Volkswagen is heading to this year’s Worthersee event with a concept race car, a 503-hp Design Vision GTI.
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Volkswagen released a new set of photos today detailing the 2015 Golf GTI, which will arrive in North America sometime in late 2013.
Performance hatchback enthusiasts brace for impact! The 2015 Volkswagen GTI is locked, loaded and aimed at America.
Were it not for Geneva, Volkswagen would have a compelling case to set up a booth in Scotland. After all, it is the birthplace of golf.
Still unconfirmed as a production model, the near-finished seventh-generation Golf GTI just hit the Paris Motor Show floor.
Topping the brand’s hot hatch range, the 2014 Volkswagen Golf R is appearing today for the first time in spy photos with a few visibile changes over the current model.
The Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet is the drop top version of the powerful Golf R, and we now know thanks to patent drawings that the cabriolet concept we saw last year will be put into production, although it likely won’t make it the the States.
The last couple days have been a storm of spy photos with the latest to come our way picturing the 2013 Volkswagen Golf GTI.
At the annual Worthersee Tour in Austria, Audi will be bringing its new e-bike Worthersee prototype which will be on display alongside the Audi Q3 Red Track, Q3 jinlong yufeng and RS Q3.
The Volkswagen Golf GTI is the original hot-hatchback. While many have followed this recipe of putting a tuned engine in a practical hatchback, thanks to its ever evolving state, the GTI is still on the scene and getting faster and faster.
Now news from Europe suggests that the next generation GTI will just get a mild tweak of its current motor. Since the GTI we buy in North America has a different engine than what our trans-Atlantic cousins are driving around in, maybe this tweaked version of the EA888 (as the 2.0T 4-cylinder motor is known to the VW faithful) will finally make its way over to us.
Early guesstamates suggest that power output will be around 220-hp, which would bring it a step closer to the Golf R spec motor. Thanks to detailed remapping of the engine management system, the new version will also be cleaner than the out-going motor.
To handle its torque-steer, a new electronically controlled, mechanical locking differential will be added to the GTI and R models.
VW is also looking to put the “R” version of the Golf Cabriolet into production. However, no word yet if this model will ever be made available on our shores.
[Source: Autocar]
The eagerly awaited Volkswagen GTI Edition 35 may not after all, be coming to North America. According to an insider at Volkswagen of America, the U.S division is not interested in the GTI Edition 35.
This special edition GTI will come with a sporty front end, wheels and interior, as well as an extra 25-hp making a total of 235-hp in the hatchback.
This VW was created to celebrate 35 years of the GTI, however the car has only been in the U.S for 30.
Volkswagen of America said they don’t feel the need for this version to boost sales. Furthermore, the dropped air dam is too low for American roads. Many enthusiasts can do without the bumper revision, however the extra horsepower is what will truly be missed by many in the U.S.
Stay tuned for more info!
[Source: Car and Driver]
Two very special birthdays are about to be celebrated with the legendary Volkswagen GTI turning 35 as well as 30 years of GTI owner meetups. The double anniversary will be celebrated in some very special ways.
The 235-hp GTI Edition 35 can be ordered now, and the 440-hp all-drive VW Motorsport Golf24 will compete in this year’s 24-hour race at the Nürburgring (23 to 26 June).
VW enthusiasts are assembling for the biggest Golf GTI Meet ever recorded in Wörthersee held from June 1st to 4th.
Because of this very special double anniversary that a second Golf race car will be presented to fans in a debut at Wörthersee. The remarkably restored 1977 Golf GTI 16S really is a unique car. It may be a classic but this 1.6-liter non-turbo engine can produce 215-hp to the crankshaft and will be raced in the 24-hour Classic (3-hours for distance) that will be held before the main event.
The Golf 16S comes equipped with Bilstein shocks, a 5-speed manual sequential racing transmission, and an 80-liter fuel tank. KWL Motorsport has rebuilt a first generation Scirocco that won two class victories at the 24h classic at the Nürburgring. However this year, the race allows engines with up to 2.0-liters. The VW drivers Patrick Simon and Heinz Stuber are hoping for a third consecutive win for VW after winning in 2009 and 2010.
The limited production Golf GTI Edition 35 produces 235-hp, 25-hp more than the “regular” GTI, and will utilize the engine of the all-wheel drive Golf R.
Over 200,000 VW fans are expected to attend the meet in Wörthersee, making it the largest VW meet ever!
OK we just wanted another excuse to mention Volkswagen‘s Golf R in a post. And even though this isn’t even a Golf R, it packs the same punch under the hood. JE Design has come up with a nice little package for the Volkswagen Golf GTI to up the horsepower to 270-hp while adding its own take with more aggressive styling.
Taking the stock 2.0-liter turbocharged motor, JE Design pushes out another 60-hp from 210-hp to 270-hp. Torque goes from roughly 205 ft-lbs to a little over 270 ft-lbs. The 0-60 mph time is now a tick shy of 6.4 seconds. This all stems from an ECU retune for close to $2,000 and even includes a one year warranty on the motor, turbocharger, gearbox and drivetrain. Warranty extensions are offered for vehicles under two years old with less than 62,000 miles (100,000 km) for only a little over $250.
And to help enhance the aesthetics, JE Design offers a front spoiler with a carbon fiber splitter ($445), side skirts ($380) and a rear diffuser ($320). In the grand scheme of things, that’s a very affordable body kit for a stylish vehicle. They also offer an exhaust system for close to $1,150.
For those wanting to round off the package, 1.4-inch lowering springs are available for around $200 and a set of 19×8-inch wheels with 225/35/19 tires round it off at $3,730.
The total package price is a small chunk of change, but still makes it more affordable to turn your Golf GTI into one with R power and unique looks.
GALLERY: JE Design Volkswagen GTI
Official press release available after the break:
Magazines have a way of glorifying stories in ways we cannot even imagine (trust us, we know). But this story of Jeremy Freedman’s 1997 Volkswagen GTI is surely worth a read. It relates to everyone of us speed addicts with trials, tribulations and a dedication to a family member. Even though most people outside car culture would never understand how setting a mph record is a tribute to a father that has passed away; we see that it’s one of the finest honors one can do.
In summary, Freedman started off with a 1992 Volkswagen GTI and drag racing was in his blood. Going fast, saving up for new parts was routine for Freedman along with his passion to compete. After his father passed away, Freedman used the money his father left behind to purchase the 1997 GTI you’re staring at now. After years of pushing it to the limits at the drag strip, Freedman set his eyes on a new goal – setting a mph record.
Fast forward several years later and Freedman has eclipsed the 200 mph mark in his 13 year old Volkswagen GTI at the Texas Mile. And even though it only runs 10′s at the quarter mile, Freedman is quick to justify how much more of a thrill it is racing the standing mile and silencing all the critics out there. Sure it’s not a Supra, or a Lamborghini. But we’ll be damned if we can’t pay respect to a VW GTI that’s gone over 200 mph!
Check out the video after the break.
[Source: EuroTuner]
GALLERY: 208 mph World’s Fastest GTI
Volkswagen is recalling 16,000 GTI hatchbacks built between September 2008 and August 2009 over a faulty sensor in the gearbox. The sensor could cause the transmission to think that the oil temperature is too high, causing an abrupt shift into neutral. Obviously, this sort of error could cause a crash, and Volkswagen is looking to rectify the problem.
Press release after the jump
Not many aftermarket parts manufacturers have been in existence as long as Blitz. Continuing to uphold their reputation of high quality and groundbreaking performance products, Blitz kept things rolling as usual at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon. Much like many body kit manufacturers, Blitz has also expanded its line to include some European tuning, with a brand-new Volkswagen GTI on display.
In addition, the Blitz booth also features the prerequisite Mitsubishi EVO X and Skyline R35 GT-R, while notorious drifter Nomuken’s R34 Skyline marking the first time we’ve ever seen an anti-virus software company sponsor a race car.
GALLERY: Blitz Display at 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon
It’s here… the sixth generation Volkswagen GTI. Making it’s debut at the New York Auto Show the car is sportier-looking but less aggressive, looking more like the European Scirocco and trading in the massive front grille for a two-tier unit.
The signature red detailing on the grille is still there though, giving the GTI a definitively different look than it’s Golf counterparts.
Volkswagen didn’t have any press materials available, instead directing people to its press site… where there was also no info available.
If the Euro-specs hold true, the new model will have 207 hp from VW’s 2.0-liter turbocharged motor. Power is available as early as 5300 rpm and stays on full until 6200 rpm. Max torque is rates at 206.5 ft-lbs and comes on at just 1700 rpm.
This is enough, says VW, for the 2010 GTI to accelerate to 62 mph in just 6.9 seconds. Top speed is 150 mph.
VW also made sure to make the revised engine more fuel efficient with an average fuel economy rating of 32.2 mpg. To give this perspective, the fifth generation GTI was capable of 31.4.
The 2010 model will also feature an updated suspension designed with the help of legendary racer Hans Stuck, with stiffer springs and more reactive shocks. We still don’t know, however, if the U.S. model will get VW’s Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) that adjusts the shocks according to driver inputs and road conditions.
One item it is likely to share with its European-counterpart is the XDS system that does the job of a limited slip differential, but uses the brakes to slow the inside wheel, rather than limit power to that wheel.
“XDS gives the car an enormous measure of driving stability. And it leads to greater driving enjoyment, since it reduces understeering,” says Stuck. “Experienced sports car drivers will be much more active underway. Yet, XDS is a very important safety feature for normal drivers too, because they will not experience any unpleasant surprises with the GTI.”
We’ll be sure to update with U.S. specs once they become available.
GALLERY: 2010 Volkswagen GTI
More on the 2010 Volkswagen GTI after the jump:
The sixth generation GTI is set to launch any day now in Germany and Volkswagen has just released some (but not all) of the details on Germany’s hottest hatch. Not only does it get a new look and more powerful engine but is also comes with several new innovations and has been built with the input of legendary racer Hans-Joachim Stuck – a confessed GTI-freak.
“Even when I was under contract with BMW, I preferred to drive to the Nürburgring in a GTI,” said Stuck. “It was in a GTI that I drove 911 drivers to distraction on the North Loop. My wife was even driving
a GTI when she first caught my attention.”
The new GTI continues to use the 2.0-liter TFSI engine but with a slight bump in power to 210 ps (207hp). All that power is available as early as 5300 rpm and stays on full until 6200 rpm. Max torque is rates at 206.5 ft-lbs and comes on at just 1700 rpm. “In practice, this means impressive power in all of life’s situations,” say Stuck.
This is enough, says VW, for the 2010 GTI to accelerate to 62 mph in just 6.9 seconds. Top speed is 150 mph.
VW also made sure to make the revised engine more fuel efficient with an average fuel economy rating of 32.2 mpg. To give this perspective, the fifth generation GTI was capable of 31.4.
There is, however, more to the performance improvements in the new GTI than just more power. For starters, Stuck helped in completely redesigning the suspension of the car. The springs, shocks and rear stabilizer bar have all been completely reworked for a better handling car. The GTI also sits lower than the standard Golf, by 22mm up front and 15mm in the rear.
Add to this the fact that the GTI VI gets Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), allowing the shocks to continuously react to the road conditions and driver’s inputs to provide the best suspension for that moment. The shocks will even adjust according to acceleration, braking and steering inputs to stiffen the suspension in fractions of a second, reducing pitch and roll in the chassis.
The DCC system also lets driver’s choose the sort of driving characteristic they want by opting for a “Normal,” “Sport,” or “Comfort” setting.
The DCC system “produces an ideal synthesis of great comfort and excellent handling properties in the GTI,” says Stuck. “There are of course many sporty cars that are simply too stiff. Yet this one is always right.”
An additional technological advancement found in the sixth-generation GTI is what VW calls XDS – or an electronic transverse differential lock. What this system does is apply a slight amount of brakes to an inside wheel that has begun to slip while cornering. This slows the inside wheel to a rotational speed similar to the outside wheel and thereby provides maximum grip. VW says this system makes the GTI feel more like an all-wheel drive car than a front wheel drive car.
“XDS gives the car an enormous measure of driving stability. And it leads to greater driving enjoyment, since it reduces understeering,” says Stuck. “Experienced sports car drivers will be much more active underway. Yet, XDS is a very important safety feature for normal drivers too, because they will not experience any unpleasant surprises with the GTI.”
Other highlights offered on the new GTI are Adaptive Cruise control, bi-xenon headlights with 13 degrees of movement and a second generation of VW’s Park Assist, which, like the well-known (and much maligned) Lexus system will help a driver parallel park. Drivers just need to operate the gas and brake (as well as the clutch in manual transmission cars) and the car will do the rest. The new system has been improved to allow for parking in tighter spaces, with just 3.6 feet on either side of the car, down from 4.6 feet on the previous generation.
Add all this together with a new look (including a new twin-pipe exhaust design) and a stunning VW interior and the 2010 GTI is a complete package no matter what the road ahead looks like.
“The new GTI succeeds in bridging the gap between a serious business car during the
work week, and a competitor on the Nürburgring on the weekend,” says Stuck.
GALLERY: 2010 Volkswagen GTI
More on the new GTI after the jump:
VW Golf GTI VI Concept
Near-production model unveiled at Paris Auto Show
Technically VW is calling it a concept, but expect the sixth generation GTI to be almost identical to the version unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. Looking quite similar to the mark V GTI, the VI sports a familiar turbo 2.0-liter engine. Power has been increased marginally, to 210hp (versus 200 on the outgoing model) and torque remains steady at 207 ft-lbs at 1800 rpm. This is good, says VW, for a 0-62 mph sprint of 7.2 seconds.
So, you might be asking yourself… what IS new on the “new” GTI?
For starters, the GTI VI will get an electronic LSD as a part of the ESP stability control system. Both systems will combine to make the GTI a safer and faster car.
Dynamic chassis control (DCC), which adjusts the vehicle’s shock sensitivity, will also be an option. The DCC system will have several settings, including Normal, Comfort and Sport, which can be chosen by the driver through a button on the dash. While it hasn’t been confirmed, we expect the DCC system to also adjust the throttle and steering sensitivity – as it does on other VW/Audi models.
As expected, the typical “plaid” interior will come standard. The interior will, however, receive a significant update with plenty of switches and buttons, including the climate control system, coming directly from the Passat CC.
Official press release after the jump: