It is one of the most extraordinary events for classic automobiles and racing cars of every era: the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Thousands are flocking to the home of the Earl of March and Kinrara, Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, in Westhampnett, England, for the annual automotive festival. This year at the site, two hours’ drive from London, they will witness celebrations for a Volkswagen icon: the Golf GTI, which is now 40 years young. The journey across the English Channel has been made by a Golf Mkl GTI race car and the new Golf GTI Clubsport S. Another star at the spectacle of speed is the Polo R WRC. Both the Golf Mkl GTI and Polo R WRC will be taking part in the legendary hill climb. At the wheel: racing drivers Strietzel Stuck and Jari-Matti Latvala.

It all began in 1976.Volkswagen launched the first Golf GTI. A production run of only 5,000 was planned. But the GTI democratised the outside lane of the motorway and became the icon of compact sports cars. To date more than two million motorists around the world have gone for a Golf GTI. Delivering 228 kW I 310 PS, the most powerful version is the new Clubsport S - a finely balanced cross between road and racing car with a limited production run of just 400. Volkswagen is now bringing history full circle at Goodwood. With the Golf Mkl GTI and the Golf GTI Clubsport S the company is showing the origin of the cult compact car and its new flagship at the same time.

In terms of power the Golf GTI Clubsport S is on a par with the 232 kW / 315 PS Polo R WRC, with which Volkswagen won the World Rally Championship in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and is on course for the title again in 2016. Driver Jari-Matti Latvala (31) will be powering the Polo R WRC up the famous southern English hill. Also taking part in the legendary hill climb will be Hans-Joachim Stuck (65) - the well-known former Formula 1, DTM and Le Mans star - in an historic Golf Mkl GTI racing car (222 PS).

*Golf GT/ Clubsport S fuel consumption in l/100km: 7.4 (combined).C02 emissions in glkm: 172 (combined). Efficiency class: F. All performance, fuel efficiency and emission figures given in this press release are forecasts as at June 2016.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

The Traffic Message Channel (TMC) is a digital data channel provided by the traffic news service that supplies continuously updated 'real time' traffic data. When your route has been selected, our navigation systems with dynamic route guidance make use of this data to check traffic conditions. If the TMC indicates a traffic jam or other hold-up, the system automatically calculates an alternative way to your destination. It takes into account the time required for the alternative route and if this is longer than driving through the traffic jam, your route is not changed. The Traffic Message Channel is now available in much of Europe with data transmitted digitally, decoded by your navigation system, and displayed in your own language.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Volkswagen is joining forces with the world’s largest car-sharing network, Zipcar, to launch the ultra-low emission Golf GTE in the UK’s capital city.  ‘Zipwagen’ is a clear demonstration of how Volkswagen is offering not only cutting-edge technology in its cars, but also in the ways in which those cars are used by new types of customers.

In future, increasing numbers of inner city residents will choose to use cars only when required and most suitable to their needs, making car sharing schemes attractive.  And with air quality a long-standing and still growing focus, an ultra-low emission vehicle such as the Volkswagen Golf GTE plug-in hybrid is the ideal choice.

With 40 cars located in the London Borough of Westminster and a further 10 cars throughout the capital Zipwagen is a partnership which will see a total of 50 Volkswagen Golf GTE models, with dedicated charging stations, made available to Zipcar members.

The partnership allows members of the car club access to the dynamic, multi award-winning Golf GTE for as little as £7 per hour – bringing sustainable, low- and zero-emission driving within the reach of a large number of Londoners.

The innovative Golf GTE is powered by a combination of petrol engine and electric motor.  Capable of returning up to 166 mpg, and with CO2 emissions measured at just 39 g/km, this desirable plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) has already scooped a series of prominent automotive industry awards including an overall win in the UK’s influential Green Apple Awards, and the Green category in the annual BusinessCar Fleet Technology Awards.

When fully charged in all-electric mode, the Golf GTE has an electric range of up to 31 miles**.  When electric and petrol combine, the total range is 580 miles**.  The car therefore provides the best of both worlds: the zero tailpipe emissions of a pure EV along with the reassuring extra range, low emissions and impressive economy of a latest generation Volkswagen petrol engine.  This makes the Golf GTE equally suitable whether on short trips in the city or longer journeys out of town.

The car’s latest generation lithium-ion battery can be charged in two ways: either when plugged into a charging station or, if necessary, while being driven on the road.  From zero to full charge takes 2 hours 20 minutes at one of the dedicated Zipcar charging points.

Welcoming the launch of the Zipwagen initiative Rod McLeod, Head of Marketing at Volkswagen UK, said: “Volkswagen is once again demonstrating its forward thinking with this exciting new Zipwagen initiative.  We are already leading the way in terms of product technology and the new car buying experience – from clicks right through to collection – but this partnership with Zipcar shows that we are also providing attractive solutions to increasing numbers of inner-city residents who want to use cars on demand in preference to actually owning one.

“Engaging low- or no-emission driving in the city, allied to the well-established quality and practicality of today’s Volkswagen Golf, means I expect the Zipwagen initiative to prove extremely popular and look forward to seeing the 50 Golf GTEs involved in the scheme out and about on the streets of London in the weeks and months ahead.” 

Mark Walker, Zipcar UK General Manager, said: “The Volkswagen Golf GTE is ideal for Zipcar members and ideal for London.  Volkswagen’s innovative plug-in hybrid technology means the best of both worlds: zero emission driving in the city, combined with total flexibility for driving long distances.  

“Thanks to our Zipwagen partnership, Zipcar members will be able to drive this leading-edge, premium car for just £7 per hour and, once they have done so, I’m confident they will become positive advocates for electric driving in the city.”

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

• Improved finance offer of £2,000 deposit contribution and 5.4 per cent APR
• Available across the bulk of the Golf line-up until June 30 2016
• Volkswagen Golf range starts from £17,625.00 (RRP OTR)

Volkswagen is extending the appeal of its renowned Golf range of family hatchback models with the introduction of a generous new £2,000 deposit contribution and 5.4 per cent APR for private customers who purchase a new Golf via Volkswagen Financial Services from now until Thursday 30 June.

The offer, activated when new customers take out a Personal Contract Purchase plan through Volkswagen Financial Services, applies across the Golf hatch family – with the exception of Golf GTE, Golf GTI Clubsport, Golf GTI Clubsport S and e-Golf models.

The comprehensive Golf hatch family is today available in no fewer than 12 trim levels and models, meaning there is a Golf for everybody.  Depending on trim and model choice the cars are available in three- or five-door versions while the majority offer a choice of manual or automatic DSG gearboxes.  The range starts with the entry-level Golf S and rises in stages to the iconic Golf GTI – this year celebrating its 40th anniversary – and incomparable Golf R.

Every Golf offers a high level of standard equipment and includes for instance, as a minimum, the Composition Media system which boasts a 6.5-inch colour touchscreen, Bluetooth telephone and audio connection, car information display, DAB digital radio receiver and CD player.

The Volkswagen Golf also has a plethora of standard safety features including ABS (Anti-lock Braking System); ESC (Electronic Stability Control); and ASR (traction control).  The Golf has driver’s and front passenger’s airbags and a curtain airbag system for front and rear passengers.  Front seat side impact airbags and a driver’s knee airbag add additional peace of mind, as does the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System.

In addition, the Golf includes an electronic parking brake with an auto-hold function that is especially useful when stopped on an incline.  Fuel efficiency is enhanced by the automatic Stop/Start system.

The Golf S is available from just £17,625 RRP OTR, and the Match Edition (from £20,690 RRP OTR) offers a variety of extra standard equipment including Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC); driver profile selection; and parking sensors.

The Performance Golfs start with the GT Edition (from £24,215 RRP OTR) and the R-Line Edition (from £25,210 RRP OTR), both of which offer sports styling with 18-inch alloy wheels as well as a panoramic sunroof.  The Golf GTI (from £27,495 RRP OTR) and its diesel cousin, the GTD (from £26,995 RRP OTR), are genuinely iconic hot hatches that need no introduction, or explanation.  Meanwhile the all-wheel-drive 4MOTION Golf R (from £31,685 RRP OTR) rounds out the broad Golf range.

Many models come with a choice of engines which all include energy-saving BlueMotion Technology. The range starts with the 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine that has an emissions figure of 99 g/km* and combined fuel consumption of 65.7 mpg*.  The petrol offering continues with a 1.4-litre TSI unit offering 125 PS, a 1.4 TSI with ACT cylinder deactivation and 150 PS on tap, and a 2.0-litre TSI engine that is available with outputs of 220 PS, 265 PS, 300 PS or 310 PS.

The three diesel engines begin with a 1.6-litre TDI unit that has an output of 110 PS and has a combined cycle figure from 70.6 mpg.  The 2.0-litre TDI is available with either 150 PS or 184 PS.  The combined fuel economy figures range from 58.9 mpg to 67.3 mpg.

For more details of the extensive Golf range, or to find out more about finance offers available from Volkswagen, please visit www.volkswagen.co.uk

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk