VOLKSWAGEN WILL TAKE the covers off its new range of super-efficient passenger cars at Frankfurt this month, unveiling the BlueMotion variants of the Passat, Golf and Polo on September 15.

All three cars boast a combined fuel consumption of less than 4.5 l/100km, the thrifty figure achieved without the aid of a hybrid powertrain.

Instead, Volkswagen has [...]

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AT THE AUSTRALIAN release of the Passat CC in February, outgoing Volkswagen Australia Managing Director Jutta Dierks said, “We feel we have something very special on our hands with the CC.”

Most who have spent some quality time behind the wheel of the four-door coupe would agree. It is arresting looking – unmistakably Volkswagen - but [...]

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Volkswagen has revised its Passat lineup in the UK, adding a new R Line model to the popular mid-size sedan’s specification sheet. With a focus on value for money and aesthetic appeal,  the R Line adds a range of sporting touches to the exterior and a few comfort features inside.

Available as a sedan and wagon, [...]

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For Volkswagen Australia, 2008 was a record year with the brand locking away just shy of 30,000 new car sales here. Despite the obvious challenges of a stuttering economy and a declining new vehicle market ahead, Volkswagen Australia has high hopes for the brand in 2009. With the release of its sublime new Passat CC, [...]

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Volkswagen has today announced the Australian release of its new ‘four-door-coupe’ Passat CC. As we speak, The Insider is likely riding shotgun in the shiny new CC at the official launch, and he’ll be getting back to us all with his ‘first drive’ impressions shortly. In the meantime, a quick overview seems appropriate.

VW is intentionally [...]

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The stylish new Volkswagen Passat CC can now be had in the United Kingdom with the company’s vaunted seven-speed DSG transmission – but only if you’re after the 118kW 1.8 litre TSI model.

Acceleration with the DSG transmission is moderately improved, with a 100km/h sprint covered in 8.5 seconds, as opposed to 8.6 seconds in the [...]

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In an effort to bring even more efficiency to the Volkswagen range, the boffins at Wolfsburg have mated its V6 TSI petrol engine with an electric powertrain and a new eight-speed automatic transmission.  Installed in the Touareg, Volkswagen claims the big SUV will offer 248kW and a 9.05L/100km fuel economy figure.

The electric motor in the [...]

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While most cars at the SEMA Show can be characterised as chrome-dipped, gold-plated and diamante-encrusted examples of styling gone amok, it’s easy to forget that there are still a few show cars hidden in those giant Las Vegas halls that don’t provoke strong bouts of nausea.

Islands of common sense and tasteful restraint in a [...]

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Aside from its usual (and comprehensive) range, VW took the covers off two particularly special vehicles - the Pirelli Edition Golf GTi and the Passat CC.

The Pirelli Edition, the final iteration of the current Golf GTi, has been given a performance boost (which seems fair for the venerable and hard-working GTi). The standard Golf GTI’s [...]

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“Think of it as being like Mike Tyson in a business suit – smooth on the outside, but you can just tell that it’s ear-bitingly mad on the inside”

Life, as they say, is full of compromises. It’s a familiar tale – boy meets girl, marries, then rug-rats, and goodbye to the low-slung sports coupe. Then [...]

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Are hybrids not green enough for you? Do you prefer your eco-friendly ride to come with a touch of European panache as standard? Volkswagen may have just the vehicle for you…

Except they don’t. Not yet anyway. Their super-frugal, low-emissions Golf BlueMotion will launch sometime in mid-2009, but for now the concept version of the [...]

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This years GTI meet at Wörthersee in Austria saw Volkswagen display an impressive range of rather special models including the Audi TT Clubsport Quattro, the Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro and the Scirocco GT24 race car, built to compete in last weekend’s Nurburgring 24 hour race.

In addition to these gems, Volkswagen took the wraps off [...]

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