Crumple zones are part of the tough safety shell of our cars, helping to protect you and your passengers in the event of an accident

Our cars are designed and engineered with a range of safety features to help protect you and your passengers in any eventuality.

All our cars are built with a tough safety shell. We 'test-drive' our designs through accurate, computer-simulated accidents to make sure the safety shell stays intact when you need it to.

To further enhance your safety, we include crumple zones at the front and rear of the shell. Crumple zones are designed to absorb impact energy during a collision so that most of the energy is dissipated across these zones, and not in your passenger compartment. The strong outer shell comes with front and rear crumple zones that help to absorb the impact of a crash, increasing the safety of occupants.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

In this edition, discover how it feels to be a rally champion, behind the wheel of the Polo WRC. We head to Oslo to put another winner through its paces – the e-up! The first emission-free car in series production from Volkswagen. And, closer to home, four kids and a shopping trolley show us why we don’t need to be on a rally track to benefit from all-wheel drive.

Also, as the weather gears up to do its worst, we share our top tips for surviving whatever winter throws your way.

And, for survival of a different kind, we travel to South Africa, to see how they’re putting nature conservation into action – from inside a shark cage.

The electronic stabilisation programme uses a sensor to measure the lateral acceleration acting on the car in order to calculate its actual position. The lateral acceleration sensor is located in the same housing as the rotation (Yaw) rate sensor (duo-sensor). Lateral acceleration acts on a car sideways to the direction of travel. It is noticeable as a centrifugal force moving a car to the outside of a curve when cornering, for example.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

At the 1974 Geneva Motor Show, a sleek new Volkswagen hatchback coupe made its debut.  Forty years and over a million sales later, the Volkswagen Scirocco is preparing to return to Geneva, with a new range of advanced engines that offer up to 280 PS yet also promise fuel efficiency improvements of up to 19 per cent, without compromising the Scirocco’s dynamic performance.

Externally, the Scirocco’s stylish shape has been refined and modernised with new headlights and tail lights, as well as revised bumper styling.

The revised front bumper features aerodynamic ‘blades’ in the outer section, like those of the latest-generation Golf GTI, with integrated indicator lights, daytime running lights and fog lights.  On models fitted with the optional bi-xenon headlights, the daytime running lights are LEDs within the main headlights.  At the rear, all Sciroccos now have LED tail lights, while the bumper has been reshaped to appear lower and more purposeful.  As on a Golf, the Volkswagen logo badge now has an additional purpose: functioning as the tailgate release handle.

As before, the range-topping Scirocco R has a distinct look, with bespoke bumpers and alloy wheels.  The Scirocco R now comes as standard with 18-inch ‘Cadiz’ alloy wheels, as on the Golf R.  The rest of the range also receives new alloy wheel designs, including the option of the ‘Talladega’ alloy previously reserved for the ‘R’.

Under the bonnet (which as before features the Volkswagen roundel) are six new tubocharged direct-injection petrol and diesel engines, all of which meet EU6 emissions standards and return between 68.9 and 34.9 mpg. 

The petrol range consists of a 1.4-litre petrol with 125 PS (was 122), a new 2.0-litre 180 PS unit which replaces the previous 1.4-litre 160 PS unit.  Despite the increase in capacity and power, it is more economical than the unit it replaces.  The previous
2.0-litre TSI 210 PS has been replaced with a 220 PS unit that is also 19 per cent more fuel efficient.  The new Scirocco R uses a 2.0-litre unit producing 280 PS: 15 PS more than before.

Two diesel engines will be offered, both 2.0-litre units, with either 150 PS or 184 PS, and economy of up to 68.9 mpg.  Depending on power output both petrol and diesel engines come with a choice of six-speed manual and six- or seven-speed DSG gearbox.

Inside, the dashboard has been updated, with new-look dials and an auxiliary instrument cluster above the centre console, consisting of chronometer, charge pressure and oil temperature gauges – a tribute to the 1974 model.

The Scirocco opens for ordering in the UK in May, with first deliveries expected in September.  More details will be available closer to launch.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk