mortara, Team Signature and Volkswagen power was good for the win. Mika Mäki and Laurens Vanthoor have also impressed here. Overall, it was a great finish to a very successful Formula 3 season for Volkswagen, for which I would like to thank everybody who have contributed to this success. We’ll work very hard over the off season in order to claim more successes next year.”

Edoardo Mortara (I) - Volkswagen Dallara F308 - Team Signature, Qualifying: 3rd - Qualification race: 1st - Grand Prix race: 2nd
"In general it was an excellent weekend for Signature, Volkswagen and me. To fight for victory on this extraordinary street circuit is something very special, and it goes without saying that I am disappointed about missing out on the win. At the start I lost three places and I really tried everything to get back to the front again. On the other hand lady luck was smiling on me, as I hit the barriers once and bent a track-rod on my car – the steering wheel was completely skew, but I was able to continue.”

COOL FACT FOR THE DAY - MODEL OVERLAP AT VOLKSWAGEN UK

Thu, 31 Oct 2008 17:28:00 GMT

posted by goodcarbadcar
Volkswagen, currently one major automobile manufacturer that's roaring along despite what's going on in the United States (VW has been sucking there for a while anyway), has a great feature on their website that enables you to input specific requirements for your new car while it narrows down its range. This type of feature isn't unique to Volkswagen UK, but one must wonder why every manufacturer doesn't offer such a tool.
Select your body style(s) from hatchbacks to 'saloons' and 'estates' along with cabriolets, MPVs, 4x4s, and coupes. Narrow the price band by simply dragging the arrows down from £40,000 and/or up from £5,000. Select mandatory features like a DSG gearbox or a diesel engine. Make known your desire for minimum horsepower and maximum time required to hit 62 miles per hour. Finally, narrow down your willingness for gas guzzling and harmful emissions.
And there you have it. Most interestingly, Volkswagen UK has twelve different models to choose from between £18,000 and £20,000. Some are similar.... but still.
The Golf family sans GTI and R32 start out: that means Golf, Golf Plus, Golf Estate. Add the New Beetle, Jetta, Passat and Passat wagon, Scirocco, Tiguan, Eos, and Sharan and you've got yourself some options.
Perhaps that wide range of vehicles is too much to contemplate. So, you want a diesel with a direct-shift gearbox and economy of at least 55mpg along with a 0-62 time of under 8 seconds. That leaves the Scirocco, Passat, Golf, and Jetta. Surely you can decide between the larger sedan, the smaller sedan, the hatchback, or the sporting coupe/hatch?
That's your Cool Fact for the Day combined with the fourth-ever Model Overlap post. Representing a generation of first-time new car buyers, The Good Car Guy puts words to their thoughts and feelings. The Good Car Guy is a guy all about the good car. Advance the good car - dethrone the bad car.

2009 Volkswagen Scirocco Coupe Available to Order Now UK

Fri, 21 Jun 2008 13:14:23 GMT

posted by rextt

Customers keen to be among the first to drive away a new Scirocco can officially add their names to the waiting list as the car becomes available to order at Volkswagen Retailers across the UK today. Prices for the new car, which goes on sale on 1 September, have also been announced and start at £20,940 RRP on the road for the launch model, the Scirocco GT 2.0-litre TSI with 200 PS.

The original Scirocco was first seen 34 years ago, and over two generations and 19 years a total of 77,460 Sciroccos were sold in the UK. Now the new model blows in, with equally distinctive coupé styling, a practical hatchback boot, four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive – yet this is the most technically advanced production coupé that Volkswagen has produced.

All UK models benefit from Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC) which operates via a set of four electrically adjustable dampers to alter the car’s suspension, steering and throttle response set-up, and allows the driver to choose the most appropriate setting for the journey. Normal is the default; Sport adds firmer suspension and sharper responses for twisty roads or track driving; while Comfort offers a smooth and controlled ride best suited to motorway trips.

At launch, all Sciroccos will be powered by a 2.0-litre TSI 200 PS engine with either a six-speed manual or automatic DSG gearbox. Versions with a DSG ’box will command a £1,330 premium over their manual counterparts. The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine – already popular in the Golf GTI – produces 207 lbs ft of torque from 1,700 rpm and allows the Scirocco to achieve a 0 to 62 mph time of 7.2 seconds before reaching a top speed of 146 mph. The combined economy figure for the vehicle is 37.2 mpg, with CO2 emissions of 179 g/km.

Early in 2009 a further two engines will join the Scirocco line-up: a 1.4-litre TSI 160 PS petrol and a 2.0-litre TDI common rail diesel unit with 140 PS and a combined economy of around 52 mpg. Both will come as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the 1.4-litre TSI will also be offered with Volkswagen’s new seven-speed DSG ’box.

Two trim levels will be available – standard Scirocco and Scirocco GT. The launch engine is only available in combination with GT trim, giving customers a high level of standard specification which includes ABS with ESP, six airbags, touchscreen CD autochanger, climate control, 18-inch ‘Interlagos’ alloy wheels, front foglights and a multifunction steering wheel among a host of other items. Options are set to include a panoramic tilt sunroof, leather trim and touchscreen satellite navigation.

Volkswagen UK predicts sales of 3,350 Sciroccos this year, rising to around 9,000 in 2009 when a full line-up is available. Already over 11,000 people have signed up via www.volkswagen.co.uk to receive email updates on the new Scirocco model.

2009 Volkswagen Scirocco Full Details
Stuck and Sainz in Volkswagen Scirocco on the Nordschleife
Heidi Klum Volkswagen Scirocco Calendar

Post from: Ucarmagazine

2009 Volkswagen Scirocco Coupe Available to Order Now UK

2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen

Mon, 5 Aug 2008 03:05:00 GMT

posted by maftukhin

2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen
Originally uploaded by Cars dot comThe 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen looks so nice. What people say about this type of car is necessary for whoever is interested in cars. The following is presented the review of 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen Review: Jett-ing Around in the New Wagon quoted from carreview.com

Pros

* Steering
* Indirect a/c cooling
* Lots of useful storage/loading features

Cons

* Interior noise
* Horsepower and torque
* Chrome section on front bumper

Introduction

The last Jetta I drove was a 2001 (who’s engine had been replaced by VW under warranty due to an issue with the timing belt that broke). Volkswagen has come a long way in producing a vehicle that feels structurally more sound, has an engine that’s smoother, and with many of the quality issues reduced compared to 4-8 years ago. In addition, it’s wrapped in a more elegant body with an interior to match.
Driving Impressions

The inline, 5-cylinder is smooth and provides adequate acceleration. It’s not a large engine (at 2.5 liters of displacement), but is responsive to throttle inputs. I was a bit surprised by the interior noise, but realize it’s a big resonating box when moving on the road. The utility value of the SportWagen is amazing. The second row seats have a similar feature to the Honda Fit in the seat cushions ability to lift and pivot forward providing a deeper floor for taller objects. With the cushions removed, the seatbacks will pivot completely forward providing a completely flat loading floor. The 6-speed Tiptronic transmission shifts smoothly and drops down to the right gears under hard acceleration. Overall, it’s an easy car to drive and park with excellent visibility all around compared to other taller CUVs or SUVs.

Pros

* Steering
* Indirect a/c cooling
* Lots of useful storage/loading features

Cons

* Interior noise
* Horsepower and torque
* Chrome section on front bumper

Introduction

The last Jetta I drove was a 2001 (who’s engine had been replaced by VW under warranty due to an issue with the timing belt that broke). Volkswagen has come a long way in producing a vehicle that feels structurally more sound, has an engine that’s smoother, and with many of the quality issues reduced compared to 4-8 years ago. In addition, it’s wrapped in a more elegant body with an interior to match.
Driving Impressions

The inline, 5-cylinder is smooth and provides adequate acceleration. It’s not a large engine (at 2.5 liters of displacement), but is responsive to throttle inputs. I was a bit surprised by the interior noise, but realize it’s a big resonating box when moving on the road. The utility value of the SportWagen is amazing. The second row seats have a similar feature to the Honda Fit in the seat cushions ability to lift and pivot forward providing a deeper floor for taller objects. With the cushions removed, the seatbacks will pivot completely forward providing a completely flat loading floor. The 6-speed Tiptronic transmission shifts smoothly and drops down to the right gears under hard acceleration. Overall, it’s an easy car to drive and park with excellent visibility all around compared to other taller CUVs or SUVs.

The Volkswagen Polo

Tue, 26 Dec 2007 15:55:00 GMT

posted by Editor

By Brendan Moore

12.26.2007

I received a PR email about the new VW Polo Match from Volkswagen UK this morning, which made me reflect for a bit on the fact that 99% of the American public are oblivious to the fact that there is another world (from a size perspective) that exists in the VW lineup underneath the Golf (now the Rabbit again). This is not any Johnny-come-lately model; the Polo has been available in the VW lineup in Europe and other parts of the world for decades now.

But we’ve never seen it in the United States because, well, because, gasoline and diesel has always been pretty cheap here, and not only that, the Polo is smaller than the Rabbit, which a lot of Americans already consider too small. VW looked at those two big reasons to keep the little car out of the States and decided against bringing it to the U.S. many times over the years.

But the Polo has always sold well in Europe, and now that we have a couple of cars here in the U.S. that punch in the same weight/size class (e.g., Honda Fit), I am wondering if the time might be right for VW to consider producing the Polo here or in their Mexico plants for sale in the U.S. The VW Polo, like the Honda Fit, slots nicely between the speck-sized Mercedes-Benz Smart and the Volkswagen Golf, and most importantly, like the Fit, feels like a real car.

Just to give you a feel for the car, here is an excerpt from the press release copy from VW:

Set to be the biggest selling model in the Polo range the Match replaces the S level in the line-up. Compared with the S, the new Match offers even greater value and increased equipment while retaining the virtues of quality, efficiency and practical ability for which the Polo is famed.

The new Polo Match is distinguished by a set of 15-inch ‘Charade’ alloy wheels and body-coloured bumper strips, door strips, door handles and wing mirrors inset into which are integrated indicators. At the front a pair of foglamps are set into the twin airdams.

The revisions continue to the Polo’s interior. A leather-trimmed steering wheel, gearknob and handbrake grip are joined by the option of either a six-disc CD autochanger or an iPod connection to allow access to your digital music library on the move. Practical additions include electric front windows, a split folding rear seat, height adjustment for the driver’s seat and a useful drawer under the passenger seat.

All these enhancements represent an £825 improvement in value.Powering the new Polo Match is a choice of engines ranging from the compact petrol 1.2-litre unit up to the flexible 1.4-litre TDI engine – the latter of which is placed in VED band ‘B’ equating to an annual tax bill of only £35.

It’s worth noting to our American readers that the Volkswagen Polo returns over 70 mpg in one of the diesel models, and no, that’s not a misprint. The Polo gets around 73 mpg on the highway, and does this while producing very low emissions. It will put any Toyota Prius to absolute shame in the fuel economy category.

Of course, there are many cars the size of the Polo sold in Europe whose diesel-powered versions get extraordinary fuel economy, and I’m offering up the VW Polo merely as an example – it is the one I got the press release on this morning. Whether it’s a VW or an Opel or a Nissan, these small diesel-powered cars would fill the needs of a lot of American motorists nicely.

It really begs the question: When will we see these cars in the States? The new CAFE requirements are now in place, so the question now is not so much if, but when. If the retail cost of gasoline keeps rising, it might be within 24 months. If gasoline settles in around $3.00 a gallon for unleaded regular, then it may be much longer. Up until recently, there was also the issue of making the diesels meet the emissions requirements here in the States, but it looks as if that will not be a problem going forward in the next few years as the manufacturers are making great strides in cleaning up the exhaust from their respective diesel engines.

At over 70 mpg, it’s difficult to argue the viability of a car like the VW Polo as a commuter car. Many Americans commute long distances in their cars every day, alone, and don’t need a large car for that sort of drive. Something like the Polo might be perfect for their needs.