New VW Golf MkVII revealed.

By -

Volkswagen has released images and details of the upcoming Golf Mk7 prior to the car’s public unveiling at the Paris motor show. This all-new design is said to be lighter, roomier, safer and more economical than the outgoing model.

The earlier generation Golf Mk6 had failed to make it to Indian shores. The German carmaker had conducted feasibility studies and even tested the car in Indian conditions, but was unsure of whether to bring in its premium upmarket hatchback via CKD or SKD. This, coupled with a change in duty structure for cars in India, saw the German carmaker put the Golf’s Indian debut on hold - it would have been very difficult to make money.

However, with the recent change in market trends and the upcoming launches of premium upmarket hatchbacks in India like the Mercedes A-class, which will share a platform with the B-class and is built to take on the VW Golf and the BMW 1-series, VW is looking to revive its India game plan, thus bringing in the new Golf Mk7 to our showrooms in the coming years. It all depends on how the market evolves and matures in the next year or so.

Like the Mercedes A-class, which will be an upmarket competitor to the Golf, the seventh-generation VW hatch has been re-engineered from the ground up, though it looks the same. The latest Golf is based on VW’s highly adaptable MQB platform (‘modularen querbau’ or ‘modular transverse engine’) and as with each generation before, the Golf Mk7 has grown in size. The latest MQB platform, which will form the basis of many more VW group models in the future, will help VW cut back on development cost and increase economies of scale.

With the new Golf, the increase in external dimensions has led to a roomier cabin, improved rear legroom, shoulder room and extended boot space of 380 litres. Internationally, the Mk7 Golf will be offered with a range of transversely mounted four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with vastly better fuel economy. Transmissions include standard five- and six-speed manual units with optional six and seven-speed dual-clutch units.

VW chairman Martin Winterkorn confirmed that the new Golf is significantly lighter than the sixth-generation model it replaces. “We have reversed the upward spiral in weight, but it is safer, more comfortable and more spacious,” he said. The new Golf continues to offer a high-quality interior with lots of soft-touch plastic surfaces, metallic features, well-damped switchgear and a number of new safety features.

What's clear, however, is that the cheaper-to-produce and more efficient new Jetta as well as the new, more exciting SUV, the Tiguan - sister cars of the same MQB platform - will be headed here for sure. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

All new Ambassador makeover by Hindustan Motors in 2012 .

By -
Image
Sixty years back, the word ‘car’ in India literally meant the Ambassador for most Indians. A lot has changed since then, with horde of automobile manufacturers active in the Indian market, sales figures for Hindustan Motors have hit an all time low 5,510 units in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. Over the years, it has been the Indian political class that has been keeping Hindustan Motors rolling. The latest blow to Hindustan motors came from the Govt. of India itself, which replaced the Ambassador with cars like the  Maruti SX4  and the  Tata Indigo CS considering safety and performance issues. The next-gen Ambassador will feature structural, aerodynamic and aesthetical chages. Changes on board the 2012 Ambassador include new engine calibrations, an anti-lock brake system and aluminium alloy wheels. For comfort, there will be new leather seats coupled with wood grain interiors. For the first time, there will also be an integrated music system and redesigne...
Read more

Force One to get 4x4 in mid-2012

By -
Image
Force Motors, which launched its first SUV, Force One, last August will launch a new 4x4 version and a variant equipped with ABS by mid-2012. The new 4X4 was displayed at the Auto Expo last month. At the launch, the company had indicated its intentions to offer more features in the SUV at a later stage. These features have made it to the SUV, but the company has been tight-lipped about launch date  and price tag. The 4x4 variant will continue to be powered by the FM-Tech 2.2-litre common-rail turbo-diesel motor that develops 139bhp and 32.6kgm of torque. It will be offered with a five-speed manual gearbox as is the case with the 4x2 version. There will be no visual changes to  differentiate the 4x4 from its 4x2 sibling, except for  the badge. We expect the ABS-equipped 4x4 version to  cost at least Rs 1 lakh more than the 4x2 variant, which costs Rs 10.65 lakh (ex-showroom,  Delhi). 
Read more

Maruti 800 replacement coming soon.

By -
Image
Authentic Cars  broke the news on the upcoming Maruti 800 way back in July last year   and now we bring you more info on the car that will finally replace the venerable Maruti 800.  This new car, to be called the Alto 800 (codename: YE3), is based on the Alto, but with significant modifications done to make it cheaper. Not to be confused with the Alto sold in Japan, the new Alto 800 is based on the current generation Alto (YG4) but with a new body and interior. As seen in the pictures, the design is rather basic but there is more than a passing resemblance to the Japanese Alto, especially from the front. The nose gets high-mounted headlights, a slim, slot-like grille and there is a huge secondary air-inlet opening above and below the bumper. The styling is in line with the current-generation Suzukis, and details like the slanting window-line point to an aggressive tip-forward stance. Also, there is a prominent character-line that runs on the sides, right from the head...
Read more