In car design circles, the word “fastback” means a car with a roof line that glides to its tail with one smooth, seamless curve. The Beetle may be the most famous example of such a car, while Volkswagen’s popular Type 3 Fastback sedan of the 1960s and 1970s also demonstrated the stylistic and aerodynamic benefits of the look.  Volkswagen revealed a 21st-centry take on the fastback with an all-new model. Meet the Arteon, a visually unique four-door flagship that shows the direction Volkswagen styling will take in the future. Based closely on the GTE Coupe Concept from 2015, the Arteon combines the space of a luxury car with the benefits of a hatchback and several new technologies.  “The car looks simply great — it both arouses emotions and creates desirability,” says Dr. Elmar-Marius Licharz, head of the mid- and full-size vehicle lines for Volkswagen. “Many of the details of the show car have made it into real production.”  Start with the name — a portmanteau of “art” and “eon,” the suffix that now signifies all high-end luxury models within the Volkswagen brand worldwide. The Arteon’s integrated grille, LED headlamps, and daytime running lights with chrome trim that connects all three elements presents the new “face” of the Volkswagen brand.  Compared to the outgoing CC, the Arteon is longer and wider, while its fastback profile allows for a true hatchback trunk. It’s also space efficient, with up to 55 cubic feet of cargo space when the rear seats are folded down. On the European version, LED taillights and 20-inch wheels combined with a shoulder line that runs the length of the body build the Arteon’s sporty nature.  Under its skin, the European model Arteon will feature several advanced technologies. The available 12.1-inch Volkswagen Digital Cockpit display works with an available active heads-up display for maximum usefulness. The new available Discover Pro entertainment system combines a 9.2-inch touchscreen in the dashboard with gesture controls. And a new available Emergency Assist system can engage automatically in cases where a driver appears incapacitated — it can move the car to an available emergency lane, put on its hazard lights, and help slow down the vehicle.  In Europe, the Arteon is slate to offer a choice from six potential engines and either six- or seven-speed automatic transmissions. The Arteon will go on sale in Europe later this year and will eventually debut in the United States. (Features and specifications for the U.S. Arteon will be released at a later date.)  “It’s the perfect car for people who appreciate great style and great value for the money,” says Licharz. “That is how we are challenging premium car makers without becoming one ourselves.”  Article source: www.vw.com

ACT is active over an engine speed range between 1,400 and 4,000 rpm and torque outputs between 25 and approx. 100 Nm – a range that covers nearly 70 per cent of all driving states in the EU driving cycle! If the driver presses the accelerator pedal hard, both cylinders begin to work again without a noticeable transition. The high efficiency of the system has no negative effects on smooth running: even with two cylinders the excellently balanced the 1.4 TSI engine of the Polo BlueGT runs very quietly and with low vibration.

All mechanical switchover processes take place within one-half of a camshaft rotation; depending on engine speed this takes between just 13 and 36 milliseconds. Accompanying interventions in ignition and throttle valve processes smooth the transitions. What’s more, thanks to an accelerator pedal sensor and intelligent monitoring software, the system can also detect irregular driving profiles – such as during a drive through a roundabout or in sporty shifting on a highway. In such cases, cylinder shut-off is deactivated. The driver is aware of whether two or four cylinders are active by a related indicator in the multifunction display between the speedometer and tachometer.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

A lot goes in before you do.

Color designers have loads to consider when selecting a hue. They have to weigh the unique personalities of each vehicle and think about which color best complements a vehicle’s interior colors and textures. What’s more, they have to select a color that will look great for years to come.

Volkswagen color designers have this enviable yet agonizing task when choosing the paint colors for VW models each year. And it’s no easy feat — they have to combine aesthetics, psychology, cultural influences, fashion trends, and physical paint chemistry to make decisions that have a lasting effect.

The paint itself is a study in precision — the color you see is the result of numerous coatings applied by robots under different conditions. The result? A stunning coat of durable color, equal in thickness to a human hair.

It takes a team.

Designers at VW work in teams to create palettes for individual models, including hues for interior materials like leather and fabric. They also develop color concepts for bodies and tire rims. Basically, any surface you see and touch on a VW is created by a team of Volkswagen color experts.

Another issue that adds a layer of complexity for the team is that colors also vary by country, based on preferences and restrictions. Hues that may work well in the United States may not translate well in Europe, for example.

Lastly, the team has to weigh the environment in which the color will be used  — a challenge when the quality of sunlight changes dramatically with latitude, climate, elevation, and time of day. Environment is also a factor when selecting a finish, because it must be tough enough to withstandrain, heat, cold, road conditions, and more — with gloss and hue intact.

On trend.

Some color preferences change from year to year, while others remain staple colors for vehicle designers.

For example, silvers are perennially popular. Purists like the way the color recedes, showing off the lines and form of the vehicle. Blacks and whites are also always a classic, crowd-pleasing choices.

Color designers may add hues to these standbys that stand out and make a statement — an intense blue, a vibrant red, or a tungsten metallic — and perhaps a color or two that expresses the mood of the times like green or pink.

In the end, VW as a whole may offer up to 80 different paint colors, with lacquer, varnish, metallic, and mother-of-pearl options.

The finishing touch.

Finish-care products like these can help maintain a showroom shine:

•Cleaner clayhelps remove difficult-to-dislodge dirt particles from paint, glass, and chrome.

•Paint cleaner, pre-cleaner, polish, and rubbing compoundsgently buff watermarks, light scratches, and other imperfections from your car’s clear coat. Follow manufacturers’ directions.

•Waxescan protect your car’s finish and create a durable shine.

•Model-specific touch-up paint pens, sprays, and clear coats — available at your VW dealer — can help address minor paint damage.

Article source: www.vw.com

The concept I.D. kicks off a new generation of innovative concept electric vehicles. The I.D. is based entirely on a new architecture developed specifically and exclusively for all-elec­tric vehicles. Freed from the constraints of the combustion engine or the challenges that come with plug-in hybrid vehicles, in the future, the I.D. could operate on a different level. Powered by a 125 kW (170 PS) electric motor, the concept I.D. could make zero-tailpipe emission driving more widely available.

When Volkswagen unveiled the I.D. concept car at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, it also showed how it is looking beyond 2020 toward a future that includes automated driving. Those goals include futuristic ideas such as a steering wheel that can retract into the instrument panel at the push of a button. This could give the driver an entirely different sense of space. The feeling of space is already evident in the design, with a generous interior made possible by placing the motor on the rear axle and the high-voltage battery in the floor.

But perhaps the smartest features are the connectedness and intuitive usability that can engage with the driver’s own preferences. Future potential I.D. drivers would have their own Volkswagen ID so they could unlock and start their cars with a compatible smartphone, and store personal settings such as seat position, navigation settings, temperature control, and playlists.

Article source: www.vw.com