Strong debut: Volkswagen finishes "Monte" in second place

Absolutely “Monte”: Volkswagen showed an impressive debut in the FIA World Rally Championship. In one of the toughest editions of the Rally Monte Carlo in recent years, Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) managed to lead the Polo R WRC in its first competitive outing to second place. In difficult weather conditions with a mix of snow, ice, and wet asphalt next to bright sunshine, thick fog, and heavy rain Ogier/Ingrassa won two special stages on the classic through the French Maritime Alps. Behind the nine-time world champions Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (F/MC, Citroën), Ogier/Ingrassia achieved top times from the start, thus reaching the podium straightaway and on their own accord in the debut of the Polo R WRC. Their team colleagues Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) were among the top five almost until the end of the rally. Because of the extremely challenging weather conditions with slush and pieces of ice, they were, however, forced to retire after sliding off in the legendary special stage over the Col de Turini.

Milestones: Fastest times for Ogier/Ingrassia

First special stage, first fastest time – for Volkswagen the Rally Monte Carlo began with a milestone achievement. On “Le Moulinon”, with 37.1 kilometers the longest special stage of the rally, Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia achieved the best time. On the second day, the French duo also secured their position with the best time in the fifth special stage, “La Batie D'Andaure”, in their home rally “Monte”. With other top results Ogier/Ingrassia consolidated their second position in the overall ranking. In total, Volkswagen managed to record top-three results in 14 of 16 special stages.

Extreme weather: premature end to the “Monte” for safety reasons

Extreme weather conditions and safety concerns resulted in a premature end of the Rally Monte Carlo. The organisers of the rally called off the remaining two stages on Saturday evening, including the final round over the Col de Turini. Heavy rain and the resulting unpredictable weather conditions in the night from Saturday to Sunday as well as traffic chaos around the mythical special stage caused safety concerns. Shortly before the cancellation of special stages 17 and 18, Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila had slipped from the track into the barriers with their Polo R WRC. Slush and pieces of ice had made the opening stage of last day of the rally unpredictable. Besides Latvala/Anttila, other top drivers crashed out in this special stage.

Tyre gamble and driving skills most crucial

Changing road textures and unpredictable weather: The conditions in the Rally Monte Carlo are unique in the WRC calendar. In no other rally is the skill of the driver as important as in the “Monte”. An additional success factor: the tyre choice. In the 2013 edition of the classic rally spike tyres turned out to be a rare commodity. No more than 20 pieces per car are permitted by the regulations. When which tyres are used, is a decision that the teams decide based on the information provided by weather crews along the stages and precise weather forecasts. Here, Volkswagen not only proved to be ready for the WRC with the Polo R WRC technically but also in driving and logistically.

The next round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) will take place in Sweden from February 07–10, 2013.

Quotes, day four of the Rally Monte Carlo

Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
“Second place in the first rally of the new Polo R WRC is more than we could have expected. The team did an exceptional job in the last four rally days and prepared the cars perfectly. The Rally Monte Carlo is the most complex event in the calendar and the team has here shown that they are ready for the World Rally Championship. There was no mistake, not the slightest problem. One cannot value the performance of Sébastien Ogier highly enough. He drove the ‘Monte’ in a World Rally Car for the first time. There is no other rally in which the driver’s impact on the result is bigger. That is why we will not see where we stand with the Polo R WRC until after the upcoming events.”

Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #8
“I never was as happy about a second place as I was today. To reach the podium in our debut with the Polo R WRC is just great. These were probably the most difficult conditions in a Rally Monte Carlo I have ever experienced. Especially today, during the first run to the Col de Turini, it was extremely slippery, so that speeds of more than 20 kph were not possible. It was just about keeping the car on the road. The entire team worked very hard during the last year, and I am happy to give something back to them. I am sorry for Jari- Matti but I am sure that we will celebrate further victories together for Volkswagen in the future.”

Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #7
“I am very disappointed. There was more wet snow in the first run through the Col de Turini stage than I expected. I was too fast right in the beginning, the car did not turn as expected, and I crashed heavily. Another car had slipped there before I did and I hit the same lane. There was nothing I could do. It was my goal to gather lots of experience with the Polo R WRC. It is bitter to end the rally this way. I am sorry for the guys because they prepared the cars brilliantly. I really wanted to give them a points result.”

And then there was ...

...the Volkswagen Group brand Audi, which got on board the World Rally Championship at the “Monte” in 1981 with the Quattro, winning, just like Volkswagen with the Polo R WRC, the very first special stage in its debut as a manufacturer. At the time, it was Hannu Mikkola who had a dream start; in 2013, it was Sébastien Ogier who started in a similarly spectacular way in the very first and longest special stage. The Quattro was revolutionary within the World Rally Championship in the early eighties and helped start the triumphant march of the four-wheel drive. This kind of transmission technology is indispensable in World Rally Cars today.

 
Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

 

Volkswagen Group opens its 100th plant worldwide

Wolfsburg / Silao, January 16, 2013: Volkswagen is further extending its commitment to industry in North America. The engine plant in Silao in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato was opened today. The new factory is the Volkswagen Group’s 100th plant worldwide. The inauguration ceremony was attended by the President of Mexico, Enrique Peña, the Governor of the state of Guanajuato, Miguel Marquez, and Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. The factory will supply Volkswagen’s North American vehicle plants in Puebla/Mexico and Chattanooga/USA with modern and fuel-efficient TSI engines produced locally in Silao.

Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, commented: ‘The Silao factory is the Volkswagen Group’s 100th plant and therefore represents one of the largest and most international production networks in the automotive industry. With this new plant we are driving our ambitious major North American offensive forward. Over the next three years the Volkswagen Group will be investing more than USD five billion in North America alone. Silao is thus also a strong symbol of our uninterrupted growth trajectory and the Group’s continuing internationalisation.’

Strengthening its market position in North America is an essential component of the Volkswagen Group’s global growth strategy. In this context, the company is planning annual sales of one million vehicles in the USA alone from 2018 based on models such as the Jetta, the Beetle and the new US Passat tailored to the demands of US customers which are produced at the North American plants with a high degree of localisation.

With the start of engine production in Silao, Volkswagen is continuing its success story in Mexico that already spans almost 60 years. Along with the Volkswagen plant in Puebla, the MAN commercial vehicles plant in Querétaro and the planned Audi vehicle plant in San José Chiapa scheduled to begin production in 2016, the Group remains a key growth driver for Mexican industry.

In future, Silao will supply the North American vehicle plants in Puebla und Chattanooga with the latest generation of fuel-efficient TSI engines. The plant is designed for a medium-term annual capacity of 330,000 units. Investment runs at USD 550 million. Volkswagen will be creating over 700 new jobs at the 60 hectare plant in Silao in the medium term. Further jobs in the region will also be created at suppliers and in the service sector.

Engine production in Silao meets the high environmental standards of the Volkswagen brand’s ‘Think Blue. Factory’ programme. The aim of this programme is to make more efficient use of resources and to achieve a sustained reduction in production-related emissions at all Volkswagen plants. As a result, all manufacturing equipment in Silao complies with the latest energy efficiency standards, thus achieving a significant reduction in the environmental impact of each produced engine. Special rooflights in the production halls, for example, combined with energy-efficient lighting throughout the facility ensure optimum natural light levels and simultaneously absorb the heat generated by the lighting system. The improved-performance TSI engines (EA 888) from Silao combine fuel economy and improved emissions with lower weight.

The CEO of Volkswagen de México, Andreas Hinrichs, drew attention to the Mexican automotive industry’s growth path in 2012 and to Volkswagen’s contribution consisting of over 600,000 vehicles produced in the country. ‘For us, Silao is a big step towards the future. Volkswagen is once again generating strong momentum for growth and employment in the Mexican automotive industry.’

Volkswagen de México currently builds four models for world markets at the Puebla plant. These are the Volkswagen Jetta, Golf Estate, Beetle and Beetle Cabrio. A total of 604,000 vehicles were manufactured in Puebla in 2012. Production of the US Passat developed specifically for the American market began in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 2011. Over 150,000 vehicles already left the assembly line there in 2012.

The Volkswagen Group delivered 165,900 (2011: 153,300)* vehicles to customers in Mexico in 2012. The Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, SEAT, Porsche, Bentley and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brands therefore recorded an 8.2 per cent* year-on-year rise.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Body Repair

At some point, most of us will experience the trauma of a motoring accident. It might not be our fault, but that doesn't help lessen the pain. If you thought your car would never be the same again, you needn't worry.

Choose an authorised Volkswagen retailer and you can rest assured that the repair will be carried out using only genuine parts, and our trained repair specialists will ensure your car is restored to the highest standard. Using genuine body panels will ensure that the manufacturer's body protection warranty stays intact.

Click on the 'Find your nearest retailer' link to find out more about Volkswagen body repair.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Small Volkswagen up! remains big winner for What Car? magazine

 

Volkswagen’s compact city car, the up!, has retained its small car crown at the What Car? awards. The accolade was presented last night at a prestigious event held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

The up! was launched last March and has proved a big hit with customers and the media alike since then.  Commenting on the award, Chas Hallett, What Car? editor-in-chief, said: ‘The Volkswagen up! was last year’s Car of the Year because it offers class-leading ride and refinement and is great to drive. Low running costs and strong residuals make it sensational to own.’  Since it arrived on the market the up! has had to face stiff competition from a number of rivals, however, according to What Car? ‘none could match the up!’s sheer talent’.

As well as high quality, high levels of equipment and class-leading ride and refinement, the up! also offers excellent value for money.  Prices start at £8,095 (RRP OTR) for the entry-level Take up!.  What Car?’s chosen model, the High up! 1.0-litre 75 PS three-door, costs £10,665.  Standard equipment on this car includes ABS, four airbags, ESP (with the option to add the award-winning City Emergency Braking system for just £225), alloy wheels, air-conditioning, a variable boot floor, front fog lights, heated front seats and the innovative ‘Maps & More’ mobile Personal Infotainment Device which can be used to manage the car’s navigation, telephone, information and entertainment systems.

All up! models have a refined and economical three-cylinder 1.0-litre engine which produces 60 or 75 PS.  A BlueMotion Technology variant is also offered in combination with both power outputs, giving a combined consumption figure of 68.9 mpg (67.3 mpg with 75 PS) and CO2 emissions of 95 g/km (98 g/km for 75 PS).  An automatic gearbox option is also available. 

From now until 31st March 2013, retail customers can get behind the wheel of an up! for
£79 per month on a Solutions PCP scheme through Volkswagen Financial Services. 

For full details and Ts & Cs please visit your local Volkswagen Retailer or www.volkswagen.co.uk

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Volkswagen Ensurance

 

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To find out how much Ensurance is for your Volkswagen click here

Volkswagen Financial Services (UK) Limited and Volkswagen Insurance Service (Great Britain) Limited have their registered offices at: Brunswick Court, Yeomans Drive, Blakelands, Milton Keynes MK14 5LR. Volkswagen Insurance Service (Great Britain) Limited is an appointed representative of Volkswagen Financial Services (UK) Limited who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Volkswagen Insurance is a trading name of Volkswagen Insurance Service (Great Britain) Limited. Details of our authorisation can be found on the FSA register at www.fsa.gov.uk
Volkswagen Insurance is a trading name of Volkswagen Insurance Service (Great Britain) Limited, an appointed representative of Volkswagen Financial Services (UK) Limited, registered in England number: 2835230 (registered office: Brunswick Court, Yeomans Drive, Blakelands, Milton Keynes MK14 5LR). Ensurance ® from Volkswagen Insurance is underwritten by MAPFRE Asistencia Compañia International de Seguros y Reaseguros Sociedad Anonima, registered in England number: FC021974 (registered office: Alpha House, 5th Floor, 24a Lime Street, London EC3M 7HS). Legal expenses are arranged by Lawshield UK Limited and UK General Insurance Limited and underwritten by Ageas Insurance Limited, registered in England number: 354568 (registered office: Ageas House, Tollgate, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO53 3YA). Ensurance® from Volkswagen Insurance is sold and administered by Abraxas Insurance Administration Service Limited, registered in England number: 02928787 (registered office: One Glass Wharf, Bristol BS2 0ZX). Volkswagen Insurance Service (Great Britain) Limited, MAPFRE Asistencia Compañia International de Seguros y Reaseguros Sociedad Anonima, Lawshield UK Limited, UK General Insurance Limited, Ageas Insurance Limited and Abraxas Insurance Administration Service Limited are not part of the same corporate group. All of these organisations are authorised by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Authorisation details can be checked on the FSA’s register at fsa.gov.uk or call 0845 606 1234.
Ensurance® is a trade mark owned by Volkswagen Financial Services AG.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

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