Sports ESC lets you have a bit more fun than with standard ESC, giving you more control of your car and allowing a more sporty driving style before intervening.

The latest generation of ESC also offers trailer stabilisation. If it detects your trailer is starting to yaw, the anti-skidding technology automatically reduces engine power and applies the brakes to the right wheels dynamically, in phase with the yawing. This counteracts the snaking motion and stabilises the car and trailer. When everything is stable again the brakes and engine power return to normal control. The automatic braking process also turns on the brake lights to warn other drivers, even if the driver is not touching the brake pedal.

Only when used with factory fit or approved accessory tow bars.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Two genuine trendsetters are set to make waves in the small car segment, with the overall conceptof both the up! beats and the Polo beats being defined by impressive sound. Both new models feature a 300 W premium sound system from audio specialists Beats AudioTM, promising a state-of-the-art sound experience.

Few brands share the same attitude to life as “Beats”, and now two new special editions from Volkswagen being unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show also bear this iconic name. Both the up! beats and the Polo beats will feature a new, state-of-the-art sound system as standard. The system’s 300 watt, 8-channel amplifieris fitted with a digital signalprocessor (DSP). To deliver this crystal-clear sound, the system has seven high-end loudspeakers distributed around the interior: two tweeters in the A-pillars, two woofers in the front doors, two broadband loudspeakers in the back as well as a subwoofer integrated in the spare wheel well, which delivers powerful, punching bass tones.

Over and above this, the two models boast impressive equipment. The up! beats can, for instance, be recognised by various features such as new 15-inch “Radial” alloy wheels, special beats design decals and contrasting colour door mirror caps, while the interioris given an individual look thanks to a specially designed dashpad, a multifunction steeringwheel, a special door sill plate and colour-coordinated seat belts.

The Polo beats, meanwhile, features new 16-inch “Syenit” alloy wheels, coloured door mirrors and a gloss black radiator grille. The interior is characterised by the special “beats” design seats and door trim panels, coloured seat belts and a leather steering wheel.

The audio specialist Beats Electronics – founded in 2008 by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine – redefined how we listen to music, primarily with its studio headphones. Now the Californian company has significantly expanded its range of productsto include earbuds, wireless headphones, wireless active buds, and wireless speakers.

Product film about the new up!: https://youtu.be/oA4uwI8Sla0

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

The new Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR has the seal of quality in its name: 40 years after the launch of the first Golf GTI, the customer sports version also possesses the acronym that, since 1976, has been synonymous with the Wolfsburg-based car maker’s sporting character, powerful engines and maximum performance. Since it was first unveiled in July 2015, the Golf GTI TCR has been hugely popular on the racetrack: all the customer sports models for the 2016 season had already been snapped up by mid-January. The teams can field the 20 cars, which were developed by Volkswagen Motorsport, in up to 16 national and international TCR touring car championships. The cars for the international TCR championship are to be handed over to the customer sports teams from 11th March in Abrera/Barcelona (E). An initial roll-out with the opposition is planned for the test drives at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia (E) from 14th March.

Dynamic appearance: production-based Golf GTI TCR embodies racing genes

The acronym GTI stands for Gran Turismo Injection and is more than just a seal of quality – it is a trademark and an identity. Even to look at, the Golf makes no secret of its motor racing genes: 18-inch racing rims, a chassis that is roughly 40 centimetres wider than the production Golf, and a striking rear wing also guarantee optimal handling. An aerodynamic front splitter and carbon rear wing are among the modifications for the racetrack. Among the features that ensure maximum safety for the driver are a racing seat with head protectors, racing safety cage, and an FIA-approved safety tank.

Powerful and efficient: turbo engine with direct fuel inject, generating 330 PS

A powerful straight four-cylinder engine, a sequential gearbox with shift paddles located on the steering wheel, a consistently developed racing chassis – the new Golf has been meticulously prepared for its outings on the racetracks of this world. Volkswagen Motorsport developed the car in cooperation with the sport department at SEAT. This made it possible to call on the extensive experience gained with the SEAT Leon Cup Racer. As with the Volkswagen Group’s production cars, the MQB platform also offers many synergies when it comes to racing cars, thus reducing the costs involved in assembling and running the touring car. The 2-litre turbo engine with direct fuel injection is the same one used in the top sporting model, the Golf R. The racing version generates 243 kW (330 PS) and produces 410 Nm of torque.

Successful start: concept car shows great potential at TCR outings

The racing car based on the seventh generation of Golf has already enjoyed success in competition. In 2015, cooperation partner Liqui Moly Team Engstler fielded two cars in the TCR International Series. The production-based concept car showed great potential: at its first race weekend, the Golf promptly won the second race at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.

Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport: the most powerful production GTI ever celebrates its anniversary

The racetrack is not the only place the Golf GTI is celebrating its 40th birthday. To mark the anniversary, Volkswagen is launching the most powerful production GTI ever: the Golf GTI Clubsport. Volkswagen presented sketches of the new car at the GTI meeting at the Wörthersee in May 2015, before unveiling a production model at the German International Motor Show (IAA) in September. The 2-litre TFSI engine generates 265 PS – that is 35 PS more than the previous most powerful Golf GTI. Another feature of the turbocharged direct- injection engine is a boost function, which allows the driver to briefly increase the engine power by ten per cent to 290 PS.

Quotes on the customer sports project with the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director

“The Golf GTI TCR allows customer sports teams to partake in reasonably-priced motorsport with a Volkswagen. Furthermore, the teams can expand their motorsport commitments innumerous TCR championships, both at national and international level. We are providing them with a car that is ideally suited and prepared for this purpose: the Golf has not only made an outstanding impression at tests, but also shown its great potential in competition. We are delighted by the high demand for the car among customer sports teams, which confirms that we are doing a good job.”

Eduard Weidl, Head of Customer Sports

“The use of the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR in customer sports is a great opportunity, the likes of which we have not seen before on the motorsport scene at Volkswagen. When developing the technology, our main focus was on keeping the running costs at races as low as possible.Together with the customer sports teams, we now face the challenges in the various TCR championships. We will provide on-site contact partners on race weekends, to ensure that the Golf GTI TCR is perfectly prepared when it takes to the grid. Furthermore, a co-operation is planned with SEAT in the TCR International Series.This will deal with service, logistics and on-site supervision, in order to make the outings as efficient as possible for the teams.”

TCR International Series – Calendar 01/04–03/04/2016 Bahrain* 22/04–24/04/2016 Portugal (Estoril)

06/05–08/05/2016 Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps) 20/05–22/05/2016 Italy (Monza) 03/06–05/06/2016 Austria (Salzburg) 17/06–19/06/2016 Germany (Oschersleben) 01/07–03/07/2016 Russia (Sochi) 26/08–28/08/2016 Thailand (Buriram) 16/09–18/09/2016 Singapore* 30/09–02/10/2016 Malaysia (Sepang)* 18/11–20/11/2016 Macau

* On support programme for the FIA Formula One World Championship.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Volkswagen world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show

The T-Cross Breeze is the first convertible SUV in the Polo class

The T-Cross Breeze concept car offers a first look at a newly developed SUV model series.

In future, the Tiguan and Touareg will be joined by three more SUV model series.

Ten key facts – the T-Cross Breeze in keywords

1. The striking, fresh design of the T-Cross Breeze offers the first exciting look at an entirely new Volkswagen SUV.
2. The T-Cross Breeze concept is a progressive SUV with the added appeal of a modern soft-top convertible.
3. In the T-Cross Breeze, SUV and convertible blend to become a cool, affordable compact car.
4. The T-Cross Breeze showcases extremely dynamic body proportions and crisp, short overhangs.
5. With the T-Cross Breeze, T-Roc, Tiguan, Tiguan XL, mid-size SUV and Touareg the new and growing Volkswagen SUV range is taking shape.
6. Volkswagen aims to make its mark in every class with stylish and charismatic SUVs such as the exciting new T-Cross Breeze.
7. The four-seat T-Cross Breeze is equipped with an interactive cockpit and a next-generation operation concept.
8. Touch-sensitive surfaces and newly developed “by-wire” solutions replace conventional switches and buttons.
9. A 300 W BeatsAudio™ sound system makes open-top cruising an acoustic pleasure, too.
10. The T-Cross Breeze is powered by a highly efficient 1.0 litre TSI turbo petrol engine with an output of 81 kW/110 PS.

In brief – the world premiere of the T-Cross Breeze

Wolfsburg/Geneva, March 2016. The new T-Cross Breeze will take centre stage on the Volkswagen stand at the 86th Geneva Motor Show. “This open-top Volkswagen enhances the world of compact cars with a completely new attitude to automotive life”, says Dr Herbert Diess. With this, the Chairman of the Board of Management Volkswagen Brand gets to the core of the bold theory behind this concept car, which celebrates its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show. The Volkswagen Brand Chairman continues: “Our T-Cross Breeze is the first open-top SUV in its class and, at the same time, an affordable, cheeky cabriolet with a raised seating position that gives you a perfect view.” With this concept, Volkswagen underlines the fact that the brand is blazing a trail and making mobility more of an experience than ever before. Herbert Diess: “At the moment the T-Cross Breeze is purely a concept, but we can well imagine putting such a convertible on the market as a production model. An affordable fun car that is also entirely suitable for everyday use. A genuine ‘People’s Car’.” And so the concept car, which is equipped with an 81 kW/110 PS 1.0 litre TSI (turbocharged direct injection petrol engine), gives a glimpse of a new model series. Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design for the Volkswagen Brand, explains: “The T-Cross Breeze is a teaser for the most compact sport utility vehicle that Volkswagen plans to make – and the nucleus of a new SUV and convertible design in the compact sector.”

New Volkswagen. “The T-Cross Breeze reflects the new start of our brand”, says Klaus Bischoff. “We want to stir enthusiasm for ‘New Volkswagen’. In this instance we are doing that with an unprecedented vehicle concept in this class; a completely redesigned cockpit and design that is equally crisp and expressive. We have pulled out all the stops and put what is surely one of the most exciting four-metre SUVs of the modern day on its wheels”, the Head of Design explains. This is why the world premiere of the new T-Cross Breeze at the Geneva International Motor Show (1 - 13 March 2016) heralds a radical reorientation for the design of compact Volkswagen cars.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk