Volkswagen is rolling out a refreshing new attitude to the routine job of car servicing, maintenance and repair with the launch of its ground-breaking Aftersales Digital Reception (ADR) initiative.

Coming to Volkswagen Retailers across the UK throughout 2016, the ADR scheme introduces a welcoming new approach which keeps service customers informed every step of the way.  Using redesigned service reception areas, the very latest hand-held tablet technology and online ‘explainer’ videos, it gives drivers a more relaxed, enlightened and straightforward experience.

The ADR process has been created to give routine service customers a much clearer picture of what is happening to their car: from booking to job completion.  Beginning with the ‘check-in’ process it sees an expert Service Advisor greet the Volkswagen driver with an electronic tablet-based arrivals form and inspect their car – taking photographs of its condition if required – and talk them through the selected service/maintenance process.

Customers join their advisor in the new, informal, service reception and consultation area which, thanks in part to the hand-held tablet technology employed, does away with formal desks and the physical barrier of old-tech desktop computers.  The outline of work is discussed and the customer either opts to wait for it to be carried out, or takes advantage of a pre-booked lift, or courtesy car* to get on with their day.

As the car undergoes its 34-point visual check, carried out by a trained Volkswagen Service Technician, a video is created showing what work has been identified.  In the brief film the technician points out risks such as worn brake pads or tyres, and allows the customer to see for themselves any maintenance work required.  The video can then be sent straight to the customer’s computer, or smartphone, for them to view and make a decision on before any work begins.

Other routine maintenance tasks, such as cambelt changes, can be discussed with the Service Advisor too and, if required, explained via a library of simple online animations created by Vehicle Visuals to help demystify modern servicing tasks.  These short ‘explainer’ videos work alongside a detailed website which includes all manner of maintenance information and explanations, such as a handy guide to the various warning lights and notifications which can appear in the instrument binnacle of a modern Volkswagen: http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/warning-lights

The thinking behind the new ADR process is to keep customers better informed about, and more involved in, their car’s servicing work at Volkswagen Retailers.  The initiative is rolling out across the brand’s 227-strong Retailer network throughout the year, with 800-plus Service Advisors in the network undergoing detailed training online and at the Volkswagen National Learning Centre in Milton Keynes.

Kevin Rendell, Volkswagen UK’s Head of Service and Parts Operations, said: “The Aftersales Digital Reception initiative has been many months in the making and is, we believe, a revolutionary approach to Volkswagen servicing and aftersales customer care.

“Advisors consulting with customers, technicians demonstrating what work needs to be done via video and simple online explanations showing why work has to be carried out all combine to make the service process much less intimidating.

“The ADR initiative brings a revolutionary 21st Century retailing approach into what has, hitherto, sometimes felt like a process that has changed only slowly for decades.  We are now keen to hear how our owners feel about this new-style aftersales service and very much welcome feedback.”

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Emotional start: Volkswagen duos thrill fans in Córdoba – and vice versa

An enthralling sprint to open the Rally Argentina: SébastienOgier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) made a successful and spectacular start to the event. Together with Dani Sordo/Marc Martí (E/E, Hyundai) they clocked the fastest time on stage one of the fourth round of the 2016 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). The short, 1.5-kilometre special stage took the competitors through the centre of Córdoba, past the station, over the Río Suquía via the brightly-lit Puente Del Bicentinario – complete with the futuristic tower at the adjacent Centro Cívico – and back again. Thousands of passionate fans made the start an electrifying experience. “It is simply fantastic how the fans get involved here,” said Sébastien Ogier. Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jæger (N/N) and Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) ended the spectator stage in eleventh and twelfth place respectively. Friday is the first full day of the Rally Argentina, with a full 150.08 kilometres against the clock scheduled, starting with the first gravel stage of the rally – the 24.71-kilometre “Soconcho-Villa del Dique”.

Finnish tradition takes South Americaby storm – Latvala helps “Cuna de Cartón” charity

Volkswagen works driver Jari-Matti Latvala again followed an old Finnish tradition at the Rally Argentina: he presented a “Cuna de Cartón” – a cardboard cradle – in the service park. The starter kit for newborn children was introduced in Finland in 1938, in an attempt to reduce infant mortality rates, which were high at the time. And it proved to be successful. The idea of giving babies born into underprivileged families a safer and better start to life has also proven to be a success story in North and South America for some years now. Jari-Matti Latvala had previously done his bit for the charity at the Rally Mexico, where he presented such a box. The content ranges from the cardboard cradle itself to care products, clothes, toys and soft toys.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Volkswagen pushes forward the development of fully or partially electrically powered vehicles. Volkswagen plans to launch seven new electric and plug-in hybrid models on the Chinese market in the next three to four years. Each of these vehicles will also be made in China. In addition to this, a new design and development centre in China is also planned. The new models presented in Beijing demonstrate the assertiveness with which Volkswagen is reinventing mobility. The highlight is the debut, a true world premiere, of the T-Prime Concept GTE – the concept of a cutting-edge premium class SUV. This plug-in hybrid all-rounder gives a first glimpse of Volkswagen’s future flagship. The all-new Magotan was already presented as a world premiere at the Volkswagen Group Night on the eve of the show, accompanied by Volkswagen’s new PHIDEON luxury saloon and the zero-emission MPV BUDD-e, which made their Asian debut at the event.

Volkswagen star in Beijing – the T-Prime Concept GTE

The T-Prime Concept GTE concept car is a premium class sport utility vehicle. With plug-in hybrid and all-wheel drive as well as zero emissions on any terrain, the concept car makes an automotive statement of a new era. The display and control concept are completely digital, the conventional switches in the interior have been done away with and replaced by gesture and voice control, touchscreens and touch-sensitive surfaces. The T-Prime is the world’s first car to feature a Curved Interaction Area – a curved infotainment display that blends in with the remaining displays and controls in the futuristic cockpit. The concept car’s eight-speed automatic transmission is controlled intuitively “by wire” using a glass scroll wheel.

The T-Prime Concept GTE is ideal as a versatile alternative to conventional vehicle concepts, as the four-seat SUV concept car combines the best of various different automotive worlds: comfortable like a saloon; spacious like an estate; offering traction that is superior to all other types of car; based on state-of-the-art chassis technology; agile like a sportscar and – thanks to innovative drive technologies – efficient like a compact car. One of the many fitting innovations is the plug-in hybrid drive that is practically silent in its electric E-Mode, which makes the T-Prime Concept GTE a zero-emission SUV with a range of up to 50 kilometres. In GTE mode the 280 kW/381 PS concept car demonstrates pure dynamism. Visually, the innovative technical layout is reflected in a charismatic and sporty design.

The T-Prime Concept GTE is part of an SUV product offensive that was launched this spring with the European debut of the new Tiguan. In future this successful model will, for the first time, also be available with an extended wheelbase. In the classes above it, this will be followed by a new mid-size SUV for China and the USA as well as the successful Touareg or a vehicle based on the T-Prime Concept GTE. Beneath the Tiguan, two new SUV model series will also make their debut: in the Golf class there will be an SUV based on the T-ROC concept car. The T-Cross Breeze presented in Geneva in March, on the other hand, gives a glimpse of a future SUV in the Polo class.

Next generation Magotan

The completely newly-developed Magotan will be launched in July. This saloon car is the first vehicle to be based on the modular transverse matrix (MQB). Thanks to the MQB, the designers and engineers were able to achieve a rear passenger compartment with an unrivalled amount of space as well as ideal body proportions. Alongside this, the Magotan also features a plethora of new driver assistance and convenience and infotainment systems. And the Magotan features a high-tech drive train, too: three TSI engines ranging from 110 kW/150 PS to 162 kW/220 PS offer the highest possible degree of efficiency and dynamism.

The new PHIDEON

The PHIDEO Nisa new premium class saloon. This Volkswagen, which is around five metres long, will be launched in China in the third quarter of 2016. The PHIDEON was derived, with only minor changes, almost directly from the breath-taking C Coupé GTE concept car (which made its world premiere at Auto Shanghai in 2015). The all-wheel drive PHIDEON 3.0 TSI 4MOTION is available with a V6 TSI that delivers 220 kW/300 PS. The new saloon will also be available as a 2.0 TSI (four-cylinder and front-wheel drive). A model with a plug-in hybrid drive is also planned for the future.

The BUDD-e concept

The BUDD-e is based on a new technology matrix for electric vehicles, the Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB). Range: up to 533 km (NEDC).The battery can be 80% recharged within 30 minutes. The completely new method of operation and information processing is intriguing. Touch and gesture control merge seamlessly; switches and buttons are a thing of the past; individual displays blend into large infotainment panels and analogue mirrors are replaced by digital screens. You can already experience the future today on board the BUDD-e.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

• Landmark day for Golf GTI as order books open for GTI Clubsport Edition 40 
• Most potent GTI to date with up to 290 PS; 0-62 mph in 6.3 seconds  
• Special edition model priced from £30,875 (RRP OTR) 

‘Iconic’ is, perhaps, a word bandied around all too freely but, when applied to the mould-breaking Golf GTI, it can be used with genuine justification.  The car that popularised the ‘hot hatch’ phenomenon is 40 years old in 2016 and, to mark the occasion, Volkswagen has created the most potent iteration of the GTI to date.

Available to order in Volkswagen UK Retailers now, the specially commissioned Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 celebrates four decades of a true automotive icon.

Powering this addition to the GTI range is a 2.0-litre turbocharged direct-injection engine that delivers 265 PS, making it the most powerful Golf GTI yet.  But that’s not the whole story. Accelerate hard in third gear or higher and, for up to 10 seconds, an additional ‘overboost’ function increases the engine power to 290 PS.

The engine – which delivers its 265 PS between 5,350 and 6,600 rpm – is technically based on the 1,984 cc TSI engine that appears in the award-winning Golf R.  This is a third generation EA 888 unit boasting technical refinements such as a water-cooled exhaust channel to the turbocharger that is integrated in the cylinder head, and variable valve timing with dual camshaft adjustment.  Maximum torque, under boost, is 350 Nm.

In the new Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 this power is channelled entirely to the front wheels via either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed DSG. The lightweight front-wheel drive system that is typical of the Golf GTI offers tremendous agility, working as it does in conjunction with an electronically controlled front differential lock and the XDS+ vehicle dynamics function.

The DSG version of the car is also equipped with launch control as standard.  Just as with a track racer the Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 – which boasts an unladen weight of as little as 1,375 kg, depending on bodystyle – accelerates in a controlled manner from standstill using its maximum overboost power of up to 290 PS.

Top speed is limited to 155 mph and the 0-62 mph time for both three- and five-door versions – either manual or DSG – is a brisk 6.3 seconds. CO2 emissions* range between 158 g/km and 162 g/km depending on bodystyle and transmission choice, while combined fuel economy* similarly varies between 40.9 mpg and 40.4 mpg.

Power and precision

As with all Golf GTIs, the new Clubsport Edition 40 is equipped with a sport chassis with 15 mm lower ride height as standard.  Up front, MacPherson suspension provides precise tracking while the modular performance suspension does the same job at the rear.

Equipped with a front differential lock as well as the XDS+ vehicle dynamics function and progressive steering – which means significantly smaller steering inputs are required – the latest Golf GTI is all the more agile because the familiar sport chassis has been tuned to its more powerful nature.

Specifically, its handling characteristics have been perfected by virtue of a new spring layout, newly tuned dampers and optimised bump stops.  These measures, working alongside the specially modified aerodynamics, combine to deliver high levels of agility and steering precision along with extremely precise driving stability at high speed, linear and predictable vehicle reactions and optimised grip.

The anniversary model is also available with DCC dynamic chassis control as an option.  This, too, has been adapted to the high power potential of the anniversary model via new control algorithms.  The result is a car whose handling is more intuitive than ever.

Power is transferred to the road via 18-inch alloy wheels that are offered as standard with 225/40 tyres.  These exclusive “Quaranta” forged wheels are nearly 3 kg lighter per wheel than conventional alloys.  Optionally, the GTI Clubsport Edition 40 may be ordered with 19-inch “Brescia “ alloy wheels with 235/35 tyres.  Another option: street-approved semi-slick 235/35 R 19 tyres on eight-inch wide “Pretoria” wheels.

Motorsport-style downforce

For this very special Golf GTI, Volkswagen exterior designers have created a completely new front bumper, new side sills, a rear diffuser that is also new, a new multi-part roof spoiler and exclusive forged alloy wheels.  The goal was not to just help the car stand out from its siblings but, more importantly, to deliver valuable downforce on both axles and, thereby, improve the car’s dynamic handling still further.

At the front, the new design offers improvements in air supply to the engine, aerodynamics and downforce.  The new bumper features high-gloss black air deflectors which route a portion of the airflow – guided by three additional bars – through a narrowing air duct (air curtain) on each side and thereby through the bumper.  This optimises air flow around the bumper and front wheels.  The air then exits in the wheel housings without striking the wheels directly.  The central cooling air intake – in characteristic GTI honeycomb design – has also been further refined with two additional air intakes flanking the radiator grille trim.  Beneath the bumper there is a front spoiler that is designed as a sharp splitter in high-gloss black.  It optimises downforce at the front axle.

At the back, the much larger, multi-part redesigned roof edge spoiler has been aerodynamically perfected in the wind tunnel.  The two-part roof edge spoiler extends upward above the roof line while at the sides the spoiler merges homogeneously into the high-gloss black flaps on the tailgate.  Multi-part spoilers of this type are complex components that perfectly fulfil the aerodynamic tasks assigned to them: to significantly increase downforce on the rear axle.

Unmistakably GTI

Inside, the new car features iconic details that are essential for every GTI.  These include the ergonomic sports seats with a tailor-made look featuring Alcantara and black cloth upholstery; red topstitching; a gear knob in golf ball design; and a black headliner.  

Optional ergonomic sports bucket seats with prominent lateral support provide optimal comfort and stability when cornering and are stylishly finished in part Alcantara/part cloth, with the GTI lettering sitting proudly on the backrest.  Meanwhile, black honeycomb patterned backrests and seat centre section with red seaming perfectly complement the dynamic and sporty interior.

New trim strips in “Honeycomb 40” design (instrument strip, centre console and doors) give the interior an even more exclusive appearance.  Sporty decorative features include Alcantara trim on the gear lever, an Alcantara-clad sport steering wheel (with GTI emblem, red seam and 12 o’clock marking) and customised floor mats with red edging.  When the driver and front passenger open the doors, they see the exclusive stainless steel door sill plates with red GTI lettering.

The anniversary model is being offered with optional black painted roof which is combined with one of the body colours: Pure White; Tornado Red; Oryx White mother of pearl effect; Reflex Silver; Carbon Grey Metallic; or Urano Grey.  The solid colour Deep Black pearl effect is also available.

Production of the new Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 is time limited, and it is anticipated that no more than 1,000 examples of the latest ‘collector’s item’ GTI will be made available to UK buyers. 

The new Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 is available to order now, priced from £30,875 (RRP OTR), with deliveries of first customer cars expected this summer.  For more details please visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.

* Fuel consumption and CO2 figures are obtained under standardised EU test conditions (Directive 93/116/EEC).  This allows a direct comparison between different manufacturer models but may not represent the actual fuel consumption achieved in ‘real world’ driving conditions.  More information is available on the Volkswagen website at www.volkswagen.co.uk and at www.dft.gov.uk/vca

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk