2013 VW Golf GTI and Golf R Mk7 Test Mules Scooped in Germany

Never mind the body of the current, 6th generation Golf featured on these test two Volkswagen prototypes snagged by our scoop photographers in Germany; these are test mules for the upcoming Mk7 Golf GTI and its more powerful sibling, the Golf R.

Despite the fact that both vehicles look alike at first, a closer glance shows that the GTI is the one with the twin tailpipes while the R features a quad exhaust outlets. Another important detail worth mentioning are the rear wheel arch extensions that suggest a wider rear track for both models.

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VW Fields a Trio of 450-hp Golfs for the Nurburgring 24h Race

Volkswagen will participate with three 450-hp Golf24 cars in one of the most grueling endurance races in the world, the famed 24 hours of Nurburgring that will take place this weekend at the renowned German circuit. Read more »

VW Golf GTI Cabriolet Concept Live from Wörthersee. Should it be Built?

Yesterday, we brought you the first images of Volkswagen’s Golf GTI Cabriolet study but today we have live photos from the car’s world premiere at the Wörthersee meeting in Austria along with official information on the concept.

The hotted-up convertible is based on the standard Golf GTI with power coming from the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 210-horsepower and 280 Nm (207-lbs/ft) of peak torque at 1.800 rpm.

Volkswagen says the open-air model’s performance matches that of the closed-top GTI with a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 7 seconds and a top speed of around 240km/h (149 mph).

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Volkswagen Unwraps Two More Golf R Concepts at Wörthersee Tour

If there’s one thing die-hard Volkswagen fans visiting this week’s annual Wörthersee Tour in Austria aren’t going to complain about, is the lack of Golf concepts. We have already shown you the Golf GTI Cabriolet and Golf R Cabriolet and now we bring you two more studies based on the flagship Golf R hatchback. The two Golf R Color concepts were first shown at the Geneva Salon this past March and were created to demonstrate the numerous customization possibilities. Read more »

Volkswagen Brings Golf GTI Cabriolet Study as well to Wörthersee Meet

And the news just keeps dropping in from the largest annual GTI Meet in the world at lake Wörthersee in the southern Austrian state of Carinthia. Aside from the 270-horsepower strong Golf R Cabriolet concept that we told you about earlier today, Volkswagen also brought along a GTI study of the recently launched drop-top model.

We’re still short on information as Volkswagen has not yet published any details, but it’s safe to say that the Golf GTI Convertible is powered by either the standard Golf GTI hatchback’s 210HP 2.0-liter TFSI or the Golf GTI 35th Anniversary Edition’s 235HP 2.0-liter turbocharged unit sourced from the Golf R. Obviously power is transferred to the front wheels either through a six-speed manual gearbox or VW’s DSG transmission. The car also appears to be riding on a lowered suspension.

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Volkswagen Debuts Golf R Cabriolet Study with 270-Horses at Wörthersee

This year’s Wörthersee meet in Austria is turning out to be quite an event for the Germans with the Volkswagen Group brands churning out one concept after the other. Following the debut of the Skoda Fabia RS 2000 Convertible, the German group pulled the veils off the Golf R Cabriolet study.

Using the recently introduced new Golf Cabriolet as a base, the designers and engineers of the Volkswagen R GmbH division built a convertible version of the gutsy Golf R hatchback.

Just like its closed top counterpart, the soft-top Golf R Cabriolet is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine putting out 270-horses and 350Nm (258.2 lb-ft) of peak torque from a low 2,500 rpm. The standard sprint to 100km/h (62mph) from standstill comes in less than 6.0 seconds while top speed is limited at 250km/h (155mph).

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VW Releases Golf GTI Edition 35 Specs and Price, Says it gets a Detuned Version of the Golf R’s Engine [with Video]

Developed to celebrate 35 years since the launch of the original Volkswagen Golf GTI in 1976, the GTI Edition 35 will make its premiere at the Worthersee Tour (June 1-4) in Austria. A 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine that develops 235-horsepower and 300 Nm of torque (221 lb-ft), 25HP and 20 Nm more than the standard GTI, powers the limited edition hot-hatch.

However, Volkswagen says the engine is not an upgraded version of the standard GTI's unit but a detuned version of the AWD Golf R's four-pot, adapted for a FWD setup. With 25 more horsepower than the standard GTI and a power-to-weight ratio of 6 kg/hp, the Golf GTI Edition 35 reaches a top speed of 247 km/h (153 mph) and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.6 seconds (gains of 7 km/h and 0.3 seconds respectively).

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VW Salesman Likes to Bang and Jump on Doors

As the adage goes, there is no such thing as bad publicity and it is better to be reviled and even mocked at than to be ignored. In the case of Larry Roesch Volkswagon (that’s how the name of the German automaker is spelled on the dealer’s Youtube account), making the automotive ridiculist was intentional to grab some media and customer attention. And since we’re here talking about it, you could say that their goal has been achieved…

The VW dealer has published a series of intentionally cheap and corny commercials starring one of the company’s salesmen, Nick Pontarelli. In two of the videos, Pontarelli abuses a Volkswagen Golf GTI and a Jetta by forcefully shutting and climbing onto the doors to prove the cars' ‘German’ strength and quality. His final statement is “try that with a Hyundai or a Honda”. Watch the clips after the break.

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2010 VW Golf GTI VI Production Model Photos

Volkswagen's public UK site has uploaded a new set of photos depicting the production version of the 2010 VW Golf GTI VI. But wait; didn't the Germans introduce the production model at last year's Paris Show, we hear you ask? The answer is sort of as VW unveiled the near-to-production GTI VI. And the differences are? Well, if our eyes aren't playing games with us, the only visible changes we see by comparing these photos with the ones from last year's show car are the more-production like headlamps and the blacked out front lip spoiler that was painted white on the Paris Show Golf GTI.

For more detailed information and photos on the sixth-generation Golf GTI, click here for the 3-door variant and here for the more practical five-door model.

Via: Worldcarfans , Source: Volkswagen UK

Power to the People: ABT Tunes the VW Golf VI

If you're looking for a little more zest out of your 2009 Golf VI, then you might want to take a look at the new tuning packages from VW Group specialist, ABT Sportsline. The German tuner has introduced an array of cosmetic and mechanical upgrades for Volkswagen's latest generation Golf, including a power kit for the forthcoming GTI that boosts the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine's output from 210 to 240HP.

With ABT's power kit, the entry-level 1.4 TSI engine that delivers 122HP in stock form produces 170HP, while the more powerful 1.4 TSI with 160HP gains an additional 40-horsepower for a total output of 200HP. As for the popular in Europe diesel version, the 2.0 TDI delivers 170HP from 140HP.

Other mechanical modifications concern the sport-tuned suspension and the availability of two braking packages (345mm and 380mm brake discs).

As for ABT's aerodynamic bodykit, it consists of a front grill, front and rear aprons, side sills, rear wing plus quad exhaust tailpipes and 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels.

The new ABT Golf – Data and Facts

ABT POWER

Series: 1.4 TSI 122 HP ---- ABT Power: 170 HP

Series: 1.4 TSI 160 HP ---- ABT Power: 200 HP

Series: 2.0 TSI 210 HP ---- ABT Power: 240 HP

Series: 2.0 TDI 140 HP ---- ABT Power 170 HP

ABT AERODYNAMICS

ABT Front grill
ABT Front apron
ABT Sidebars
ABT Rear apron attachment
ABT Rear spoiler
ABT All-in package consisting of: ABT front grill, ABT front apron, ABT sidebars, ABT rear
apron attachment, ABT rear wing, ABT wing inserts, ABT wing enlargement

ABT SPORT WHEELS

ABT AR and BR; 18 and 19-inch; diamond turned or high-gloss polished.
Also available as a full wheelset with sports tyres.

ABT EXHAUST TECHNOLOGY

ABT 4-pipe exhaust

ABT SUSPENSION

ABT springs, lowering of the vehicle's centre of gravity
ABT Thread sports chassis

ABT BRAKES

ABT Braking system, brake disks 345 millimetres
ABT Sports braking system, brake disks 380 millimetres