Wolfsburg/Geneva, March 2016. The smallest Volkswagen is becoming yet more colourful and sharper still. At the end of May the second series of the up! will be launched in Europe – with newly designed body panels, new colours, new wheels, new individualisation options, new equipment, a completely redesigned interior, a new infotainment system and an outstanding new engine that offers a significant boost in performance and torque. Volkswagen is presenting the new version of the up! to the public for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show. The up! has been one of the most successful small cars in Europe for over five years. Its ever-increasing sales volume secures for the up! market leadership in its segment in countries such as Germany and the Netherlands. However, the up! has also enjoyed great success outside Europe, with strong performances in markets such as Brazil, Japan and South Africa.

New design and interior elements. Every version of the up! presented in Geneva will come with new headlights (optionally available with LED daytime running lights), new bumpers, a prominent rear diffuser, newly designed tail lights, new exterior mirror housings with integrated indicator lights, new colours and décors for the dashpad (dashboard styling panel) as well as new seat designs. Just like the larger Volkswagens, the latest up! is now also available with the “Light and Sight” package (“Coming home” and “Leaving home” functions as well as rain sensors). Fog lamps will now also feature cornering lights. Volkswagen is also offering the up! with a multi-function steering wheel and Pure Air Climatronic (automatic air conditioning) for the first time. Pure Air includes an air quality sensor with an active biogenic filter that keeps the atmosphere in the cabin at a consistently high level and prevents pollutants, fungal spores or allergens from entering via the system.

New turbo engine. The outstanding new engine of the up! offers a ground-breakingly efficient drive system: the 1.0 TSI. This turbocharged direct petrol injection (TSI) delivers a powerful 66 kW/90 PS. The maximum torque of 160 Nm is available from 1,500 rpm. The three-cylinder engine is the first turbo for the up! and the most powerful motor to date. It delivers truly dynamic performance, with a top speed of 185 km/h, and takes just 10 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h. This up! even strives to match the driving performance of the first Golf GTI. Its dynamism is paired with high efficiency: 4.4 l/100 km (equating to 102 g/km CO2) mean that the up! 1.0 TSI can cover up to 800 km on a single tank of fuel. The sportiness of the most powerful up! is emphasised by the visible exhaust tailpipe.

New smartphone integration. Another innovation in the new up! is its smartphone integration. Just connect the smartphone above the dashpad, pair via Bluetooth and it becomes an infotainment system with navigation system and on-board computer functions.

New up! beats with a 300 W sound system Coinciding with the market launch of the new up!, Volkswagen is offering a new equipment version: the up! beats, a car whose overall concept is defined by sound, because it comes with a 300 W sound system – from the American audio specialists BeatsAudio™ - as standard. In this case, smartphone integration also comes as standard.

More colours and décor. The up! is a dynamic little car that makes mobility fun. With the new series, Volkswagen is putting the spotlight even more clearly on the individuality of each up! So the up! presented in Geneva comes with a choice of 13 body colours, 12 exterior decals, ten new dashpad designs, three roof colours, three design packs, two colour packs and two basic colours for the interior trim (“Titanium Black” and “Ceramique”), coloured alloy wheels and individualised-colour ambient light available for the top-of-the-range models.

• Exterior colours. Of the 13 colours available, seven are new: “Teal Blue”, “Coral Red”, “Costa Azul” (blue), “Honey Yellow”, UK White Silver, “Blueberry” and “Savanna Gold”.
• Dashpad designs. Depending on the body colour, interior trim and model, up! buyers can choose from a selection of ten new dashpad designs, using a new labelling process that allows an even greater degree of customisation.

More engines. Previously the range of engines comprised two three-cylinder units with multi-point injection (MPI) that deliver 44 kW/60 PS or 55 kW/75 PS. This duo of 1.0 litre petrol engines has now been augmented by the sporty new 1.0 TSI (66 kW/90 PS). As a zero-emission vehicle, the e-up! cruises through the city (60 kW/82 PS).

More standard equipment. A total of four trim levels available: take up!, move up!, high up! (all of which are available as two- and four-door versions) and e-up! (available as a four-door version only). An overview of the vehicle equipment upgrades:

• take up! In future, the base version take up! will come with features such as LED licence plate lighting, door mirror casings with integrated indicators, a chrome trim strip between the headlights as well as remote-controlled central locking. The gloss black application on the centre console (with heating and ventilation controls; plus optional climate controls and radio) is framed by a narrow chrome strip.
• move up! In contrast to the first series, the move up! is the first model in the revised range to feature the newly developed “Composition” radio system and a customised “Black Cube” design dashpad as standard.  (Uk spec plus 15” “ Fortaleza” alloy wheels and Air conditioning)
• high up! In the high up! the additional features include a newly developed ambient lighting system (white), a new and enlarged multi-function display, a customised dashpad (with a choice of three versions of the “Pixels” design), fog lamps with integrated static cornering lights and the new 15-inch “Calzone” alloy wheels. Air conditioning still comes as standard.
• e-up!. The new e-up! is characterised by the new “Shark Skin” design dashpad and ambient lighting (blue) as well as the new smartphone integration feature.

More equipment packages. Volkswagen is also offering three new roof packs designed to match the paint schemes – including roofs painted in contrasting black, white or grey as well as contrasting colour door mirror caps and tinted rear windows. Other additions to the range are three design packs, including a dashpad, design decals for the exterior, and contrasting door mirror caps. The range of equipment packages is rounded off by the colour packs, with the up! being given a final eye-catching flourish – along with the contrasting colours “Hot Orange” or “Gold Beige” – with 16-inch alloy wheels, design decals for the body and matching door mirror caps.

New up! 300 watts from Dr. Dre. The American audio specialist Beats Electronics – founded in 2008 by the rapper Dr. Dre – made a big impact on the music scene, primarily with its headphones. Now the Californian company also offers a wide range of other technologies, including full in-car sound systems. Volkswagen is unveiling these BeatsAudio™ sound systems for the first time at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show in the T-Cross Breeze SUV concept car, in the Polo and in the new up!. In the case of its city specialist, this results in a completely new equipment version: the up! beats. The sound system’s 300 watt and 8-channel amplifier is fitted with a digital signal processor (DSP). To ensure crystal-clear sound, the system has seven high-end loudspeakers distributed around the interior: two tweeters in the A-pillars, two woofers in the front doors, two broadband loudspeakers in the back as well as a subwoofer integrated in the spare wheel well, which delivers powerful, punching bass tones.

• up! beats equipment. The up! beats also has added customised flair thanks to the new 15-inch alloy wheels, special beats design decals and contrasting colour door mirror caps. In the interior, an individual dashpad, a special door sill plate as well as colour-coordinated seat belts to match the new equipment version give the car a very distinctive look. The up! beats also comes with smartphone integration and ambient lighting (white) as standard.

Two new radio systems. Volkswagen has given smartphone integration a complete make-over. A new infotainment generation has been developed: the Composition system, with a 3.1-inch monochrome display, and the top-of-the-range Composition Phone system with a 5.0-inch colour display. Both of the systems feature a twin tuner, AUX IN connection and SD card slot. The base system also has a CD player, while Composition Phone has a Bluetooth interface with hands-free function. The Composition Phone system also offers a rear view camera, available for the first time in the up! As an option, both of the systems can be supplemented by a DAB+ (digital radio receiver), the Sound Plus package (with six loudspeakers) as well as a USB port (in the centre console). The Composition Phone system is also available with the new smartphone integration feature and the BeatsAudio™ sound system.

Smartphone integration. “Maps + More” can be used to integrate current smartphones, running either Apple or Android, into the Composition Phone’s control system, simply by connecting the smartphone above the centre console and pairing it with the radio system via Bluetooth. The Volkswagen app “Maps + More” can now be used to run “Navigation” (offline navigation without roaming costs, 2D or 3D map mode), “MFA” (multi-function display with vehicle data), “Phone” (with hands-free kit), “Think Blue. Trainer.” (energy-saving tips), “E-charging Manager” (in the e-up), “Car Function” (various vehicle functions), “Media Control” (access to music details, display title, artist and cover, search function with handwriting recognition) and “Radio Control” (selection of FM, AM or DAB+; display, search and save radio stations). The smartphone integration system also includes a USB port that can be used to transfer data or for charging.

The New up! will be available Summer 2016.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Volkswagen is bringing more than a dash of sports style to the MPV class with the announcement of the new Touran R-Line.

The brand’s latest award-winning seven-seater – most recently named ‘Best MPV’ by respected automotive publishing brand What Car? – is now available to order in stylish R-Line guise for the first time.

The R-Line trim level is Volkswagen’s most overtly sporty mainstream equipment grade and provides a raft of exterior and interior styling enhancements, all carefully calculated to dial up kerb appeal, cabin style and on-road attitude. 

The range-topping new Touran R-Line is available with a selection of potent yet frugal turbocharged petrol or diesel engines ranging in capacity from 1.4-litre TSI to 2.0-litre TDI, and with outputs of between 150 PS and 190 PS.  These are mated to a similarly broad selection of transmissions which, depending on engine choice, comprise either six-speed manual or six- or seven-speed DSG.

Of course all the new Touran R-Line models also feature a selection of Volkswagen’s BlueMotion technologies such as Start/Stop, brake energy recuperation and low rolling resistance tyres, meaning economy is maximised.  Combined fuel consumption* ranges from 49.6 mpg for the 1.4-litre TSI 150 PS six-speed manual, to 62.8 mpg for the 2.0-litre TDI 150 PS six-speed manual.

Outstanding R-Line is styled to stand out   

Instantly recognisable outside, the new Touran R-Line benefits from a selection of exterior design enhancements including unique front and rear bumpers, radiator grille, and side skirts; plus chrome mouldings for the rear bumper, and 18-inch ‘Marseille’ alloy wheels.  Unique R-Line badging completes the external additions.

Inside, the sporty new Touran adds ‘Black Lead Grey’ decorative inserts in the dash, centre console and front doors; a black roof lining and grey stitching on the leather-trimmed three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, which also includes aluminium inserts and R-Line logo.

The seating, meanwhile, includes contrasting microfibre side bolsters and front seats with R-Line logo on the rear backrests.  Completing the stylish upgrades are stainless steel pedals, and unique R-Line sill protectors.

Practicality that’s highly-praised

Praising the new Touran in its recent awards issue, What Car? said: “This new Volkswagen is great to drive, classy-feeling inside and has better safety credentials than most of its rivals.”

The judges added: “There are cheaper and bigger MPVs, but none that so brilliantly balances all of the things that matter to big families.  Crucially, Volkswagen’s latest seven-seater is more practical than all of its similarly priced rivals.”

Now, with the addition of this stylish new range-topping trim level, the Touran offers this renowned practicality in its most eye-catching form. 

The new Touran R-Line is available to order from Volkswagen Retailers now, with prices starting at £27,740 RRP for the Touran R-Line 1.4-litre TSI six-speed manual.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Individualising new cars continues to be a popular trend. Dynamic features in particular are more in demand than ever. One of the ways that Volkswagen is addressing this trend is with the new 'R-Line' packages. The specialists at the sporty Volkswagen subsidiary, “Volkswagen R GmbH, have now developed two R-Line packages for the Golf Sportsvan, which make their world premiere at the International Motor Show (66th IAA Cars) in Frankfurt.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Nobility, sporting personalities, actors and TV presenters – to mark the start of Rally Monte Carlo, top international stars took a seat next to the world rally champions from Volkswagen. ‘Taxi rides’ around the Grand Prix circuit in Monaco in the Polo R WRC, the world championship-winning car from 2013, 2014 and 2015, gave them an impression of the driving skills of Sébastien Ogier (F), Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN) and Andreas Mikkelsen (N).

Among the passengers in the rally Polo: actor Mikael Nyqvist, noted for his performances in many Swedish TV productions, particularly the adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s “Millennium” trilogy; Pierre Casiraghi, seventh in line to the throne of Monaco; former footballer Thomas Helmer, a European Championship winner with Germany in 1996; Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, who topped the world rankings for 67 weeks; European Footballer of the Year 1991, Jean-Pierre Papin, who played for AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Marseille and Bordeaux; Finland’s most-capped footballer, Jari Litmanen; French rugby star Damien Chouly; and Allan McNish, former Formula 1 driver and three-time overall winner of the Le Mans 24-hour race.

“Wow! That was a real adrenalin rush. I did sit next to Pierce Brosnan in a car during filming one time – but Seb really knows what he is doing!” said Mikael Nyqvist after his drive with Sébastien Ogier. Caroline Wozniacki enjoyed a swift city tour with the three-time world champion and added: “I live here in Monaco – and this fast taxi ride was a great new experience for me. I felt really safe sitting next to Sébastien Ogier.”

The ceremonial start for Rally Monte Carlo also welcomed the German TV presenter Kai Pflaume, dancer Katrina Patchett and the world record holder in race walking, Yohann Diniz.

After the VIP rides and the ceremonial start in Monaco in the evening were finished, Rally Monte Carlo also marked the official launch of the 2016 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) season, with 14 rallies on four continents taking place on ice and snow, asphalt and gravel.

Volkswagen is defending all the world championship titles – in the Manufacturer, Driver and Co-Driver categories – for the third time in a row.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk