On show: Golf Estate Bluemotion, electric e-Up and e-Golf models, Golf R performance car, Caddy BlueMotion van, Golf Sportsvan Concept
Volkswagen has an enormous 9,000 square metre stand at the Frankfurt show this year with 53 vehicles on display.
Golf Estate Bluemotion
When we reviewed the Volkswagen Golf Estate earlier this year we were impressed by its practicality and comprehensive safety kit. The efficient new Bluemotion version now gives the load-lugging Golf economy credentials to match.
It’s the most economical variant available, returning a claimed average fuel consumption of 85mpg and ultra-low CO2 emissions rated at 87g/km. It uses a 108bhp version of VW’s 1.6-litre TDI diesel engine with a six-speed manual gearbox.
Previously the most efficient Golf Estate in the range was the 104bhp 1.6 TDI S and SE models, returning 72mpg and 102g/km.
The Bluemotion goes on sale in the UK before the end of the year.
You can read our full Volkswagen Golf Estate review here.
e-Up electric car
The e-Up is the electric version of VW’s popular city car.
It’s powered by an electric motor with 80bhp which will take the little car from 0-62mph in 12.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 81mph. It can be charged via a standard 230-Volt socket or through a DC fast-charger unit which Volkswagen says can bring the battery up to 80 percent charge in less than 30 minutes. Driving range is 160km on one charge.
The VW e-Up goes on sale before the end of 2013, with deliveries starting early in 2014.
You can read our review of the VW Up range as a whole here.
e-Golf electric car
The e-Up isn’t the only electric production car on VW’s stand; there’s also an electric Golf. The e-Golf has a larger battery than the e-Up, allowing a greater range of 190km on one charge.
It features two driving modes, Eco and Eco+, which are designed to help extend the driving range. Like the e-Up, the Golf can be charged via a regular 230V socket or through a direct current fast charging station allowing an 80 percent charge in 30 minutes.
The e-Golf uses the five-door Golf body and comes with plentiful levels of standard equipment, including climate control, sat-nav, a heated windscreen and all-LED headlights (making it the first Volkswagen model to feature the technology).
It’s powered by a 115bhp electric motor driving the front wheels, taking the Golf from 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds. Top speed is limited to 87mph.
The e-Golf goes on sale in the UK several months later than the e-Up in 2014. Pricing for both models is yet to be announced.
You can read Parkers review of the current VW Golf range here.
Golf R performance model
If you thought the GTI hot hatch was the fastest Golf available, think again. The Volkswagen Golf R is the performance flagship of the range, with four-wheel drive, more muscular styling and nearly 300bhp.
Under the bonnet is the same 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine as the GTI but with a 36 percent increase in power to 296bhp. To keep the car on the straight and narrow it’s been fitted with a clever four-wheel drive system which sends power to the front wheels only at low speeds to save fuel but, when required, can send almost all of the engine’s power to the rear wheels for maximum agility.
There’s a choice of six-speed manual gearbox or DSG twin-clutch automatic, the latter providing the most rapid acceleration figures with a 0-62mph time dipping under the five second mark. Despite the performance, VW promises average fuel consumption around 40mpg and CO2 emissions of 159g/km.
The new Golf R succeeds the previous-generation R model, produced between 2010 and 2012, which also featured a 2.0-litre petrol engine and four-wheel drive.
You can read more about the VW Golf R on Parkers here.
Caddy BlueMotion van
Ulta-frugal BlueMotion engines have been fitted in Volkswagen’s cars for a number of years but now it’s also available in the compact Caddy van.
Powered by a 1.6-litre TDI engine, the Caddy BlueMotion is claimed to achieve 62.8mpg giving it a range of over 800 miles. It’s also kinder to the environment too, emitting 117g/km of CO2.
Modifications to improve fuel efficiency include a lower ride height, low rolling resistence tyres and a battery regeneration system.
For more on the Volkswagen Caddy range read the full Parkers review.
Golf Sportsvan Concept
Volkswagen has revealed the Golf Sportsvan Concept, the successor to the Golf Plus.
Expected to go on sale mid-2014 in a different name, the new model is based on the MQB platform and incorporates the latest technology of the Golf hatchback, but in a larger body style.
At 4,338mm long, the new Sportsvan is 134mm longer than the Golf Plus, 83mm longer than the Golf hatchback and 224mm shorter than the Golf Estate.
Compared to its predecessor, boot capacity has increased by 74 litres to 498 litres increasing to 1,512 litres with the rear seats folded.
Powering the Sportsvan will be a range of petrol and diesel engines, four turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engines and three turbodiesels: a 2.0-litre and two 1.6-litre. A Bluemotion version also joins the range and is expected to return fuel economy of 76.3 mpg and emit 95g/km of CO2.
You can read more about the Sportsvan in our concept car guide here.
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