Volkswagen Introduces LED Rear Lights for the Golf R, GTI and GTD

Over the past few years, LEDs have worked their way into automotive lighting, initially on high-end luxury and sports cars, but lately, on an increasing number of mainstream vehicles. In what the company claims to be a 'first' in the compact segment, Volkswagen has developed new LED rear lights for the sportiest variants of the Golf VI.

Initially, the LED tail lamps will be offered as standard on the recently revealed 270HP Golf R and as an option for €350 or approximately US$520 on the 210HP Golf GTI and its diesel-sibling, the 170HP Golf GTD.

Volkswagen said that each smoked rear light consists of two curved right angles, each angle containing eleven LEDs plus one central LED above each curve. If you do the math, that comes to a total of 48 LEDs.

Aside from the cool-look factor, the LED rear lights are practically maintenance-free and extremely fast with their response time to brake activation said to be 0.2 second faster than that of conventional incandescent lights. The company said that this time difference translates to 5.6 meters braking distance at a speed of 100 km/h or 62mph.

Golf buyers can combine the LED tail lights with bi-xenon head lights with dynamic cornering light that vary the lighting direction as a function of the steering angle. The headlamps are standard on the Golf R and optional on all other Golf models with prices starting from €1,295 (US$1,900).

Caractere's VW IROC Concept-Inspired Styling Kit for New Golf VI

The Belgian tuner Caractere has released a new styling kit for the sixth-generation Volkswagen Golf. Clearly inspired by VW's 2006 IROC Concept car that previewed the Scirocco Coupe, the styling package comprises of a new front bumper with a characteristic grille surround, chunky side skirts, a large roof spoiler and a rear apron with an integrated diffuser and a two-pipe exhaust unit.

The Golf VI's appearance can be completed with a set of 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels. Caractere's styling package will go on sale in Europe early next year.

CARACTERE VW GOLF VI DESIGN KIT

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2006 VW IROC CONCEPT

ABT Powers Up the New Volkswagen Golf GTD Diesel to 190HP

Volkswagen Group tuning specialist ABT has set its eyes on the new Golf GTD offering a range of power and styling treatments. The GTD's 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine receives a 20-pony and 40 Nm increase to 190-horsepower and 390 Nm (288 lb-ft) of maximum torque trimming 0-100km/h (62mph) acceleration from 8.1 seconds to 7.1 seconds - always according to ABT. Top speed increases from 222 km/h to 230 km/h (143mph).

Other available performance goodies include a sport suspension that lowers the car's ride height by around 30mm and a new exhaust system with a throatier sound.

As you'd expect from ABT, the German tuner also offers a full bodykit which is similar to the one available for the GTI and includes a front spoiler, front grille, side sills, rear spoiler and a rear apron with an integral diffuser housing the quad tailpipes.

A set of 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in high-performance tires completes the package.

Volkswagen Bids Farewell to Golf Mk1 with Limited Edition Model in South Africa

After 31 years and 517,384 Golf Mk1's and Citi Golfs assembled at Volkswagen's South African plant in Uitenhage, the German automaker has decided that it's time to end production of the first-generation Golf that was sold in North America as the Rabbit. The Uitenhage site was the only Volkswagen factory in the world to have continued building the original Golf Mk1 designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro that debuted in 1978 up until today, even after the presentation of five more generations of the model.

To bid farewell to the car, Volkswagen's South African division presented the last run of 1,000 Mk1 Golf's ever to be produced in the world.

Dubbed Citi Mk1, the special edition Golfs will only be available in two colors, Black and Shadow Blue metallic and are fitted with 15-inch gunmetal painted alloy wheels, dark taillights, GT style stripes under the doors, chrome tail pipe, twin headlamps and chrome grille surround.

Inside, the Citi Mk1, which features a different and more modern cockpit design that the original car, gets sport seats partially covered in leather, a retrotastic golf ball gear knob, leather steering wheel, red stitching throughout the interior, specific floor mats and an individual number embossed on the dashboard.

All cars will be equipped with a 1.6-liter engine that delivers an output of 99HP / 74kW at 5,400rpm.

Available exclusively in South Africa (just so you don't get any ideas...), the last 1,000 Citi Mk1 are priced at R 113,500 which comes to around US$ 15,500 or €10,300 at today's exchange rates.

VW Prices New 270HP Golf R and 265HP Scirocco R in the UK [With Track Video]

Volkswagen has released pricing for its UK-bound Golf R and Scirocco R that are both expected to reach British showrooms in February of 2010. Prices for front-wheel drive Scirocco R that's fitted with a 265HP 2.0-litre TSI four-cylinder engine and a six speed manual gearbox start at £26,945 on-the-road while the all-wheel drive Golf R that's powered by a 270HP 2.0-liter turbo engine linked to a six-speed manual transmission, begins from £28,930. A six-speed DSG gearbox is available as an option on both models from £1,300.

The company says that the range-topping Scirocco accelerates from a standstill to 62 mph in 6.0 seconds, falling to 5.8 seconds when equipped with the dual-clutch DSG gearbox, while achieving a combined figure of 34.9 mpg UK (35.3 for DSG) and 189 g/km of CO2 (187 for DSG).

As for the Golf R that is available in three- and five-door body styles, it is the fastest accelerating VW ever produced, with a 0 to 62mph (100km/h) sprint time of just 5.7 seconds for the manual model and 5.5 seconds for the DSG equipped version. The Golf R is said to return 33.2 mpg UK on the combined cycle (DSG 33.6 mpg) and CO2 emissions of 199 g/km (195g DSG).

Both the Scirocco R and Golf R models have a top speed of 155 mph.

New VW Golf and Ford Fiesta Lead European Market in 3Q of 2009, Defy Crisis with Increased Sales

Helped by their popularity in national scrappage schemes, the latest generation VW Golf and Ford Fiesta models are leading the way in the European sales chart boasting a 21.3% and 40.2% increase in sales respectively in the first nine months of the year compared to the same period in 2008, according to data released by Jato Dynamics.

The Golf VI, which is the market leader, recorded sales of 59,552 units in September representing a 56% increase over the 2008. VW's Polo and Passat models didn't fare as well in the month and are down YtD (Year to Date - January to September) by 3.3% and 15.8% respectively.

Ford's new Fiesta that will soon be available in the States found 51,291 new owners in September, 63.9% more than a year ago and over 12,000 more new registrations than the third-placed Opel/ Vauxhall Corsa that was up 17.1% in September but down 6.8% YtD.

Fiat's best selling models, the Punto supermini and the Panda mini enjoyed another jaunty sales period, with both cars featured in the top ten list. The Punto recording a 66.2% rise in sales for the month (+10.1% YtD) while the Panda was up by 14.4% in September (+30.6% YtD).

Finally, Renault's new Megane rounded off the top ten list in September with a whopping 90.4% increase in sales over the same month last year (+29.0% YtD).

As for brand performance, Volkswagen continues to hold on to first place with 1,241,755 sales YtD (+3.7%). In September, the German automaker sold 155,770 new cars in Europe which represents a significant increase of 16.3%.

In second place we find Ford that saw a healthy 3.7% YtD sales rise (+18.0% in September). The only other car manufacturer in the top ten list to record an increase in YtD sales is Fiat (+2.5%).

Overall, the European car market was up 7.5 per cent in September (1,379,610 units sold) compared to last year (1,283,537 units), but 5.7 per cent down in YtD sales ( 10,857,605 vs 11,517,910 cars )

Data: Jato Dynamics

VW Launches Most Economical Golf Ever: New BlueMotion Model Returns 3.8lt/100km or 61.9mpg

At this year's Frankfurt Show, along with the world debut of the most powerful series-production Golf ever, the 270HP AWD Golf R, Volkswagen also celebrated the premiere of the most fuel efficient Golf of all time, the second-generation Golf BlueMotion that is now available to buy in Germany from € 21,650. The new BlueMotion model is motivated by a 1.6-liter TDI common-rail diesel engine that produces 105HP with power being transmitted to the front wheels via a long-ratio five-speed manual gearbox.

In addition to the new TDI engine, the Golf BlueMotion also benefits from aerodynamic changes, a braking energy recovery function, a start-stop system and lightweight alloy wheels shod in low rolling resistance tires.

All of these upgrades contribute to an impressive average fuel economy of 3.8 lt / 100km (61.9 mpg US or 74.3mpg UK) and CO2 emissions of just 99 g/km, making the second-generation BlueMotion the most economical Golf of all time.

2010 VW GTI MkVI: U.S Spec Model Priced from $23,990, gets 10HP Less than Euro Model

Along with the 2010 Golf 2.5L and TDI diesel, Volkswagen of America has also released detailed information on the pricing and the available options for the 2010 GTI MkVI that is motivated by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with direct-injection that pushes out 200HP at 5,100 rpm and 207 lb-ft. of torque from 1,800 all the way up to 5,000 rpm. Those figures are the same with the previous-gen MKV GTI but 10HP less than its European counterpart.

With the standard six-speed manual transmission, the U.S.-spec 2010 GTI can go from 0 to 60 mph (96km/h) in 6.8 seconds and on to an electronically limited 130mph (209km/h) top speed while delivering an EPA-estimated 31mpg on the highway, and 21mpg in city driving.

When fitted with the optional six-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission, the GTi reaches 60mph in 6.7 seconds from a standstill and returns an improved EPA-estimated 32 mpg in highway driving, and 24 mpg in city driving.

In comparison, the 210HP Euro-spec GTI accelerates from standstill to 62mph (100km/h) in 6.9seconds (both manual and DSG) and has a top speed of 142mph or 238km/h.

In the U.S., prices for the 2010 GTI start from $23,990 (including destination charge) for the two-door model with a manual gearbox and top out at $25,690 for the four-door version with the DSG transmission.

For more details on pricing check out the official order guide below.