Volkswagen is launching the most powerful Tiguan to date: the Tiguan R. With a power output of 235 kW (320 PS), the SUV accelerates to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds. Featuring a newly developed all-wheel drive system, the Volkswagen with a top speed of 250 km/h fascinates with outstandingly agile and confident handling. The new Tiguan R combines the dynamic performance of a sports car with the variability of a Sport Utility Vehicle. It is now available to order. Price in Germany: 56,703.53 euros.

The latest generation of the EA888 evo4 – an icon among sporty turbocharged engines (TSI) – is responsible for delivering the SUV’s vehement power. The four-cylinder engine already provides its maximum torque of 420 Nm as low as 2,100 rpm; the TSI maintains this high torque at a constant level up to 5,350 rpm. This power is distributed tofour wheels by the new all-wheel drive system: 4MOTION with R-Performance Torque Vectoring. Volkswagen has implemented a rear final drive with two multiplate clutches for the first time. This system does not just distribute the drive power between the front and rear axles, but also distributes it variably between the left and right rear wheels. With the new all-wheel drive system, Volkswagen has noticeably improved handling agility when cornering in particular. With this system the Tiguan R sets a new benchmark for SUV driving dynamics.

The Tiguan flagship was developed by Volkswagen R. The sporty DNA is not just to be found in the turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive system of the Tiguan R, but also in its extensively customised equipment. Taking the exterior as an example: the standard equipment here includes bumpers in R design with aerodynamic elements in high-gloss black or the car body colour, exterior mirror covers in matt chrome, a unique and also high-gloss black rear diffuser, black wheel housing extensions and 20-inch Misano alloy wheels. And in the interior: the Tiguan R sets itself apart from the other models in the product line with features such as the premium sport seats with integrated head restraints and R logo developed exclusively for this model, a customised Digital Cockpit with integrated lap timer, as well as R-specific decorative trim (Carbon Grey). The decorative trim elements are illuminated via the background lighting. Also illuminated: the R logo in the aluminium front sill panel mouldings. The pedals are made of stainless steel.

The extended technical R equipment includes a powerful 18-inch brake system including blue brake calipers (with R logo at the front), a DCC chassis (with adaptively controlled shock absorbers) lowered by 10 mm, and a driving profile selection enhanced for the Tiguan R with an additional R profile. This particularly sporty mode can be activated directly by means of a blue R button on the new multifunction sports steering wheel. This is also equipped with separate large paddles for manual control of the 7-speed DSG dual clutch gearbox (DQ500). The standard equipment also includes deactivatable ESC as well as a four-branch sports exhaust system. Optionally available: a titanium exhaust system from Akrapovič and 21-inch Estoril alloy wheels. The exterior of the Tiguan R can also be personalised with the Black Style design package; in this case, selected add-on parts are finished in black.

The Tiguan is Europe’s most successful SUV

A Tiguan left the production line every 35 seconds last year – a new record for the product line. The story of this bestselling model began in 2007 with its world premiere at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. Later that year, the first Tiguan came onto the market. In 2011, Volkswagen unveiled a major update at the Geneva Motor Show. By then, 700,000 units of the Tiguan had already been produced. With the new version, the annual volumes passed the mark of 500,000 units for the first time. The IAA in Frankfurt in September 2015 provided the stage for the world premiere of the second Tiguan generation; the sales launch followed in April 2016. The importance of the product line increased further in 2017 with the debut of an XL version with lengthened wheelbase under the name Allspace. In 2019, one in seven of the 6.18 million Volkswagen cars manufactured was a Tiguan – 910,926 vehicles, to be precise. The annual volumes have therefore increased almost eightfold since the first full year of production.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

The Touareg now drives into and out of parking spaces fully automatically. Virtually by remote control – from outside the vehicle using a smartphone. With the new Park Assist with remote control assist system. The typical situation: a multi-storey car park at the airport, for example. Just before the flight is due to leave. Narrow parking spaces. And that means stopping the car in the driving lane, unloading the luggage from the luggage compartment, getting in again, manoeuvring the car into the tight space, and finally squeezing yourself out of the car. Stress. Park Assist with remote control now takes over this job in the Touareg. With no stress at all.

Already familiar: the basis of the new system is Park Assist, which Volkswagen still offers for the Touareg. Park Assist permits semi-automatic parking in parking spaces; the car also drives semi-automatically out of parallel parking spaces (spaces that are parallel to the road) again. Here, the SUV takes over steering, while the driver presses the accelerator and brake pedals. Completely new: Volkswagen is now going a decisive step further, because the new Park Assist with remote control now works fully automatically for the first time – in other words, it also controls the engine and the brake. The new system offers two operating modes: in the first mode, the driver remains sitting in the vehicle and operates the system from there; in the second mode, the driver gets out of the Touareg and controls the parking manoeuvre using their smartphone. In both cases, the SUV independently drives into or out of the parking space in forward or reverse direction. What is more, it does this in all types of parking spaces.

In the first mode – without activated remote control – the driver remains sitting in the Touareg as usual. When driving into a parking space for example: the driver activates the search for a parking space by tapping on the “P” field on the infotainment system screen. As soon as the Touareg detects one or more suitable parking spaces, it shows these on the infotainment system screen. The driver now selects one of the offered parking spaces. The display “Depress the brake and press and hold the button or select Park Assist with remote control” is now shown in the digital instruments (Digital Cockpit) of the Touareg. The driver now chooses the first option and continuously presses the “Drive” button (P AUTO) under the gear knob on the centre console – parking then starts. The technology used by the Touareg for this comprises twelve ultrasound sensors and the four cameras of the Area View 360-degree system. The cameras are located in the windscreen, exterior mirrors and boot lid. Volkswagen uses what is known as “sensor fusion” to ensure optimum object detection. The SUV can therefore even park automatically in garages. The Touareg stops instantaneously if the “Drive” button is released.

In the second mode, the driver gets out of the vehicle before the actual parking manoeuvre. The driver then uses their smartphone and the VW Remote Park Assist Plus app as a remote control. This is how it works: here too, the driver activates the search for a parking space by tapping on the “P” field on the infotainment system screen. The driver again selects one of the offered parking spaces. When the display “Depress the brake and press and hold the button or select Park Assist with remote control” appears, they then choose the second option: Park Assist with remote control. The driver taps on the option, takes the vehicle key, gets out of the vehicle and then activates the parking manoeuvre via the app. To do this, the driver presses the “Drive” button on the smartphone – this button is virtually transferred from the car to the app – and parking now starts. Here also, the “Drive” button must be pressed continuously for safety reasons. The SUV now carries out the process of driving into a parking space fully automatically.

If the driver would like to drive the parked Touareg out of a tight parking space, they no longer have to squeeze into the car to do this. To activate automatic driving out of the parking space, the driver simply starts the engine via the VW Remote Park Assist Plus app by pressing the START/ENGINE/STOP button on the smartphone. When the engine is started, available manoeuvres for driving out of the parking space are displayed on the mobile phone, such as “Forward left” or “Forward right”. The driver now simply selects the direction and activates the manoeuvre for driving out of the parking space by pressing the “Drive” button icon. In this case also, the driver must continuously press the digital button for safety reasons. The manoeuvre for driving out of a parking space is visually displayed in parallel on the smartphone. The luxury-class Touareg SUV is the first Volkswagen that is capable of assisted manoeuvring without a driver on board.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

Volkswagen Group Components reinforces its position as a key supplier of central electric vehicle components for the brands and joint ventures of the Volkswagen Group in the most important market for electric mobility. With immediate effect, the Chinese components factory in Tianjin will be producing the APP 310 drive on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB). This component will be used in the Volkswagen ID.4 variants produced by the joint venture partners FAW (ID.4 CROZZ) and SAIC (ID.4 X). The Group’s future MEB models for China will also be supplied locally. The main factory for electric drives at Volkswagen Group Components in Kassel produces the APP 310 motor for current and future MEB models in Europe and North America.

Thomas Schmall, CEO of Volkswagen Group Components: “With the start of production on the APP 310 at our components site in Tianjin, we are accelerating the electric mobility movement not only in the regional market but also for the Group as a whole. Our presence in the key markets enables us to react flexibly and efficiently to the needs of our customers. In this way, Volkswagen Group Components is making a major contribution to the Group’s electrification campaign.”

Automatic gearboxes have been produced at the Tianjin component plant since 2012. Following the ramp-up of the DQ400e hybrid engine and the APP 290 electric drive, the APP 310 represents the next milestone in the transformation to electric mobility. The permanent magnet synchronous machine with the drive and gearbox parallel to the axles has an output of up to 150 kW (204 PS) with a maximum torque of 310 Nm. The two component plants at Kassel and Tianjin are working closely together on the industrialisation process for the new product. At present, the technical capacity installed at both sites corresponds to up to 880,000 electric drives per year. Production is to be expanded by up to 1.4 million electric drives as early as 2023. This would make Volkswagen Group Components one of the largest producers of electric drives in the world.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

Volkswagen is celebrating the world premiere of the new Golf R today. In Europe, pre-sales of the Golf flagship generating 235 kW (320 PS) already start tomorrow, Thursday, 5 November. The Golf R is traditionally the most powerful model of Volkswagen’s most successful product line of all times. Always with all-wheel drive, always highly dynamic, always with particularly exclusive design and equipment, always a technological benchmark of its class – the Golf class. And it’s no different this time round: the Golf R will be the first Volkswagen to launch with a new all-wheel drive system before the end of this year: 4MOTION with R-Performance Torque Vectoring. This intelligently networked system enables a new dimension of driving dynamics.

With the new sports car, Volkswagen is highlighting the great potential of the Golf, now already in its eighth generation. In future, this icon of the compact class, produced significantly more than 35 million times, will cover an output range of between 66 kW (90 PS) and the 320 PS generated by the new Golf R. The Golf is available with a petrol engine (TSI), diesel engine (TDI) featuring cutting-edge twin dosing, natural gas engine (TGI), as a 48V mild hybrid (eTSI) and with plug-in hybrid drive. This wide range of variations and its both clear-cut as well as contemporary design make the Golf one of the world’s very few high-production-volume models to stand apart from normal vehicle categories.

The new Golf R now reigns supreme as the product line’s most powerful model to date. With its drive technology, it tops everything that has been launched with the Golf label up to now. The fifth edition of the sports car accelerates to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h. However, the Golf R can also be ordered with an optional R-Performance package, which enables the top speed to be increased to 270 km/h. However, it’s less the individual driving performance that shapes the character of the new Golf R, but rather the combination of a powerful 420 newton metres of torque, cutting-edge running gear and the most progressive all-wheel drive in this category that define a new status quo in terms of dynamics.

The new all-wheel drive system and high-tech running gear merge to create a host of innovations, offering maximum agility and driving pleasure. The 4MOTION system with R-Performance Torque Vectoring is the new control centre that distributes the engine’s output to the four driven wheels. A new rear final drive distributes the drive power of the turbocharged petrol engine in the Golf R not just between the front and rear axles, but also variably between the two rear wheels. This makes it possible to significantly increase the agility particularly when cornering. As a world first, the all-wheel drive is also networked via a Vehicle Dynamics Manager (VDM) with other running gear systems such the electronic differential locks (XDS) and adaptive chassis control DCC. Thanks to this close integration of the different systems, the new Golf R offers optimum traction characteristics and neutral handling with the utmost level of precision.

By the way, the new Golf R’s setup was fine-tuned on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. When combined with the R-Performance package, the Golf R even comes with a dedicated Nürburgring driving profile, known as “Special”. As part of this driving profile, all key drive parameters are geared towards the legendary race track – including the new all-wheel drive. And the results are measurable: as shown during in-house test drives, the Golf R – which is equipped with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG) as standard – is up to 19 seconds quicker per lap around Nürburgring Nordschleife than its predecessor (07:51 minutes).

Flashback: it was an automotive sensation – the first Golf R32, introduced in 2002. With its 3.2-litre six-cylinder engine generating 177 kW (241 PS) it was the most powerful Golf that Volkswagen had built up to that point. It was also equipped with all-wheel drive and raced to 100 km/h in only 6.6 seconds. It sold three times as well as had been anticipated. From mid-2003, it was the world’s first Volkswagen available with a dual clutch gearbox (DSG). In 2005, the second Golf R32 made its debut, and with 184 kW (250 PS) it was even more powerful and superior. Four years went by until the 2009 International Motor Show in Frankfurt: at this event, Volkswagen celebrated the world premiere of the successor on the basis of the sixth Golf generation, changing from a V6 naturally-aspirated engine to a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine (TSI) that was 21 percent more efficient. The R32 became the R and with it, the output of the third generation increased to 199 kW (270 PS). In September 2013, the fourth Golf R generation followed on the basis of the Golf 7, once again making its debut at the International Motor Show. With now 221 kW, it broke through the magic 300 PS threshold.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com