It’s Alive! VW Golf GTI W12 650Hp Video

Listen to that turbocharged W12 growl like a hungry lion! The more we see and hear of VW’s stunning concept the more we’re drawn into it. This video was shot during a VW presentation of the Golf GTI W12 650Hp Concept in what seems to be a soccer stadium, so don’t expect any crazy stunts. Just pop up your ears and get ready for an acoustic feast.

Via: Le blog auto

VW Golf "Night Driving": VW's Darkly Beautiful TV Spot

Without doubt, one of the best TV ads we’ve seen. Amazing how ad agency DBB London, managed to create a car advert that stimulated our “driving emotions” without actually showing much of the VW Golf. The dark city scenery is combined with Richard Burton's ominous radio delivery of Dylan Thomas’s play, “Under Milk Wood” which perfectly accentuates directors Noam Murro's breathtaking VW Golf spot. Just makes you want to stay awake till “all the people of the lulled and dumbfound town are sleeping” and take your car for a ride, doesn’t it… Via: Autoblog.com

"And all the people of the lulled and dumbfound town are sleeping now.

Hush, the babies are sleeping, the farmers, the fishers, the tradesmen and pensioners, cobbler, schoolteacher, postman and publican, the undertaker and the fancy woman, drunkard, dressmaker, preacher, policeman, the webfoot cocklewomen and the tidy wives.

Young girls lie bedded soft or glide in their dreams, with rings and trousseaux, bridesmaided by glow-worms down the aisles of the organplaying wood.... You can hear the dew falling, and the hushed town breathing.

Only your eyes are unclosed to see the black and folded town fast, and slow, asleep..."

"Under Milk Wood", 1954 by Dylan Thomas

Technorati: VW, VW+Golf, Ad, Carscoop, blogs, automotive, vehicles

VW Golf GT Sport: New GTI Inspired Trim Level For TSI & TDI Versions

Volkswagen announced a few changes in its Golf range replacing the existing Sport and GT trim levels with a single all-new model, the Golf GT Sport. As you can see in the picture, visual changes are restricted up front, and specifically to the pitch-black grille section along with the darkened headlights insert which help forge a visual link with the sporty Golf GTI and R32 variants.

The new GT Sport trim (3d & 5d) can be combined with the 1.4-litre TSI petrol and 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine, both available in 140 Hp and 170 Hp outputs. Equipment-wise, a leather-trimmed 3-spoke steering wheel, gearknob and handbrake are fitted along with front sports seats, automatic light sensing headlights and rain sensing windscreen wipers. This is in addition to the 17-inch multi-spoke alloys fitted with 225/45 R17 tires, climatic a/c, a CD stereo system with eight speakers and electric windows. Six airbags, ABS and Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP) round off the standard equipment list. Sales are expected to start in Europe later in the summer. -Click “Read More…” below to check out the pictures

Technorati: VW+Golf+GT+Sport, cars, Carscoop, blogs, automotive, vehicles

VW GOLF GT SPORT

VW GOLF GT

VW GOLF

VW GOLF GTI

VW GOLF R32

Sideways Challenge: Tiff Needell Takes A VW Golf GTI For A Spin

As 5th Gear’s presenter proves in this video, you don’t necessary need a rear-wheel drive vehicle to have a little sideways fun. Wait; did I say fun? Well maybe for Tiff, his co-driver and us viewers, but definetely not for the poor guy sitting in the Golf GTI Edition 30’s rear bench. Not the best place on earth to be when a driver like Tiff decides to steer looking out through his side window.

Update: VW Golf GTI W12 Presentation Pictures & Video

Continuing our report on VW’s super-impressive 650Hp strong Golf GTI W12 Concept, we just got our hands on the full English press release that answers most of our questions concerning the king of GTI’s. But that’s not all. As you can see, we also added high-res images (including the very first picture of the interior) and a short video, all from VW’s presentation at the GTI meeting “Worthersee 2007”. Check them all out after the jump. (Click “Read More…” below)

Golf GTI W12-650 - Key Aspects

• Showtime at Wörthersee: The 325 km/h GTI

• World premiere of the 650-PS Golf at GTI Meeting at the Wörthersee

• W12 bi-turbo engine with 6.0 liter displacement and 750 Nm torque

• 325 km/h fast showcar sprints to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds

Wolfsburg, 17 May 2007 - Daring to create something unique, leaving conventions behind and awakening passion – these have been at the heart of the GTI concept since its inception. To date, more than 1.67 million car drivers have fallen under its charm. The Golf GTI has been an icon for a long time now. A brand in itself. A label of sportiness. To drive a GTI is to make a statement; across the globe. Since 1982, its greatest fans have been celebrating it every year at the Wörthersee in the Austrian state of Kärnten. Thousands come for this event. Five days of Mardi Gras in May. For this occasion, Volkswagen has put a Golf on wheels that is like no other: The GTI W12-650 showcar. This sports car is a tribute to our GTI friends at the Wörthersee, car fans who made the GTI a legend. It is a concept that was designed just for them.

No Golf has ever been more powerful, or wider, or faster. The GTI W12-650 gives the appearance of having come directly from the racetrack. A Golf that could be the pace car for the 24 hour race at Le Mans. Its name is its mission: W12 cylinders, 650 PS (477 kW at 6,000 rpm). A showcar, no more, no less. At the same time it demonstrates the enormous potential that such a car can offer.

3.7 seconds, 325 km/h, 750 Newton-meter

Its 6.0-liter bi-turbo engine is longitudinally mounted directly behind the driver and front passenger. This transforms the GTI into a classic mid-engine sports car. A six-speed automatic transmission hammers the maximum torque of 750 Newton-meters (at 4,500 rpm) to the rear axle. It catapults the GTI to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds. The bi-turbo propels drivers who keep their foot to the gas pedal well beyond the 300 km/h barrier. The speedometer needle does not pause until it reaches 325 km/h. The Golf GTI W12-650 outpaces nearly all other cars of this world.

1.88 meters wide, 235 tires in front, 295 in back

Under the broad 1.88 meter (production: 1.76 meter) width and low 1.42 meter (production: 1.50 Meter) height of its body, engineers and designers have brought together automotive technologies not seen in this combination on any other car. Each component is sourced internally. That in particular is a tribute to the unequaled breadth of technology at Volkswagen AG.

The chassis components of this showcar, for example, were adapted directly from a super sports car. Mounted on the front axle are 235 tires in 19-inch format, while in the rear there are 295 tires. Naturally, alloy wheels are also used: Due to the gigantic tire dimensions, the brightly machined “Detroit” GTI wheels are “dished” in the direction of the wheel hub and are custom built; the pitch circle with the wheel nuts lies much deeper than the rim circle.

70 millimeters lower, 160 millimeters wider

The axles were “pushed” 70 millimeters further into the body; the wheel well cutouts and gigantic wheel arches are part of the shoulder section, as in a coupe. Klaus Bischoff, Director of Volkswagen Design: “In the rear, the showcar is 80 millimeters wider on each side. However, the body of the GTI easily takes this in. We already have a strong shoulder section here on the production model. We were able to draw it outward even more distinctly, like on a sports car.”

The chief designer continues: “Our goal was clearly defined – despite the somewhat dramatic engineering changes, it was very clear that the GTI was to remain a classic GTI. The design of the Golf is like a fingerprint. If it is erased, the entire character of the car is ruined. That could not be allowed to happen under any circumstances.” That is also why as many components as possible, such as the headlamps, the doors – newly hung due to the wide side skirt – front hood and taillights were taken from the Golf.

C-pillars as part of air duct for engine cooling

“Our greatest challenge”, says Klaus Bischoff, “was to provide the six-liter mid-engine with sufficient air, without watering down the GTI’s side profile. In addition, provisions had to be made for sufficient downforce at the rear axle on such a fast type of car. But for aesthetic reasons we did not want to put an enormous rear spoiler on the car.”

In both cases a trick helped. Klaus Bischoff: “The strongest Golf design elements are the C-pillars. But it is precisely here that we needed air ducts for engine cooling air. Therefore, the C-pillars were redesigned on short order to assume this function of routing air to the engine. In doing so, we simply made the rear windows turn inward. This created two ducts between the windows and the C pillars, on the left and right, through which air flows for engine cooling. We got the rest of the cooling air in front via the gigantic radiators and the ducts connected to them, as well as on the sides via air inlets on the side skirts.” Expressed differently: At first glance all parts of the rear section look like a production GTI, but it was actually redesigned intensively.

Carbon-fiber roof is a diffuser

Innovative body construction has also prevented the lines of the GTI W12-650 from being ruined by a roof-mounted wing. Klaus Bischoff: “This GTI carries its wing internally. The roof is part of an enormous diffuser that supplies sufficient downforce to the rear axle. It consists of a carbon-fiber material and directs the air over and under the rear spoiler to achieve road grip, like in car racing.”

The bumpers of the showcar are powerful and at the same time coherently designed. In the rear, as in the front, the GTI W12-650 is characterized by enormous air inlets and outlets. Two dual chrome-plated tailpipes frame the air outlet in the rear. At the front of the car, the eye-catching straight-line grille between the headlamps, with its red frame, is reminiscent of the first GTI.

Interior with racing ambitions

Every modern-day GTI driver would feel at home right away in this interior. The leather Alcantara covers for the race car bucket seats are newly designed. Three round gauges in the middle of the instrument cluster are also reminiscent of the original GTI. Details taken from car racing, on the other hand, include the transparent “flip-up switch covers” for important functions such as ESP deactivation. To prevent accidental switch activations, the transparent covers are “flipped up” with the index finger before activating the switch underneath. Another reference to car racing is the integrated fire extinguisher in place of a glove box. For weight reasons, the door trim was completely “stripped”; only screens are used, which quite intentionally offer a view of the internal workings of the door mechanisms

Technorati: Volkswagen, VW+Golf+GTI, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, images, pictures

2008 VW Golf GTI Pirelli Edition 230Hp

25 years after the famed Pirelli-Golf GTI version came out in May 1983 VW presented its successor in the form of the fifth generation Golf GTI at the VW GTI meeting, “Wörthersee 2007”. Conspicuously, this is VW Group’s third world premiere at the GTI fest after the 650Hp Golf GTI W12 and the Audi TT clubsport quattro concepts. Back to the limited edition Pirelli version is based on the Golf GTI “Edition 30” with the tweaked 2.0TFSI engine delivering 230Hp. It boasts a top speed of 245km/h (152mph) and a 0-100km/h (62mph) time of 6,8 sec (manual gearbox).

While the GTI Pirelli retains the bodykit of the “Edition 30”, it features a few unique elements. Starting of course with the 225/40 Pirelli P-Zero tires and the 5-spoke titanium coloured 18’’ Pirelli rims. The only other exterior add on is the Pirelli logo on the back door. In the interior, the first things you notice are the bass-relief seat surfaces with the eye-popping Pirelli tire tread design. As expected, you get your usual Pirelli logos here and there. According to VW, the Pirelli GTI will be available from this September in four colours- bright yellow, silver, black pearl & blue graphite. -Follow the jump for the high-res image gallery

Technorati: VW+Golf+GTI, Pirelli, Tuning, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

VW Golf GTI W12 Concept: 650Hp & 325km/h!

Looks like the VW GTI meeting Wörthersee 2007 is turning into a major event this year as, apart from the impressive Audi TT clubsport quattro VW presented the "King" of all GTI’s: the Golf GTI W12 Concept. Fitted with a mid-mounted 6.0-liter 12cylinder bi-turbo engine pumping 650Hp @ 6.000 rpm and a maximum torque of 750Nm @ 4.500 rpm., the Golf GTI W12 sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in just 3,7 sec while achieving a top speed of 325km/h (202 mph). Despite the extensive modifications that include a lower and broader body than the stock GTI, the addition of several air vents to cool the massive engine and the specially designed roof that plays the role of a diffuser/ spoiler, VW’s concept retains the GTI’s silhouette. However, unlike VW Group's other concept, the TT speedster, the W12 has infinitesimal chances of going into production.

We’ll post the full English press release latter in the day but until then follow the jump to check out our high-res image gallery.

Technorati: VW, VW+Golf+GTI, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, images, pictures

VW Golf Mk1 With A 350Hp Suzuki Hayabusa Engine!

Are these guys’ nuts or what? Work of UK based H.R. Engineering that specializes in converting front wheel drive cars to rear wheel drive with any engine option, the heavily modified VW Golf Mk1 has been blessed with a 350bhp turbocharged, 1.3-liter motorbike engine from the Suzuki Hayabusa driving the rear wheels. It's not the first time we've seen something like this as some of you might remember the Smart Fortwo Diablo with the 180Hp Suzuki GSX-R 1000 motor. As you’ll hear for yourself in the videos that we added, if anything, the modified Golf sounds pretty damn sick. -Click “Read More…” for the videos

Via: Autoblog.it

Technorati: VW+Golf, Suzuki+Hayabusa, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Oettinger’s VW Golf GTI "Edition 30" 305Hp & 330Hp

VW tuning specialist Oettinger is offering two new upgrade kits for the anniversary Golf GTI “Edition 30”. €1.390 or $1.878 will get you the Stage I kit which boosts power from the stock 230Hp to 305Hp and a maximum torque figure of 400 Nm thanks to a new engine mapping which is loaded via Direct-Port-Tuning (Programming over the OBD-II port). Stage I GTI’s sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.2 sec (stock: DSG 6.6 sec, Manual 6,8 sec) and the acceleration doesn’t stop until it reaches 252 km/h (158 mph).-Continued below

If you deposit €3.450 or $4.661 Oettinger will be happy to install the Stage II kit that includes a larger intercooler, modified intake tract and a carbon “ram air” intake. In addition, the engine also releases its waste gases via an Oettinger stainless steel sport exhaust system; this highly polished system consists of a rear and middle silencer. The result is a maximum output of 330 hp (DIN), 430 Nm (317 lb/ft) torque, 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 5.9 sec and a Vmax of 258 km/h (161 mph).

Further accessories from the Oettinger OETTINGER Golf 5 program include:

• OETTINGER - Complete wheel set, consisting of: The new 19“ Type RXX 8.5J x 19“ mono block wheels and Pirelli/Dunlop 225/35/19 tyres: EUR 2,760.00

• OETTINGER - Adjustable stainless steel suspension: EUR 1,290.00, Fitment incl. alignment: EUR 400.00

• OETTINGER - Floor mats, set of 4 in various colours, with embroidery OETTINGER Logo: EUR 143.00

• OETTINGER - Body kit consisting of: Front grille, Front skirt, Side skirts and Rear skirt: from EUR 1,580.00

Technorati: Oettinger, VW+Golf+GTI, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

VW: Scirocco, Golf VI Cabrio & Lupo Renderings

Before we get into any details on Autozeitung’s future VW model renderings, let us remind you something; on January 1st, Audi CEO Martin Winterkorn (officially) replaced Bernd Pischetsrieder as the head of Volkswagen Group CEO. From what we’ve heard from insiders, Winterkorn is revaluating every single project that Pischetsrieder approved. Take the Golf VI for example that was sent last minute back to the drawing board. Thus meaning, for the time being, one should be extremely cautious of any future VW model rumors. Saying that, here’s our opinion on the three renderings we see from German magazine Autozeitung: -Click “Read More…” below

Scirocco: We'll agree with Autozeitung that the 2006 IROC concept was far too close in appearance to the Golf and that VW will give the production version Scirocco a serious makeover. Don’t know about the new grille though.

Golf VI Cabrio: If the translation we made from the German magazine is right, Autozeitung is proposing a name change for the Eos successor –obviously, there’s no logic of having the Eos and the Golf VI Cabrio in your range even if the latter features a rag-top. Could be.

Lupo: The first generation Lupo which was also available from Seat as the Aroza, was an expensive and unsuccessful, premium mini. VW replaced it with the “cheap” Brazilian made Fox, that is also… unsuccessful. We know for a fact that Skoda is developing a mini that will fit under the Fabia II in its range so this scenario could have some truth in it. In any case we really dig the artist impression on the Lupo.

Via: Autoblog.it , Source: Autozeitung

Technorati: VW, VW+Scirocco, VW+Golf+Cabrio, VW+Lupo, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Tuning: Sportech gives the VW Golf V GTI a 335Hp & 1.800W boost

Dubbed “P Cubed Golf”, this sassy looking GTI is the work of South African tuner, Sportech. When the project’s finished, the P Cubed Golf will feature a supped-up version of the stock 2.0 TFSI engine delivering 335Hp but that’s not all. Sportech also plans to equip the Golf GTI with a monster 1.800-W Rockford Fosgate in-car entertainment system that includes three motorised DVD screens, a pair of Hewlett Packard "tablet" computers with wireless Internet that fit into custom-made console between the rear seats. The use of the console means that the P Cuped Golf is strictly four-seater, with the rear passengers getting anatomic Recaro seats identical to the ones up front.

Via: Autoblog.com , Source: Germancarblog

Technorati: VW+Golf+GTI, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, images, pictures

VW Golf VI: Presentation postponed for the end of 2008

According to an interview that Ulrich Hackenburg, head of development for VW gave to Automobilwoche during the Shanghai Show, VW’s best selling model will not be replaced next spring as originally planned. Hackenburg told Automobiwoche journalists that the current Golf is still selling well and that there’s no time-pressure to replace it. At least that’s the official line, cause unofficially, the company’s new boss, Martin Winterkorn, has postponed the 2008 Geneva Show premiere of the Golf VI as he was not pleased at all with the car’s appearance and ordered a complete redesign. In any case, the 6th-gen Golf is now scheduled for a late 2008 launch.

Hackenburg also informed journalist that the new Golf will get an updated version of Audi's 160Hp 1.8TFSI engine –probably with a GT badge since from what we’ve heard, VW is planning to stop the production of the 170Hp 1.4TSI motor due to reliability problems. As for the GTI, it’ll wear a more powerful version of the current 2.0 TFSI motor. Via: Automobilwoche

Technorati: VW+Golf, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, images, pictures

ebay: Pope Benedict XVI’s VW Golf sold for 204.400 USD

Biddings for Josef Ratzinger’s -now known as Pope Benedict XVI, ex 1999 VW Golf VI have just ended a few minutes ago (Saturday, 14 April 2007 09:18:24 PDT) on ebay. The car’s current owner, Texas-based online casino, GoldenPalace.com sold it bidder No33 (we don’t have any details yet), for a staggering 204.400 USD.

This is the second time that the "holly" Golf changed hands since the…blessed 21-year-old Benjamin Halbe (it was only when he obtained the car’s registration documents that he realized who’s car it was) sold it to GoldenPalace in 2005 for approximately 244.590 USD. According to GoldenPalace proceeds from the auction will benefit "Habitat for Humanity Great Britain". Link: ebay

Technorati: Pope, Benedict, XVI, ebay, VW+Golf, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

2008 VW Golf R36 / RS Scooped ?

This picture of a supped up Golf that seems to be wearing the same exact bodykit as the one we’ve seen on Golf R36 / RS prototypes has surfaced online on several sites. We can’t be sure for its authenticity, but it looks like it has been shot at some kind of an in internal VW event –check out the tables and the orange Polo Crossover behind.

Although rumors have it that VW is planning to introduce a Golf R36 fitted with the Passat R36’s 300Hp 3.6 FSI V6 motor at the September Frankfurt Show, the RS tag on the number plate could suggest that VW might be instead working with Audi S3’s 280Hp 2.0 TFSI engine that has obvious advantages in terms of weight distribution. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below

Via: Worldcarfans Spy Pics: AutoExpress

Technorati: VW+Golf, RS, R36, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, images, pictures