Volkswagen Classic and the Autostadt in Wolfsburg are turning the spotlight on two milestones in automotive history at the International Edelweiß-Bergpreis Rossfeld Berchtesgaden. To mark the 50th anniversary of the Volkswagen Golf and the Scirocco, the two teams will have several outstanding models from these iconic product lines on the starting line. The historic hill climb race will be held on 28 and 29 September 2024, featuring classic motorsport action in the heart of the Alps.

Volkswagen is celebrating 50 years of the Golf this year and will have two very special classic models on the starting line to mark the anniversary: the Golf I GTI Group 4 ‘Pierburg’ and the Golf II GTI Group A ‘World Champion’. Both vehicles will be driven by motorsport professional and Volkswagen test driver Benny Leuchter.

The Autostadt team is bringing the legendary VW Scirocco Group 2 by Oettinger to Berchtesgaden, together with a rare 139 PS Rally Beetle 1302.

The Golf I GTI Group 4 ‘Pierburg’
The original Golf GTI ‘Pierburg’ – named after the main sponsor – was equipped with a modified GTI engine with a two-valve head. In 1980, the driver team of Per Eklund and Hans Sylvan achieved countless top rally results in Group 2 with this Golf GTI. Starting from the second race in the 1981 German Rally Championship, a 16V cylinder head from Oettinger compliant with the Group 4 regulations could be used. This Oettinger cylinder head is equipped on the GTI “Pierburg”. The car used in the hill climb race was rebuilt true to the original with a body in white in 2011. It made its first successful rally appearance in San Marino the same year with its legendary original crew of Per Eklund and Hans Sylvan.

The Golf II GTI Group A ‘World Champion’
The Golf GTI used in the 1986 FIA Rally World Championship was one of the most legendary vehicles to race during the Volkswagen Motorsport era. Taking a brief look back: Volkswagen impressed on the international rally scene with this second-generation Golf GTI. In 1986, the driver team of Kenneth Eriksson (Sweden) and co-driver Peter Diekmann (Germany) secured the title with the Golf GTI in the inaugural World Rally Championship for Group A vehicles. In accordance with the event regulations, Eriksson/Diekmann’s GTI underwent extensive technical modifications at Volkswagen Motorsport in Hanover. These changes included reducing the weight to 880 kg and increasing the output to 176 PS. The GTI was carefully restored in 2009. Since then, it has taken part in historic racing events such as the Edelweiß-Bergpreis.

The Scirocco Group 2 by Oettinger

The legendary VW Scirocco Group 2 by Oettinger from the Autostadt collection is the only original vehicle left from the racing era of the late 1970s, when the Scirocco dominated the race track in the 1.6-litre class against competition from BMW and Ford. The Scirocco Series 1 was the first car based on a series production model from Volkswagen to achieve success on the race track. The Scirocco and Formula Vee mark the start of Volkswagen’s official commitment to motorsport. The four-cylinder in-line engine delivers 170 PS at 7,000 rpm and reaches a top speed of 200 km/h.

Volkswagen Rally Beetle 1302
The Autostadt’s line-up is complemented by the 139 PS Rally Beetle 1302 (1970), which is also part of the Autostadt ZeitHaus collection. With the four-cylinder boxer engine at the rear, individual wheel suspension with suspension struts at the front and torsion bar suspension at the rear, the Rally Beetle reached a top speed of 170 km/h.

Note for the editorial teams: Up-to-date pictures of the four Volkswagen models at the 2024 Edelweiß-Bergpreis Rossfeld Berchtesgaden are expected to be available in the Volkswagen Newsroom from Sunday, 29 September.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

Volkswagen has unveiled a special birthday balloon as part of its ongoing celebrations to mark 50 years of the Volkswagen Golf. The uniquely designed hot-air balloon launched just after 06:00 local time on Sunday (1 September), joining hundreds of balloons in the world-famous Cappadocia dawn skyline.

Flanked by an original Golf Mk I and the newly launched and significantly revised Golf Mk 8, the Sultan Series PH-370 balloon took to the skies above Love Valley, Cappadocia, with 16 passengers onboard and in full view of the thousands of tourists who gather in the region every morning to see the ‘bucket-list’ attraction.  

A small group of the world’s media will also be taking flights in the balloon during the course of the week, while also experiencing test drives of every generation of the Volkswagen Golf from the original Mk I, through to the new Mk 8 – all with a backdrop of birthday balloons.

Legendary designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro, penned the original Golf Mk I design that debuted in 1974 – a model that has evolved over eight generations and over 50 years to become Volkswagen’s most successful car to date, with more than 37 million units sold globally. Few cars can claim to define their own model segment in the same way as Golf, let alone become the benchmark in that class while remaining true to the original styling and design philosophy.

Mike Orford, Head of PR and Communications at Volkswagen UK, said: “The Golf is celebrating a major milestone this year – a phenomenal 50 years of production. So what better way to celebrate such a significant moment than with a sky-full of giant birthday balloons?

“Very few manufacturers can claim to have such an iconic model that has evolved and innovated over eight generations, so we thought it was definitely something worth celebrating in style.”

Articlce source: www.vwpress.co.uk

Milton Keynes, UK (13 September, 2024) – Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to reveal the new Transporter generation at the IAA Transportation 2024 in Hanover, on Sunday 15th September at 18:00 BST.

The world premiere will be livestreamed on Volkswagen’s YouTube channel and is available for all to join at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oD44kchLng  

For over 70 years, the Transporter has been an icon of efficiency and reliability. Carrying the unmistakable style of its six predecessors, with a clear and striking exterior design, the seventh-generation Transporter brings improvements in every area, offering more space, an increased payload and towing capacity and a professional cockpit landscape.

For the first time, the range includes three turbocharged diesel engines (TDI), a plug-in hybrid drive (eHybrid) and three electric drives (e-Transporter and e-Caravelle), providing the right choice of van for everyone.

About Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles:
Over 70 years ago, the first Transporter arrived in the UK, creating a blueprint which others would follow: a van which gets the job done efficiently and reliably. Today, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles offers a diverse model range of commercial as well as passenger carrying and lifestyle models – from the compact Caddy, the evergreen Transporter and sturdy Crafter panel vans, dropsides and tippers, through the Multivan passenger carrier, and Caddy California, new California and Grand California campervans, to the ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo all-electric models, and the Amarok. The vehicles are as versatile and dependable as Volkswagens have always been, but the range is now wider, and more connected, modern and safer than ever.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is committed to working in partnership with individuals and businesses, providing them with the best products and aftersales support, whether they’re buying one or a thousand vans. For more information visit www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk

Article source: www.vwpress.co.uk

Volkswagen presents the ID.3 GTX02 FIRE+ICE at the ID. Meeting in Locarno, Switzerland. Developed in collaboration with BOGNER, the Munich-based luxury sports fashion brand, the car is reminiscent of the legendary Golf Fire and Ice03, which became a surprise success in the 1990s and has since achieved cult status among fans. With an exclusive 3-layer paint finish with glass bead effect and numerous details in the interior, the vehicle pays tribute to its predecessor and transfers its design idea into the all-electric modern age.

Andreas Mindt, Head of Design at Volkswagen: “With the ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE, we are emphasizing how highly emotional our sporty top model is. Our design team had incredible fun reinterpreting the iconic 90s design and thus developing it further.”

Close co-operation with BOGNER. The idea for the vehicle came from employees in Technical Development. As with the Golf Mk2 Fire and Ice, the designers from Volkswagen and BOGNER worked together. Tom Becker, Director of BOGNER FIRE+ICE: “The combination of our performance brand FIRE+ICE with the sporty ID.3 GTX is BOGNER's modern interpretation of the iconic Golf Fire and Ice. The special thing is that we were able to integrate many of our original materials and accessories into the interior of the vehicle.”

Individualised exterior design. The ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE stands out above all thanks to its exclusive 3-layer paint finish with glass bead effect. The Electric Violet pearl effect colour was specially developed for this unique model and is a reinterpretation of the Golf Mk2 Fire and Ice exterior paint. In addition to the dark blue base coat, the three-coat paint contains special glass beads, which create a special colour effect and extraordinary character. Depending on the incidence of light, the colour changes from dark blue to violet or even black. The roof frame strip adds a sporty accent with the powerful red anodised paint Flaming Red. The sides of the vehicle are dominated by foiling with the geometric FIRE+ICE pattern in transparent matt. Another special feature are the 21-inch rims, which emphasise the dynamic appearance with a blue anodised paint finish with a glossy twist. The original FIRE+ICE logo from the 1990s adorns the B-pillar and the roof edge spoiler.

Surprising details in the interior. The interior is divided into two colours. While the accent colour Flaming Red for ‘FIRE’ predominates on the seats and seams on the driver's side and the seat behind, the seats and interior on the passenger side are characterised by design elements in ice blue (‘ICE’). The stainless steel accelerator pedals have a special ‘FIRE+ICE’ design instead of the Play/Pause design known from the ID. family. Accelerate with the ‘FIRE’ logo - brake by stepping on the ‘ICE’ logo. The upper part of the instrument panel and the floor mats have also been customised with a laser-engraved ‘FIRE+ICE’ pattern. Inspired by the BOGNER FIRE+ICE collections, numerous colours, fabrics and elements were used. The seats are quilted and reflect the design of the current FIRE+ICE down jackets, including the iconic B-zippers. If you open these on the seats, the original FIRE+ICE fabric from the 1990s appears underneath. Webbing from bags from the FIRE+ICE collection was also used behind the front seats.

ID.3 GTX Performance - powerful motor, large battery and high charging capacity. The FIRE+ICE version uses the most powerful Volkswagen electric motor to date in the ID.3 GTX Performance with an output of 240 kW (326 PS) and a maximum torque of 545 Nm. This electric motor accelerates to 100 km/h in just 5.7 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited at 200 km/h. The GTX-specific chassis, which is equipped with stronger stabilisers and Sport DCC adaptive chassis control, is also tuned to the very high performance of the drive system. The electrical energy is supplied by a 79 kWh lithium-ion battery (net), which can be charged at DC fast-charging stations with up to 185 kW04. With this power, the battery can be recharged from 10 to 80 per cent in around 26 minutes. The combined WLTP range is up to 601 km05.

A look back to the 1990s. With the “Fire and Ice” special model, Volkswagen presented an exclusive version of the Golf Mk2 in 1990 that was both sporty and comfortable. Its design was created in collaboration with fashion designer and director Willy Bogner. With its extravagant appearance - a dark violet pearl effect paint finish, alloy wheels, front spoiler and body extensions - and the powerful engine with between 90 and 160 PS, the Golf Fire and Ice, especially the GTI version, quickly became a sought-after rarity. It became a surprise success. A total of 16,700 units were sold. Originally, only 10,000 units were planned.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

02. ID.3 GTX Performance - Combined power consumption 16.5-14.7 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions 0 g/km; CO₂ class: A

03. Golf Mk2 Fire and Ice - The vehicle is no longer offered for sale

04. Maximum possible charging capacity. The charging behaviour of different charging stations can differ, even if their kW capacity is the same. In addition to a charging station’s kW output, the maximum charge current also influences the amount of energy that flows. Furthermore, the ambient temperature, battery temperature and charge level influence the maximum possible charging capacity. The specified maximum charging capacity is calculated under WLTP conditions at a temperature of approx. 23 °C and a charge level from five per cent. If these variables change, the charging capacity may deviate from the specified standard value

05. Range determined on the rolling road test bed in accordance with the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) in the most range-favourable equipment variant. The actual WLTP range values may differ depending on the equipment. The actual range achieved under real conditions varies depending on the driving style, speed, use of comfort features or auxiliary equipment, outside temperature, number of passengers/load, topography and the ageing and wear process of the battery