The red stripe in the radiator grille, the black double stripes across the side sills and behind, the black stripe on the tailgate immediately identified this Volkswagen as a GTI. Its 110 PS powered a kerb weight of just 810 kg and accelerated it to 100 km/h in 9.0 seconds. Top speed: 182 km/h. The colours for the market launch: "mars red" and "diamond silver". Later, white and black also became established as GTI colours.

The new up! GTI continues the creed of the lightweight and no-frills sports car with a compact format – from outside and inside similar in size to the original GTI. It is driven by a turbocharged engine (TSI) with powerful 230 Nm torque. The key data do indeed read like a Golf GTI MkI catapulted into the present day. Weight: 997 kg (significantly high-strength steels and more airbags). Vmax: 197 km/h. 0-100 km/h: 8.8 seconds. Colours: classic once again and typical of the GTI – the plain colours "tornado red" and "pure white" and the metallic colours "dark silver", "black pearl" and – as a new GTI colour – "costa azul" (blue).

The most powerful up! to date is immediately recognisable with its typical GTI insignia. At the front for instance the red stripe across the radiator grille with honeycomb pattern. Integrated above it is the GTI logo. Here the up! cites the archetypal GTI with features such as the double stripes across the wide side sill panels. The exterior mirror caps are in high-gloss black; the 17-inch alloy wheels have also been completely redesigned. They have a particularly dashing look in the wheel housings because the up! GTI features sports running gear, lowering the body by 15 mm. GTI features also characterise the rear: here, among other things, a red strip as well as a larger roof edge spoiler provides for greater downforce on the rear axle for optimised handling performance at higher speeds. The interior includes features as a leather-trimmed sport steering wheel, a GTI gear knob and the legendary "clark" seat pattern. The fact is: this GTI does not just look like one – it also drives like one. A new original.

¹)up! GTI: This vehicle has not yet gone on sale and therefore Directive 1999/94 does not apply.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Seats with air conditioning and a massage function offer luxurious comfort, relaxation and bonus points for physical health and safety.

Air conditioning: 
heating and cooling by means of the ventilated seat backs and cushions deliver a high feelgood factor and prevent cramped posture. There is no further need for movement-restricting winter clothes thanks to the heated seats. Consequently the seat belts fit better and offer better protection. This also means, for example, that the restraint systems work more effectively.

Massage function: 
the massage function takes the strain off the spine and contributes to physical fitness. Once activated by a pushbutton, it moves the lumbar support with a massaging action for ten minutes. The advantage of this mechanical system over pneumatic solutions lies in the more effective movement of the spine, which provides natural relaxation of the back muscles.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

The Arteon is a gran turismo, ideal for long distances. The new, optionaly available "adaptive cruise control ACC" with predictive speed control gives enhanced comfort over long distances. The further developments in "ACC can integrate speed limits for the first time.

So far, the assistance system was known purely as cruise control: adjust the desired speed, that's all. Within system limits, "adaptive cruise control ACC" can take over braking and acceleration. So far, so good. However, anyone who has ever driven a car with "ACC" will have wished that the system could "think" and also take into account bends and speed limits, thus adding even more comfort. The Arteon is the first Volkswagen to do just that: within system limits, it reacts to bends and speed limits and integrates them into the adaptive speed control.

Here's how it works: "ACC" uses a radar sensor (for the cruise control), a camera in the windscreen and the route data of the navigation system. The Arteon can "see" speed limits using the camera and the associated traffic sign recognition. These are adopted by the "ACC". The route data can even be predictively forwarded to the navigation system. This "speed assistant" represents a clear comfort gain especially on long-distance motorways with constantly changing speed information. A "bend assistant" is active at the same time: Using the route data of the navigation system, the car can recognise its position within system limits and adjust the speed on approaching bends, roundabouts and intersections. Local entry and exit signs can also be detected. The "Front Assist" surroundings monitoring system including "City Emergency Braking System" is always integrated in the "ACC". In combination with the automatically shifting DSG, the Arteon can also automatically start up again with "ACC" – for example, in stop & go traffic.

The "adaptive cruise control" is active in a range from 0 to 210 km/h (130 mph; with DSG); starting at 30 km/h (18 mph) ACC is able to keep the desired speed constantly. Thanks to the predictive speed control system, the system can increase comfort as outlined; at the same time, though, the new "ACC" generation can also contribute to the reduction of fuel consumption thanks to the predictive braking and acceleration functions.

In essence: The "adaptive cruise control ACC with predictive speed control" helps the driver within system limits, but it is the driver who retains overall control at all times for the car and the current situation. The semi-automatic system can be "overridden" at any time by switching it off, braking or accelerating.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Last week the Volkswagen brand recieved the award "Most Innovative Volume Brand" from the Center of Automotive Management (CAM). The established industry award was presented at a gala in Frankfurt to Stefan Gies, Head of Passenger Car Chassis Development at Volkswagen. In addition, Volkswagen recieved two further awards as the most innovative brand in the categories "Interface & Connectivity" and "Autonomous Driving & Safety".

According to a study by CAM in cooperation with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), this year the Volkswagen brand was the most progressive volume brand once again. This meant that the carmaker from Wolfsburg was able to successfuly defend it's position from the previous year, For years, the study AutomotiveINNOVATIONS has identified the future trends and innovation profiles of different car brands based on technical vehicle innovations. In the official justification for this year's award, CAM and PwC stated: "With 60 seperate innovations Volkswagen is by far the most innovative volume brand. Highly rated features include Trailer Assist, which is available for the Golf and Tiguan for the first time, and also a worldwide innovation in the respective segments."

The current CAM study also emphasises that the innovative strength of the Volkswagen brand lies in the category "Interface & Connectivity" among others and provides the following justification for this: "For the first time in this class gesture control is available for the infotainment systems of the Golf update, enabling intuitive operation. In addition, innovations such as the Doorbird app, where the car can connect with the home intercom system, led to the success of the Volkswagen brand in this category."

According to the CAM study, the Volkswagen brand also confirmed its pioneering role in the field of "Autonomous Driving & Safety". "With 'Side Assist Plus', the Tiguan is the first vehicle in its segment to feature an active asistance package that monitors the blind spot among other features. Furthermore, Rear Traffic Alert can alert the driver to approaching vehicles and also brake autonomously should the driver fail to react."

The Center of Automotive Managment in Bergisch-Gladbach (D) under the direction of Professor Stefan Bratzel is an indepedent scientific institute for empirical automotive and mobility research. It has conferred awards to the most innovative car manufacturers of the year for a number of years in cooperation with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Sixty global car brands were considered for this year's analysis.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk