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SUV cabriolet to be produced at Osnabrück from 2020
Volkswagen to invest €80 million in production
Cabriolet success story at Osnabrück is continued
New model safeguards capacity utilization and employment

Green light for a new cabriolet based on the T-Roc: within the framework of its major model offensive, the Volkswagen brand is launching its first convertible SUV. The new model is to be produced from the first half of 2020. At its meeting held today, the Volkswagen Group Supervisory Board confirmed the investment of more than €80 million in the Osnabrück plant which is required for this purpose. With this decision, the brand will be continuing the cabriolet success story of the Osnabrück team and safeguarding employment at the plant.

Dr. Herbert Diess, CEO of the Volkswagen brand, says: "Volkswagen is evolving into an SUV brand. The T-Roc is already setting new standards in the compact SUV segment. With the cabriolet based on the T-Roc, we will be adding a highly emotional model to the range. I am especially pleased to note that we can count on the Osnabrück team's decades of experience with convertibles. The Osnabrück plant now has bright prospects for the future."

SUVs are currently making a key contribution to the growth of the Volkswagen Group's core brand. With 720,000 Tiguan vehicles delivered, this car is among the 10 best-selling models in the world and the top three SUV's. By 2020, the brand intends to expand its SUV range throughout the world to 20 models. By then, about 40 percent of the vehicles sold by Volkswagen are to be SUV's. With the new cabriolet based on the T-Roc, Volkswagen will further reinforce its presence in the compact SUV segment, one of the fastest-growing segments in global automobile markets.

The investment of more than €80 million in the production of the new cabriolet will allow the comprehensive modernization of production technology, assembly and logistics at the Osnabrück plant. Following the run-up phase, a production volume of up to 20,000 vehicles per year is planned.

With the new cabriolet based on the T-Roc, Volkswagen is bringing this body style into the currently particularly strong growing SUV segment. This model continues Volkswagen's cabriolet tradition, which dates back almost 70 years. The original version of the T-Roc was successfully launched on European markets at the end of 2017. To date, more than 40,000 orders have been taken for the model.

Volkswagen Osnabrück GmbH currently has about 2,300 employees. In 2017, the plant assembled more than 76,000 units on three production lines. Currently, Volkswagen Osnabrück assembles the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Porsche Cayman. In addition, the plant is responsible for part of the painting work needed for the ŠKODA Fabia. Since Volkswagen Osnabrück GmbH was founded in 2011, more than 280,000 vehicles have rolled off the assembly lines.

Article source: www.volkswagen-media-services.com

•Group-wide roll-out of WLANp standard in volume models from 2019 will soon create a broad-based network of information on local traffic risks

•Active and cooperative safety systems will significantly enhance road safety and improve traffic flow

•Standard equipment on new models without additional cost will lead to the fast and efficient distribution of this technology that can be used jointly

From 2019 onwards, the brands of the Volkswagen Group are to use the WLANp standard, which has already been comprehensively tested, for communications among vehicles and between vehicles and their environment. The introduction of this technology as standard equipment on volume models ranging from compact cars to commercial vehicles will significantly improve safety on the roads of Europe.

Networking among vehicles and between vehicles and their environment, irrespective of manufacturer, will be a key step in reducing road accidents. Within a few milliseconds, traffic-relevant information on the local environment about 500 m around the vehicle will be transmitted both among vehicles and between vehicles and traffic infrastructure.

The principle of platooning, with networked trucks driving in synchronized convoys, is also based on this technology. In addition to improving road safety and traffic flow, the new technology will also reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.

Dr. Ulrich Eichhorn, Head of Group Research and Development, says: "All the conditions for the rapid introduction of this technology have been met. With WLANp networking, which has been thoroughly tried and tested and is now ready for use, we will significantly improve road safety throughout Europe. This will take us one step closer to Vision Zero, the vision of accident-free driving."

The area-wide introduction of standardized WLANp , which has already been comprehensively tested, will also provide a reliable system for operators of traffic infrastructure (such as traffic lights), and fleets (emergency service and construction site vehicles). This way, information on traffic flow, accidents, roadworks and other relevant situations and events can be reliably made available in the local area.

Article source: www.volkswagen-media-services.com

Volkswagen present at the Bremen Classic Motorshow (2 to 4 February) in its own right for the first time
Corrado celebrating its 30th birthday in 2018
Two highly exclusive models on display

Congratulations, Corrado! The sporty coupé is celebrating its 30th birthday in 2018. The Volkswagen brand is presenting two very exclusive models from this series at the Bremen Classic Motorshow, which begins today.

The Bremen Classic Motorshow traditionally marks the beginning of the new classic car season. Volkswagen is attending the small but impressive classic car show in the northern German city in its own right for the first time in 2018. Its centrepiece will be a sports coupé celebrating its 30th birthday this year – the Volkswagen Corrado. The dynamic 2+2-seater was introduced in 1988 and was originally planned as the successor to the Scirocco II. But the latter continued to be manufactured alongside the Corrado until 1992, while production of the Corrado ceased in 1995.

The Golf II served as the technical basis for the Volkswagen Corrado unveiled in autumn 1988. When introduced, the coupé had a high-torque 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine which was charged by a mechanically powered G-Lader supercharger. This G60 engine boasted power output of 118 kW/160 hp. Two further engines were added to the Corrado range in 1991 – a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 102 kW/136 hp and the top-of-the-range 2.9-litre VR6 engine (140 kW/190 hp) that accelerated the Corrado to up to 235 km/h. The range was extended downwards in 1993 with a 2.0-litre engine offering 85 kW/115 hp.

A specific feature of the sports car made in Osnabrück was the rear wing that was raised automatically to improve the vehicle's roadholding at high speeds. In addition to being delivered within Europe, the Corrado was exported to the USA and Canada.

Volkswagen Classic is presenting two highly exclusive Corrado models to visitors in Hall 5: a prototype with a 154 kW/210 hp 16V G60 engine which was produced by Karmann in Osnabrück in 1989 and later became part of the Volkswagen Classic collection. The second exhibit is equally fascinating: it is the last left-hand drive Corrado to be manufactured – a 140 kW/190 hp VR6 in classic green pearl-effect paintwork, which rolled off the production line on 6 July 1995.

The look of the Volkswagen Classic Parts stand is entirely in keeping with the Corrado, presenting select spare parts from among the extensive Corrado array – featuring everything from model lettering to an entire side panel.

And this isn't the only reason why the Bremen Classic Motorshow is worth a visit: it will once again feature more than 600 exhibitors spread across space of 47,000 m². The total of eight show halls can be comfortably navigated in a day – offering a major advantage over larger and more expansive shows. In addition to the manufacturers' stands, visitors can come and discover more than 100 different club stands and an extensive private spare parts market.

Article source: www.volkswagen-media-services.com

Volkswagen is kicking off the new automotive year with the world premiere of the new Touareg. The brand's flagship is the next milestone in the largest model campaign by Volkswagen. Standing at the top of the model range, the Touareg shows all of the brand's power with its expressive design, innovative technologies and dynamic handling properties.

The world premiere of the top vehicle will take place in China, the world's strongest growing SUV market and the company’s largest individual market.

The new Touareg makes the brand’s standards clear. The highly expressive design by Klaus Bischoff, Head of Volkswagen Design, and his team give it an unmistakable appearance that is strong in character. A phalanx of innovative assistance systems gives it a maximum degree of safety and comfort. One of the largest digital cockpits in its class, the Innovision Cockpit, opens up a new type of infotainment environment. Its connectivity makes it a driving internet node. The drivetrain, air suspension, rear-wheel steering and roll stabilisation all ensure a safe and dynamic driving experience.

With the new Touareg, Volkswagen is continuing the success story of this model series into a third generation. Like its predecessors, it will satisfy the rigorous standards of the premium automotive class and its customers. The exclusive SUV C-segment is currently one of the fastest growing segments in global automotive markets and is expected to double its volume by the year 2023 in China, for example.

The Touareg has demonstrated its performance power and driving capabilities impressively in around one million units ever since the model series launched in 2002: on-road, off-road and on rally trails around the world. Highlights include wins in the Dakar Rally events in the years

2009-2011.

Volkswagen is revealing the new Touareg and the entire range of its technical capabilities and comprehensive features for the first time in a world premiere on 23 March 2018 in Beijing.

1) The new Touareg is not yet on sale and is therefore not governed by Directive 1999/94/EC

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

No less than three Volkswagen models come out top in the auto motor und sportreaders' poll
Tiguan and T-Roc also make it onto the podium

The readers of motoring magazine auto motor und sport have voted the Golf, the new Polo and the up! the "Best Cars 2018" in their respective categories. No less than three Volkswagen models thus secured one of the year's most important awards. They were presented this morning in Stuttgart to Dr Herbert Diess (Chairman of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management), Dr Frank Welsch (Member of the Board of Management responsible for Development) and Jürgen Stackmann (Member of the Board of Management responsible for Sales, Marketing and Aftersales).

"The Golf is the heart of our brand – and therefore we're especially delighted to win this award", said Dr Diess at the presentation event.

This is reflected too in the car's record of success in the "Best Cars" poll, as this is the sixth time in succession that the Golf has won in the "Compact Class" category and also the popular model's 32nd award in total in the 42-year history of the poll (formerly "The Best Cars").

The Golf thus continues to be a major player in the motoring world. Its story of success too is an exemplary one, beginning all of 44 years ago. With over 34 million units built across seven generations, the Golf has been setting standards in the compact class for decades and continues to this day to take on a pioneering role in the introduction of leading edge vehicle technologies.

The Polo was voted top in the "Sub-Compact Cars" category with 33 per cent of the readers' votes. It's 43-year history of success shows that the Polo too is one of the key pillars of the Volkswagen brand. With around 17 million units sold to date, the Polo is one of the world's most successful compact cars. The recently launched sixth generation has a fully new exterior design, which makes the car – now as a rule with four doors – appear sportier and more grown up. At the same time, the new Polo is now bigger than its predecessor in every dimension.

In the "Mini Cars" category the readers crowned the up! the winner. While the up! is admittedly the smallest and newest Volkswagen of this trio, with more than 1 million vehicles sold (since 2011), it too can show a formidable record of success.

The small car has a very clear design, a comprehensive set of standard features and a multitude of options for personalisation. Highlights of the range include the new 85 kW / 115 PS up! GTI and the special edition up! beats with a 300-watt sound system.

Two Volkswagen SUVs also did well in the poll: in the "Compact SUV / Offroad Vehicles" category the company's top SUV, the Tiguan, took second place and the T-Roc, only launched last autumn, celebrated a surprise success in third.

The auto motor und sport international readers' poll is celebrating its 42nd anniversary this year. In addition to the German edition, 15 other European and three non-European magazines from the "auto motor und sport" group took part in the poll. In total, 378 models in eleven categories were on the nominations list to be voted the best cars of 2018.

WLTP: up! GTI (85 kW/115 PS) fuel consumption in l/100 km: combined 5.7 - 5.6; CO2 emissions (combined) in g/km: 129 - 127.
NEDC: up! GTI (85 kW/115 PS) fuel consumption in l/100 km: urban 6.0 / extra-urban 4.1 / combined 4.8; CO2 emissions (combined) in g/km: 110; efficiency class: C.

Article sourcec: www.volkswagen-media-services.com

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