GERMAN CAR NEWS

Once again, Das Auto is using the flexibility of its MQB platform and announced that they will send around 20 units of Volkswagen Golf electric to US for initial testing. Just so you know, VW has been reported that they will use the MQB platform to develop the Golf 7 in the form of electric vehicle. In order to bring the vehicle alive, Das Auto needs to gather the necessary data and without the testing, they won’t get anything.

And so, Das Auto has been planning that the Golf electric will arrive as late as two years from now and they need to start to gather the data as soon as possible which why, the 20 units of prototype are deploying to US. Sounds familiar? Of course it is because Audi does the same thing with the A3 e-tron prototype. VW Groups stated that the testing takes around 9 months and among the 20 units, 12 of them will offer to the lucky employees.

In full electric mode and fully charged, the Volkswagen electric can go as far as 150km or 93 miles with top speed reaches at 140 km/h or 87 mph. Not bad for electric hatchback, don’t you think? Here is what Jonathan Browning – CEO of the Volkswagen Group of America has to say which we quoted from autoevolution.com, “This E-Golf test fleet will provide critical feedback on these vehicles that will prove essential in our sustainability efforts and in the drive towards electric mobility.”

Meanwhile, the Executive VP and Head of VW Group E-Traction shared his thought on sending 20 units of Volkswagen Golf electric to US, “For a successful market launch of electric vehicles, the way that home chargers are handled is very important, along with easy access to public charging infrastructure. For the U.S., we also have to recognize the specific legal regulations as well as the different characteristics of the electricity supply: both the reduced 110-volt mains supply and the type of charging plugs.”

What do we get when the first time we lay eyes on the 2012 Volkswagen CC? Obviously, the luxury sedan is no longer part of Passat since Das Auto decided to divide the brand into separate ways. The 2012 CC is definitely offers modern styling and somehow, we still confuse to determine whether it is a sedan or a saloon because its got the sleek styling of sedan and the luxury size of a saloon. Since the official introductory at last year Los Angeles Auto Show, Volkswagen is overloading with the demand and they decided to release the official price tag for theUK market.

For theUKcustomers, they can get the 2012 Volkswagen CC with basic price tag of £24,200 in the form of RHD or right-hand drive. The standard engine choices of 1.8L TSI which provides 160 horsepower and the top of the range is 2.0L TDI that offers 170 horsepower that mated to a 6-speed DSG transmission and BlueMotion Technology. The last engine choice can be yours if you are willing to pay £30,100.

No matter choices of engine you choose, according to autoevolution.com, the 2012 CC luxury sedan offers features such as the RNS 315 touchscreen satellite navigation system, DAB radio, iPod, and Bluetooth connectivity, 2Zone climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights, and brake-energy recovery systems. Das Auto offers GT trim levels where you can get additional heated front seats, Nappa leather interior, 3-mode adaptive chassis control, cruise control, parking sensors, 18-inch alloys, front fog lights, and heat insulating tinted glass at the back.

Other features on the 2012 Volkswagen CC are safety systems, standard ESP, optional features consist of Side Assist which monitors the blind spots and Lane Assist; rear view camera, front seats with massage function, and electrically deployed towbar. Well, all we can say is that this is one pretty sweet irresistible deal, folks.

It seems like Volkswagen is really taking the full advantage of their MQB platform as they are not only to offer more models to the customers and ambitiously after the title of automaker with the most produced vehicles. Rumor has it that the MQB platform is going to be used to build the Volkswagen Jetta CC which probably smaller four-door sedan. It is kind of not the mainstream model these days, isn’t it? Well, what we refer as mainstream is the fact that Mercedes is tweaking its CLS four-door coupe into wagon and they also working on the BLS model which is smaller.

And then Audi and BWM as well which is going to unfair if Volkswagen just watches on the side lines, eh? The German vehicles are all about four-doors, got nice curves and lines and you can almost be sure that those are the selling points. Volkswagen wants to create new model which is rumored to be brand new, smaller with styling and designs similar to the 2013 CC. Please note the word smaller so you know what we are dealing with.

Okay, we know that the MQB is for hatchback and wagon models, not sedan models like the CC. It means that if the Volkswagen is really developing the Jetta CC, the basic platform is using the combination of Jetta and CC sedan. According to autoevolution.com, the baby Volkswagen Jetta codenamed as “SC” which stands for Sports Coupe that pretty much explains the “smaller package” thing. You see, Das Auto once promised us to deliver Jetta coupe and they haven’t got the chance to put it come true, so we really hope that the Jetta CC would be coming true.

Straight to point, folks… what you see is the Volkswagen XL1 prototype sportscar. Yes, it could be the car which Das Auto promised back in 2009 where they states that they would develop a care which only need one – uno, 1, ein – liter for every 100km and at that time, they proposed the L1 concept. As we thought that Volkswagen has not done anything, we were wrong. The Das Auto has been working harder than before to put their pledge into reality. Last year, VW Groups unveiled the Formula XL1 concept and now, they confirm that the 1-liter car would enter production in limited units.

Talk the talk, walk the walk, and Volkswagen really knows that old saying very well as they deployed the XL1 sportscar prototype without no camouflage sheet at all. it is pretty understandable that Das Auto doesn’t feel the need to cover the prototype because according autoevolution.com, the production from of XL1 will be ready for the road in 2013, just like it was previously scheduled. What the Volkswagen XL1 supposed to be is a car that has the same size as big as VW Polo.

But, what makes the Volkswagen XL1 different from CC sedan model is that this sportscar is lower as it uses a coupe layout and gullwing doors. The interior of this super efficient sportscar offers conventional cabin layout which very different from the previous project where it offers a tandem seating layout. On the performance side, Das Auto plans that 23% of the car is constructed from steel or iron with the rest of the cars made from special materials to keep the weight as low as possible. The expected overall weight for the XL1 sportscar prototype is 795 kg (1,750 lbs).

The power for the Volkswagen XL1 prototype derived from hybrid powertrain where Das Auto combined the two-cylinder with turbocharged diesel engine with 800cc of displacement and able to provide 87 horsepower and coupled to a DSG double-clutch transmission and an electric unit. The electric unit offers 27 horsepower is able to offer an all-electronic mode or powers the XL1 together with the petrol unit. The fuel efficiency is expected at 0.9L for every 100km (261 mpg) with CO2 emission sits at 24 grams per km. Taking the XL1 for a sprint and it can reach 0 to 62 mph (100km/h) in 11.9 seconds with top speed at 100mph (160km/h).

It is not that surprising if Volkswagen Golf electric is born because the German automaker already started the step by introducing the Golf Blue-e-motion concept back in 2010. Das Auto has been preparing to bring the electric version of the Golf next year based on the MQB platform. You see, this step could be marking another development for eco-friendly compact vehicle and the VW Group has chosen a name too which is Volkswagen E-Golf.

In term of engine and performance, Das Auto doesn’t need to develop new technology as according to autoevolution.com, the powertrain for the Volkswagen Golf electric will be the same with the one used on the Golf Blue e-motion concept. It is kind of too risky for VW to take the challenge on the hybrid and electric segment but they need to very soon as the other carmakers are already gain positive feedback from this kind of selling.

If the powertrain for the Volkswagen Golf electric or the E-Golf is the same with the Golf Blue e-motion, it means that the hatchback carries an electric motor which able to deliver 115 horsepower and gets the juice from a lithium-ion battery package. The driving range for this hatchback is around 150km or 93 miles with top speed at 140km/h or equals to 87 mph. Not much of details that das Auto wished to share us at the moment but we will keep you updated if we have any fresh info about this matter.

Okay, the title is a bit surprising because we think that the supermini in Europe goes for MINI and Fiat, not the Volkswagen Polo. Just so you know, the European economy crisis which strikes European countries are taking its toll and affect the European market for vehicles. Now, during recession, people are changing into more efficient and it means that they are after the smaller car and in this case, Polo city car is one of the vehicles that has good demand in supermini segment.

The first time VW Group introduced the Volkswagen Polo was back in 2009 and it was the 5^th generation on its class. Polo is one of Das Auto global products because the city car is currently produces in 7 different locations all over the world. From Europe, Africa, South America, China, Russia, and even India. Somehow, Polo carries VW Group’s ambition to be the most automaker with the most production and delivery.

Xavier Chardon – Head of Sales Europe of Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand – commented on the number one supermini title for Volkswagen Polo which we quoted from autoevolution.com, “After a very successful 2010, 2011 proved to be an outstanding year for the Polo once again. To be the number 1 in the supermini segment all across Europe demonstrates strikingly that the Polo is first choice for many customers. In Western Europe alone, more than 340,000 vehicles were sold.”

The biggest challenge that Volkswagen Polo encounters now is with Ford Fiesta. But, Das Auto won’t let the Blue Oval American brand wins as they are currently working on the facelifted Polo which could be released this year. So, which one do you think is better: VW Polo BlueGT or the Ford Fiesta ST?