The Volkswagen Golf R Mk7 has been busy doing running trials on the Nurburgring, where our hardworking Automedia spy crew caught it on video. The car is likely to premiere in Frankfurt this coming September.

Like the Mk6 R incarnation, the 4MOTION-equipped Mk7 R will be powered by a 2.0 litre turbo mill, but with far more pep – reports suggest that the car could well be a 300 hp beast (the current car has 270 PS) and will be lighter than the outgoing car. The reports add that the new R is likely to be cheaper than its predecessor – great news for fans if it rings true.

What else can be expected? An updated version of the GTI‘s optional electronically-operated mechanical front limited-slip diff might find its way on to the car, as might a specially-developed electronic stability system that can be deactivated.

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The latest vehicle to be caught on camera by our European spies CarPix is likely the facelifted second-gen Volkswagen Touareg, which is set for an autumn 2014 launch.

Cladding is present around the front and rear bumpers and lamps, front grille and tailgate, suggesting that changes could happen to these areas, although the depth of these cosmetic changes is yet unknown – we’re guessing they will be rather minor.

CarPix says the updated Volkswagen Touareg is expected to feature new driver assistance systems and updated infotainment devices, plus a new four-cylinder engine that could take the existing 205 hp/400 Nm 3.0 TDI V6′s place. Reports also speculate that the 245 hp/550 Nm version of that V6 is set to get a 15 hp boost for this car.

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Jari-Matti Latvala claimed his first WRC win with Volkswagen at the Acropolis Rally in Greece last weekend, leading Citroen’s Dani Sordo and M-Sport Ford’s young hopeful Thierry Neuville on the podium. It was a dominant performance all weekend, the Volkswagen Polo R taking its fourth WRC win in just six rounds.

Runaway championship leader Sebastien Ogier meanwhile suffered a fuel feed problem on the very first stage, and could only salvage a 10th place finish after rejoining under Rally 2 rules (five minute time penalty). He did however, show off his potential speed by winning the Power Stage bonus points.

Despite the setback, Ogier still leads the drivers’ standings with 126 points, with his teammate Latvala now second with 74 points. Sebastien Loeb is third on 68, still outscoring Citroen’s new main man Hirvonen despite having only entered three rounds compared to Mikko’s six. Volkswagen holds an 18-point advantage over Citroen in the manufacturers’ table.

Down in the WRC 2 class, Robert Kubica enjoyed his best rally outing yet. The ex-Formula 1 driver took his maiden win in the junior category driving a Citroen DS3 RRC. What a comeback after that horrific crash in 2011 that robbed him (and us) of an inevitably great F1 career. He is currently a Mercedes simulator test driver, so don’t count him out from making an F1 return just yet!

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Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM) recently announced that it is the Official Car Sponsor of the World Marketing Summit Malaysia 2013. The event is to take place from September 28-30 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

“Marketing is a highly essential aspect in Volkswagen Malaysia and it is a key driving force that has greatly contributed to the success of the brand,” said Dr Zeno Kerschbaumer, MD of VGM.

“Today, Volkswagen is recognised as Malaysia’s number one European car brand, which reflects a strong testament to our marketing strategy built around the unique selling proposition of our products. Given this success, we are pleased to be a part of the World Marketing Summit 2013 which highlights the significance of marketing ideas and solutions. It also gives us an opportunity to feature the strengths of our brand from a marketing standpoint,” he added.

First held last year in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the World Marketing Summit aims to unite the best minds from the corporate sphere to transform and translate marketing ideas and solutions into tackling real and focused socio-economic issues.

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No shortage of options when it comes to getting a Bug now – Volkswagen Group Malaysia has added a third option for buyers with the introduction of the Volkswagen Beetle 1.4 TSI in the country.

The variant joins the Beetle 1.2 TSI, which debuted the A5 in Malaysia last September, and the Beetle 2.0 TSI, which arrived in November.

As its suffix suggests, a 1.4 litre TSI mill offering 160 PS at 5,800 rpm and 240 Nm between 1,500 to 4,500 rpm is the powertrain of choice, and this is paired to a seven-speed DSG transmission, with a XDS Extended Differential Lock present. Performance specs include a 0-100 km/h time of 8.3 seconds and a 207 km/h top speed.

External elements include black mirror housings, a rear spoiler and 17-inch Spin alloy wheels, wrapped with 215/55 series tyres. As for the interior, the kit mix has Vienna leather seats, cruise control and a RCD 510 touchscreen six-CD audio system with eight speakers, as well as a dash pad finished in Piano Black.

Six colours are available for the 1.4 TSI, which comes with four airbags and ESP, and these are Tornado Red, Saturn Yellow, Reflex Silver, Deep Black, Reef Blue and Candy White. As for pricing, the Beetle 1.4 TSI goes for RM179,888, sitting in between the 1.2 TSI’s RM139,888 and 2.0 TSI’s RM219,888.

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Here are the first pictures of the Volkswagen Polo facelift. Don’t worry if you don’t see many or any changes at all, as there really isn’t that much to notice here. The modified lower front intakes are the only visible difference to the current model, with a slimmer but wider black portion cut into the bumper.

More changes may be abound come the full reveal as the front bumper looks like a makeshift unit with the new intake grafted onto it. Expect the headlights and grille to be revised to mirror those of the newer Golf Mk7 in detail, but major work on the sheetmetal is unlikely.

Looking at the car’s condition however, it does look like the mule is undergoing some form of a long distance durability test programme. There may be more significant changes that we can’t yet see, probably in the drivetrain department.

The rest of the car is identical to the Polo that we’re very familiar with. Volkswagen seems to be giving its little hatchback a very mild update, though that’s not unheard of before. It’s lucky to be given a mid-life update at all, as the Golf Mk5 and Mk6 lived through their life cycles without receiving a single facelift.

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The estate version of the China-only Volkswagen Lavida is set to hit the Chinese car market at the end of June, reports CarNewsChina. The Volkswagen Gran Lavida, as it’s called, made its first official appearance at the recent Auto Shanghai, and will be priced between RMB107.8k and 166.9k (RM53k-82k).

A product of the Shanghai-Volkswagen JV (so is the iconic Santana), the Volkswagen Gran Lavida shares the same 2.61-metre wheelbase as its sedan sibling, but is 150 mm shorter in overall length. The 131 PS 1.4 litre TSI and 105 hp naturally-aspirated 1.6 litre carry over from the sedan.

The Volkswagen Lavida and Gran Lavida sit on the PQ34 platform, a platform that underpinned the Mk4 Golf/Jetta and the original Audi A3 and TT, amongst others. The Lavida entered its second generation last year. See live pictures from the Shanghai show below – we’ve also included shots of the sedan.

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Volkswagen Malaysia will be supplying vehicles to The Apprentice Asia, an AXN production premiering later this month. The programme will see 12 candidates from seven countries around the region vying to be hired by Air Asia boss Tan Sri Tony Fernandes at the end of the challenge. The series will be filmed in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

The automaker will provide four of its models – namely, the Beetle, Passat, Sharan and Touareg – to support and provide mobility requirements for contestants and the show’s advisors throughout the 11 episodes.

“The Apprentice Asia gives us an opportunity to feature the character of our products for a fitting partnership that encourages competition. Our cars offer fun driving and a sense of competition through the use of technologies like TSI and DSG so, The Apprentice Asia is a right fit for the brand,” said VGM’s managing director Dr Zeno Kerschbaumer.

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The Volkswagen Passat has just been updated in various European countries, in terms of both exterior as well as under the hood.

The most obvious change is the addition of a new trim level called R-Line – not to be confused with the V6-powered Passat CC R-Line sold in Malaysia. In this case, the R-Line trim is based on the Passat S trim level and comes with a bodykit as well as a sports suspension that’s lower by 15mm.

The R-Line front bumper includes fog lamps with cornering function. At the rear, there’s a bootlid spoiler. Finally, the side profile is completed with 18 inch Kansas alloy wheels wrapped with 235/40R18 tyres as well as dark tinted rear windows.

The big change under the hood is the phasing out of the 160 PS 1.8 litre TSI engine as found in our Malaysian-market Passat. Replacing it is the twin-charged 1.4 litre TSI engine that also makes 160 PS. This twin-charged engine is the one found in the Malaysian-market Jetta 1.4 TSI as well as the previous-generation Mk6 Golf 1.4 TSI.

Volkswagen says the twin-charged 1.4 litre TSI engine is more economical as well as less polluting than the 1.8 litre TSI, and the sleek Volkswagen CC will also get the same engine downsizing. Previously, the Passat was only available with the 122 PS version of the 1.4 litre engine, which only used a turbocharger instead of the 160 PS version’s twin-charger setup.

No news on whether this change will happen worldwide. The 1.8 litre TSI engine is currently found in Malaysia in the engine bays of the CKD Volkswagen Passat, CBU Volkswagen Passat Sport and CBU Volkswagen CC.

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Good news for hot hatch lovers! Volkswagen Malaysia has just issued an updated price list that pegs the three-door Polo GTI at RM151,888 and the five-door variant at RM154,888. The changes are effective as of April 2013, so no, this is not a post-GE13 price cut.

Here’s a quick recap of the mini GTI’s price fluctuations: the Volkswagen Polo GTI was first launched in August 2011, priced at RM132,888 for the three-door and RM135,888 for the five-door variant before a “re-evaluation of pricing by the authorities” forced Volkswagen Malaysia to issue massive price hikes to RM166,888 and RM169,888 respectively.

The latest price revision will wreak further havoc on the Polo GTI’s used prices (check out the current listings on oto.my). Most second-hand examples are already valued far more than their initial selling prices, which is unusual to say the least.

Volkswagen’s full model price list is included below. The only other notable change is the absence of a standard RM245,888 Sharan, as only the RM269,888 Tech Spec model is included.

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Judging by “the configuration of the intake and exhaust systems,” the Wörthersee-debuting Volkswagen Design Vision GTI concept appears to use a VR6 instead of a V6 as announced, says Autocar UK.

The British publication points out that the twin-blown 3.0 litre six-pot powerplant’s two cylinder banks share one cylinder head, with a narrow 15° angle between the banks, as opposed to conventional V engines which usually have two cylinder heads (one for each cylinder bank) and 45°, 60°, or 90° angles between the banks.

A Porsche engineer has confirmed to Autocar UK that the new VW engine is a narrow-angle VR6 and that it isn’t related to the new powerplants being developed for the upcoming Porsche Macan SUV.

The publication adds that the engine could power future models such as high-performance variants of the Volkswagen CC and Volkswagen CrossBlue Coupe, and that whether the unit is all-new or simply a development of an existing VR6 is not known at this juncture.

Designed for transverse engine applications, the VR6 configuration was synonymous with Volkswagen in the 1990s, with the Passat, Corrado and Golf among the first models to receive the original engine in 2.8 and 2.9 litre forms. There was even a 2.3 litre VR5 that found its way into the Golf, Passat and Bora models in the late-1990s.

In more recent times, the 3.2 and 3.6 litre units from the EA390 engine family are in fact VR6s, although most were badged as V6s. Recipients include the Mk5 Golf R32, B6 Passat (including Passat R36 and CC 3.6), Phaeton, Touareg as well as several Audi models. The Group’s W12 and W16 engines are also combinations of VR engines.

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The wraps have come off the eye-catching Volkswagen Design Vision GTI at the ongoing Wörthersee event in the Austrian city of Reifnitz.

With an outrageous 503 PS and 560 Nm of torque from its 3.0 litre twin-turbo V6, the Mk7 Golf GTI-based concept does the century sprint in just under four seconds, en route towards a 300 km/h top speed, with the aid of AWD and DSG.

“We wanted to bring out the design elements of the GTI as concisely, dynamically and emotionally as we could so as to get to the heart of the fascination that this car emanates,” said VW design head Klaus Bischoff.

Click here for the full information on the Volkswagen Design Vision GTI, or feast your eyes on the photos below.

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The 2013 Wörthersee Tour GTI Treffen has sure kept the Volkswagen Group busy. SEAT will be showing off its wild Leon Cup Racer concept, Skoda has its Rapid Sport Concept and Volkswagen, traditionally the main attraction of the show, will have the Design Vision GTI and this, the Volkswagen Amarok R-Style concept to keep the crowd entertained.

This sports truck concept based on a single cab Volkswagen Amarok looks fit enough to be a Mopar show star with its 22-inch wheels, custom bodykit, slammed looks and blinged-out lights. If Volkswagen ever releases an Amarok R, the design sketches released earlier this week is not a bad start.

There’s some go to match the show, as there’s a tuned turbocharged 3.0 litre TDI engine with 272 hp and 600 Nm under the hood, connected to an eight-speed automatic ‘box and a permanent 4motion system. The 0-100 km/h sprint is over in 7.9 seconds.

It’s just too bad that leaked photos of the real thing show a much more restrained concept. The sporty interior is all bespoke though, and it looks mighty good. We’ve also included pictures of the standard car in double cab guise below for you to compare. Too extreme for you? Then maybe the Amarok Canyon is more your style.

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Following the voluntary recall issued in Singapore by Volkswagen for 6,181 cars due to a DSG-related problem, Volkswagen Group Malaysia has said it is also carrying out a similar exercise on a number of cars here, those equipped with a seven-speed dry-clutch Direct Shift Gearbox, to rectify issues identified with the transmission.

No official statement was released, but the company stated that a total of 3,962 cars will be involved in the recall exercise – these are units produced between June 2010 and June 2011, with affected vehicles being Golf, Polo, Scirocco, Cross Touran, Passat and Jetta models equipped with the transmission.

In Singapore, the Straits Times reported that in the affected cars, the gearbox’s mechatronics unit, which hydraulically operates the gearbox and clutch, would be duly replaced. Repair time is expected to be around up to three hours per vehicle, with part replacement carried out free of charge.

The procedure will be similar here, with the mechatronics unit replaced at no cost; all owners of the affected cars have been individually informed through its authorised dealers.

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Rumours are circling around the Internet that Volkswagen is in the midst of developing a carbonfibre roof for future high performance Golf models. American auto site Edmunds have reported that such a feature will be offered as an optional extra, though no timeline is mentioned.

Use of the once-exotic material to replace the current steel-constructed roof will provide a weight saving benefit of eight to nine kilograms, which in turn will improve the car’s performance and fuel efficiency. Another bi-product is a lower centre of gravity, further aiding handling.

BMW’s M division started this trend with the E46 M3 CSL in 2003, the first production car to feature a carbonfibre roof. All BMW M coupes since then have used the lightweight technology, and just recently it filtered down to the latest four-door M6 Gran Coupe.

For Volkswagen, the next generation Golf R seems a likely venue to introduce its own version of a carbonfibre roof, though we wouldn’t count out its availability on the Golf GTI (pictured above) in the near future too. The R certainly wouldn’t need any extra go if its rumoured 300 hp proves true, but you’d want the fancy roof anyway, wouldn’t you?

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Now that the GTI version has finally joined the standard hatch model in the fold, what next for the Volkswagen Golf Mk7 in terms of line expansion? A soft-top sibling should be on the cards, following on the rebirth of the cabriolet form brought on by the Mk6 incarnation.

We ran a couple of Theophilus Chin’s renderings of the topless Golf last year, but nothing like more. Here’s another illustration on what to expect, courtesy of the Automedia folk. Again, it’s all nice, unfettered lines. Somewhere down the line, a larger five-door Plus and Variant estate model should expand the lineup quite nicely for the 2013 World Car of the Year and European Car of The Year double gong winner.

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You read the headline right – the track-oriented Volkswagen Design Vision GTI that’s making its way to Wörthersee 2013 packs a 3.0 litre twin-turbo V6 that develops 503 PS at 6,500 rpm and 560 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm.

With AWD and DSG (number of speeds has yet to be made known), the Mk7 Golf GTI-based concept sprints to 100 km/h from rest in just under four seconds, en route towards a 300 km/h top speed.

The widebody kit houses 20-inch wheels wrapped in 235 tyres up front and 275s out back. The wheels, derived from the GTI’s ‘Austin’ design, feature integrated blades that vent hot brake gas through the wheel openings. Peeking through the spokes are carbon-ceramic brake discs (381 mm front, 356 mm back) and red brake callipers.

Apart from looking very obviously more aggressive, the Volkswagen Design Vision GTI is 15 mm shorter, 71 mm wider and 56 mm lower than the regular GTI, making it stand at 4.25 metres long, 1.87 metres wide and 1.38 metres tall. The front track is wider by 56 mm to 1.6 metres; the rear by 64 mm to 1.58 metres.

Although it isn’t particularly evident in these sketches, the colour scheme is classic GTI black-white-red. The C-pillar, a distinctive Golf and GTI feature, has been expanded outward to create a prominent vertical intake that emphasises the waisted doors.

The headlamps, divided horizontally by a sporty red stripe, have been recessed and set back in their fairings, creating the ‘evil eye’ effect popular with customisers. Round the back a ribbed diffuser is visible, with twin tailpipes nestled within.

Inside, things don’t get any less radical – the shapes correspond to the GTI’s, while having tauter surfaces and harder edges. There’s lashings of carbon-fibre, dark Alcantara and Nappa leather, and an X-shaped cross member sits where you’d expect to find the back seats.

The centre stack incorporates large, rugged switches and knobs for climate control, hazard lights, and the activation for the on-board camera, while an electrical kill switch, a button for the fire extinguisher and the ESP deactivation are housed beneath. Street, Sport and Track are the selectable drive modes.

A display to the right of the instrument panel shows a track map of the circuit you are running, along with lap times. This can also communicate with other vehicles on the course and calculates what’s going on in a race in real time. The on-track action can be shared by directing the A-pillar mounted cameras either to the track or to the cabin.

Still, this pales in comparison to what VW unveiled at Wörthersee six years ago – the GTI W12 650, based on the Mk5 Golf, carried a mid-mounted 6.0 litre twin-turbo W12 that fed 650 PS and 750 Nm of torque… to the rear wheels. Also Mk5-based was the Golf R32, which was sold in Malaysia, and like this Design Vision GTI, it was V6-engined.

Other Wörthersee 2013-bound vehicles include the Skoda Rapid concept and SEAT Leon Cup Racer.

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The Volkswagen Scirocco has reached the one million unit production mark, and to celebrate that milestone, VW has come up with a special edition of the third-gen car. The Scirocco Million, as it’s called, will go on sale only in Germany and China.

Black’s the only colour of choice, and to help the edition along, the version gets R-Line bumpers, R-Line side sills, smoked tail lights, ‘Million’ stickers on the wings and dark tinted rear windows.

Inside, there’s black leather upholstery with orange contrasting stitching, as well as other orange highlights, plus ‘Million’ decals on the door sills. For anoraks interested in numbers, the third-gen Scirocco contributed 204,350 units to the million milestone, with the earlier 1974 and 1981 versions making up the rest of the total.

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Nissan is working on a Volkswagen Golf rival that will have styling inspired by the Invitation concept (pictured) shown at last year’s Geneva show, according to an Auto Express report. The car is set to go on sale in 2014.

“We’ll start by not making any excuses for our car – in terms of dynamics and perceived quality it has to match (the Golf),” global product planning head Andy Palmer told the British publication, adding that “it won’t look like the Golf.”

“We can go after customers bored with the Mk7. We can be more provocative – that’s the advantage of the guys that come afterwards.” Referring to the Nissan Invitation concept’s bonnet-intruding V-shaped grille, he said: “The face is a little bit left-field, a little bit edgy.”

This one’s most probably meant for Europe only, since Nissan already has the Pulsar for the Australasian markets. The Pulsar is essentially a hatchback version of the Sylphy.

Palmer said the car will be built in Spain, and will have a recognisable name that’ll “evoke something from the past.” Is it Pulsar he’s talking about, or does Nissan have another ‘historic’ name in mind?

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If we are indeed looking at the production VW Taigun, which is said to sit on the compact Up! platform, it appears that little has changed from the Sao Paulo concept car. You can compare both sets of pics – patent filings and concept car – below. A VW rival to hatchback-based SUVs like the Peugeot 2008, Ford Ecosport and Renault Captur anyone?

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First previewed in concept form in Paris last year, the latest Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion was shown to the world in full production guise just recently in Geneva. It has now gone on sale in the UK (from £20,335) and we now have more details of the greenest Golf ever.

The vital numbers – 31 km/L, 85 g/km and a theoretical 1,500 km range – are each equally mind-blowing, especially considering that it offers more that decent performance. At the heart of the eco special is a 110 hp 1.6 litre TDI engine with 250 Nm of torque from just 1,500 rpm up to 3,000 rpm. It even gets five horses more than the standard non-BlueMotion car with the same engine.

It has been put through a 63 kg diet (26 kg less weight in the running gear and 37 kg less in the body) with various little mechanical tweaks to eek out the extra mileage. Other add-ons include trick tyres, longer gear ratios for the six-speed manual ‘box, lower ride height and a long list of aerodynamic modifications (10% less drag than before).

There’s an extra treat for UK customers too, as the new Golf BlueMotion is classified under Band A (based on its CO2 emissions), meaning their annual road tax bill is a big fat zero. Still think hybrid technology is the way of the future?

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You’ve seen the Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk7 before, but nothing more than a handful of official images. Here’s the hot hatch in a better light. We’ve put up 50 on location pics of the Mk7 GTI from the south of France, where VW is having an international media drive as we type. Plenty of accompanying nice backgrounds, from the mountain roads on the French Riviera to Paul Ricard.

To recap, the Mk7 GTI is available from the factory in two power output levels from its EA888 2.0 TSI turbo engine – a standard 220 PS GTI and a 230 PS GTI Performance version (both have 350 Nm), which also adds larger brake discs and an electronically controlled mechanical limited-slip differential. Transmission choices are a six-speed manual gearbox or six-speed dual-clutch DSG unit.

The GTI Performance pack adds uprated brakes, with the ventilated front brake discs increasing in size to 340 x 30 mm from the standard 312 x 25 mm rotors. The rear rotors also get upsized, with the stock 300 x 12 mm solid discs on the standard GTI being replaced with 310 x 22 mm ventilated discs.

As for the LSD, the system consists of a multi-plate coupler between the differential cage and right driveshaft, which controls locking torque electro-hydraulically. Initial reports have said that “understeer is virtually non-existent.” Visually, vehicles with the Performance pack are distinguished solely by ‘GTI’ lettering on the red brake callipers.

The benchmark century sprint is done in 6.4 seconds for the GTI Performance, a tenth faster than the 220 PS car and half a second faster than today’s GTI. You can watch a video of the icon doing it his way here.

Reports streaming out from Nice have been positive, with hacks reporting that the Mk7 is a big step up in every aspect, especially in the driving department. Appetite all worked up, can’t wait to drive it!

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Volkswagen is recalling a total of 6,181 cars in Singapore – accounting for 35% of its car population in the island nation – due to a DSG-related problem that, if unresolved, might lead to power loss, reports The Straits Times. The marque is the third best-selling car brand in the republic.

The recall is voluntary and not a safety issue, a Volkswagen Group Singapore spokesman told the local daily. The replacement of the affected parts will be free and the whole recall exercise could take a few months.

According to sgCarMart, the repair work involves the replacing of the gearbox’s mechatronic unit, which could take up to three hours per vehicle. The mechanism hydraulically operates the gearbox and clutch.

In April 2012, around 8,000 Volkswagen owners in the Lion City were asked to bring their cars in for a software change while in 2010, Volkswagen Singapore replaced more than 1,000 cars’ mechatronic units after the quality of parts were found to be unsatisfactory.

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The much-loved Volkswagen Golf Mk7 is now made even better with the introduction of new R-Line packages for the popular model. Split into three separate packages – exterior, interior and sport – the Golf Mk7 R-Line offerings designed by Volkswagen R GmbH are now available as optional extras on all standard Golf models.

Exterior enhancements include R-Line front and rear bumpers, side skirts, black grille with R-Line logo and a body-coloured rear spoiler. R-Line-specific ‘Salvador’ 17- or 18-inch wheels complete the visual change. The interior package comes with aluminium dash inlays, black headlining, steel foot pedals, sports seats plus leather steering wheel and gear lever.

Those who would like to have some extra dynamism to go with the sportier looks can specify the Sport Package that improves the Golf’s dynamic driving experience with the inclusion of sports suspension and progressive steering.

This is not quite the full-fat Mk7 Golf R (that is rumoured to have 300 hp), nor is it an extension to the sporty Mk7 GTI or GTD variants. It is, in essence, a bodykit package that’s available on all cooking Golf Mk7 models. Think of it as the Volkswagen equivalent to BMW and Audi’s M-Sport and S-line offerings respectively.

Similar R-Line packages are available for the Volkswagen Polo, Passat CC (which is available in Malaysia; read our review of it here), Beetle, Tiguan and Touareg. Golf Mk7 owners and prospective buyers, would you like to have the R-Line packages offered on the standard 1.4 TSI model here, or would it be too small a step up below the incoming GTI?

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Volkswagen chairman Prof Dr Martin Winterkorn confirmed recently at the Vienna Motor Symposium that the company is working on a 10-speed dual-clutch gearbox and a high-performance diesel engine that will produce 136 hp per litre of displacement.

No word on when they will surface, but the diesel engine is said to incorporate technologies such as a variable valve-train assembly, a high-pressure injection system at up to 3,000 bar and combined charging with the innovative e-booster.

“Since the year 2000, we’ve reduced the fuel consumption of our TDI and TSI engines by more than 30%. I’m convinced that by 2020 we can achieve further increases in efficiency of around 15%,” he said, adding that the enhancement of the combustion process and intelligent lightweight design are amongst the factors that would make this possible.

Winterkorn also sees potential in natural gas powertrains, deeming them ”environmentally friendly, economical and suitable for everyday use.” Emitting only 79 grams of CO2 per km, the Volkswagen eco-up! is the world’s most economical natural gas-powered car, while upcoming products of this nature will include the Volkswagen Golf TGI BlueMotion and the Audi A3 g-tron.

In the medium term, VW will focus on plug-in hybrid tech; in particular its first plug-in hybrid models – the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid and Audi A3 e-tron – which will shortly be going into production. They will be followed by the Golf and many other models such as the Passat, Audi A6 and Porsche Cayenne.

“Over the coming years we will electrify all vehicle classes,” Winterkorn also said.

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Over in the UK, Volkswagen has introduced two special editions of the up! city car, targeted at “fans of loud music, great-looking small cars and questionable puns.”

The Groove up! (five- and three-door available) and Rock up! (three-door only) are both based on the top High up! spec. The former is equipped with a six-speaker Fender sound system that comes with a subwoofer and 300-watt amplifier.

Also standard on the Groove up! is the Maps & More personal infotainment device, a touchscreen sat-nav with Bluetooth and music streaming, exclusive black seats with orange edging, tinted windows and 16-inch ‘Upsilon’ alloys, amongst others.

The Rock up! (pictured) features an anthracite body stripe and a full body kit comprising a front spoiler, side skirts, rear diffuser and rear spoiler. It also sits on 16-inch ‘Upsilon’ alloys.

Inside, the Rock up! features a choice of black or grey seats. The kit list includes air-con, Maps & More, a six-speaker audio system and remote central locking.

Optional equipment includes City Emergency Braking system, parking sensors, cruise control and a multifunction computer. A forward-folding front passenger seat for accommodation of long items can be specified on the five-door Groove up!, as can a panoramic glass sunroof.

Both cars get their motivation from a 75 PS 1.0 litre three-cylinder petrol engine that’s mated to a five-speed manual ‘box. VW claims a combined fuel economy of 4.7 litres per 100 km and CO2 emissions of 108 grams per km.

The Groove up! three-door costs £11,640 (RM54,190), and the five-door £12,015 (RM55,936). The Rock up! costs £12,980 (RM60,424).

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The Volkswagen Polo Sedan is set to be locally-assembled in Malaysia in the near future. According to a report, Volkswagen India will begin manufacturing and packaging assembly kits for export from its Pune plant, with Indian content for the car – to be assembled by DRB-Hicom – being about 70%.

The automaker says that the export line will create 215 new jobs in the company’s parts and components unit as well as at suppliers. It added that while VW cars assembled in India currently feature 70% local content, the company is aiming to increase this percentage by building engines and gearboxes, if volumes support the move to do so.

Currently, the 1.6 litre MPI Polo Sedan is sold here as a fully-built imported vehicle from India – the introduction of the CKD programme for the car should translate into a cheaper price tag from the RM99,888 asked for the CBU unit now, but by how much remains to be seen. The move may be significant in driving sales volumes up for the car, which hasn’t quite set the market alight.

Volkswagen India also exports its fully-built cars to Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and South Africa.

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The original Volkswagen Santana can be considered a Chinese icon, with over three million units built in the republic. Many can still be seen on the roads today, and despite numerous updates throughout its three-decade lifespan, the ubiquitous Santana pretty much stuck to its three-box shape.

Late last year, the Volkswagen Santana finally entered its second generation with all-new sheet metal. Sitting on a lengthened PQ25 platform (VW Polo, Skoda Rapid, Audi A1), the sedan is powered by the EA211 four-pot petrol unit in 1.4 and 1.6 litre displacements, making 90 and 110 PS respectively. It’s a cleaner car too, with 28% less fuel consumption and CO2 emissions than in the previous model.

Wheelbase stands at about 2.6 metres, while the boot can swallow up to 480 litres of luggage. Safety features include ABS, front, side and head airbags and ESC. Depending on trim level, auto climate control, an electric sunroof, alloy wheels, parking sensors and leather upholstery can also be had.

The car is a product of the Shanghai-Volkswagen JV, who has been building Santanas since 1985.

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This is the Volkswagen CrossBlue Coupe concept from Auto Shanghai 2013, an upcoming five-seat sportier sister to the VW CrossBlue concept from Detroit 2013. The original CrossBlue is a seven-seat SUV concept based on the Golf’s Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) platform, and you can view it here.

Autocar UK says that the CrossBlue will be VW’s rival to the Toyota Highlander, and there’s room for a sportier, smaller version. “We’re looking to cover a broader section of the market with our next generation of SUV models. There is definite customer demand for a more sporting model alongside the standard car we hinted to with the earlier BlueCross concept,” a VW official told the mag.

Both the seven-seater CrossBlue and CrossBlue coupe are penciled in as successors to the current Tiguan (which is much smaller) in markets such as North America and China, positioned below the Touareg SUV, which will itself grow in size when the next-gen car appears in 2016. At 4,889 mm long and 2,015 mm wide, the CrossBlue Coupe is 93 mm longer and 74 mm wider than the current Touareg.

The CrossBlue SUVs will be made at VW’s US plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and possibly China.

The post Shanghai 2013 Live: Volkswagen CrossBlue Coupe appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Volkswagen has prepared a special Beetle for Apple fans – this is the Volkswagen iBeetle, which makes it’s world debut at Auto Shanghai 2013.

It’s essentially a regular Beetle but with an integrated Apple iPhone docking station on top of the dashboard in which you just snap your iPhone in. To make the integration truly useful, you’ll have to download a special App called “Volkswagen Car Net The Beetle”, which then allows your car’s entertainment system to access the following features:

• Spotify: lets users stream media such as new songs, customized playlists or online radio stations into the Beetle. Those who wish can post their favorite music directly to friends. In addition, users in the Beetle can switch between Spotify and iTunes at any time.
• Expert: offers five functions which make the iPhone an extended on-board instrument of the Beetle, such as a G-Meter (for measuring lateral acceleration), oil and coolant temperature gauges for the engine, a chronometer, and a compass.
• Trainer: can be used to compare driving times, distances, and fuel economy values for different routes between any two destinations. Here, too, tips can be posted via social networks like Twitter and Facebook—such as which route is faster to the office.
• Reader: lists the latest messages from social networks like Facebook, and reads iPhone messages aloud.
• Postcard: Sends the current location of the Beetle to friends as a digital postcard with a map motif.
• Photo: Sends photos taken inside the car to numerous social networks. Simply activate it, and the app does the rest.
• Milestones: Available when the smartphone is undocked. Rewards its users with virtual “milestone stickers” for the Beetle when certain tasks have been completed.

Other than the dock, other special iBeetle features include door mirror housings and side trim panels finished in Galvano Grey, 18-inch “Disc” alloy wheels, and a chrome trim package. The new iBeetle can be ordered in the colours Candy White, Oryx White Mother of Pearl Effect, Black Monochrome, Deep Black Pearl Effect, Platinum Grey or Reflex Silver – all very Apple-esque colours.

Volkswagen will eventually roll out such iPhone 5 App integration services to the rest of the Volkswagen line-up instead of just limiting it to the iBeetle, which will be the first model to feature such integration.

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