VW Tiguan - Stole the Show

Isn’t it annoying if you have been waiting patiently at a bar for ages to be served and someone breezes in and gets served straight away. In most walks of life there is invariably some opportunist waiting around the corner to steal the limelight from the rest of us.With this thought in mind it seems that Volkswagen was able to time the launch of their compact 4x4 to perfection especially as they have sat back for a number of years and waited to see what the competition was doing and then simply breezed in with the Tiguan.
This was a masterstroke on the part of VW as they were able to assess all the shortcomings of the other vehicles in this class and introduce new technology that was way ahead of anything else on the market. Some would argue that the Tiguan was a little late to arrive at the party but I believe that by biding their time VW has been able to offer a vehicle that is simply light years ahead of its rivals.



Sure there have been successful offerings from other manufacturers in the meantime, not least Honda with its CR-V, Mitsubishi with its Outlander which has spawned the Citroen C-Crosser and Peugeot 4007 and Nissan with the Qashqai. However, it is the Land Rover Freelander that the Tiguan has its eye on.Although the Tiguan is not the most flamboyant off roader, it is almost certainly one of the best conceived. For a start it comes packed with gizmos that leave drivers of an old Land Rover Discovery like mine slack-jawed in amazement. These include an electronic self-parking system, a rear parking camera, a panoramic sunroof and a sat nav and stereo system that can store 30 gigabytes worth of your favorite garage tunes or alternatively nursery rhymes when the kids are on board.
More practical is the fact that the Tiguan can tow 2½ tons, more than any other car in its class, this is accompanied by a neat, optional pop-out tow hook. Further features include a steering system that prevents the steering wheel from breaking your thumbs during serious off-roading, a sat nav system that can work out where you are even if you are off road and a front passenger seat whose backrest folds forward for extra long loads.
It has a front-end design that allows it to mount steep banks without scraping the bumper, and comes with a sophisticated battery of electronic off-road aids. These include hill-descent control, pioneered by Land Rover, which brakes the car to crawling speed on steep slippery slopes, and a hill-hold control system that operates in conjunction with the electronic handbrake so you don’t inadvertently roll backwards off a cliff.The car’s electronic brain also activates a limited slip differential to eliminate wheel spin, alters the brakes to suit loose surfaces and reduces the accelerator’s sensitivity and there’s even a compass if the sat nav does pack up.All Tiguans come equipped with permanent four-wheel drive known as 4Motion, in VW language. This divides power equally between all four wheels, ensuring maximum traction. Once on the move it will send 90% of the engine’s energy to the front wheels if conditions are good, in order to improve fuel economy.The Tiguan is fitted with a 2 litre direct injection 140bhp turbo diesel which is considerably quieter than clattery old-school diesels, especially at motorway cruising speed.
The Tiguan’s impeccable road manners are complemented by its comfortable and well appointed cabin, which is also exceptionally well laid out. The sat nav screen is sited conveniently high, the instruments and controls are easily read and the electronic handbrake gives plenty of storage space between the front seats.Also impressive given this is a family car, is that the back seats are equally as accommodating, and when slid into the rearmost position still provide generous legroom. The seat which is split 60:40 is easily folded too. The boot is well designed and reasonably large, even with the rear seats pushed fully back.Practical design combined with innovative technology is what VW is all about these days and when you factor in a standard of finish that’s a cut above you can see why people are prepared to spend a bit extra on a Volkswagen.

Volkswagen's Diesels To Visit AltWheels Festival

Automakers like Toyota and Honda are focusing on the development of gas-electric hybrid vehicle as their response to the increasing call for cleaner cars. American automakers like Ford and General Motors also manufacture hybrid vehicles. But in Europe, automakers are focusing on the development of new generation diesel engines which are made to be as clean as gasoline engines. One of the automakers paving the way for the development of diesel vehicles is Volkswagen.



The biggest European automaker Volkswagen is making huge strides in the development and manufacturing of clean diesel engines. The diesel-powered Volkswagen Polo Blue Motion was found out to be the greenest vehicle in the United Kingdom. Volkswagen's Audi is also making huge steps forward especially in the promotion of diesel engines with its two straight victories at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans with a diesel powered race car. In the United States, Volkswagen has embarked on a Dieselution Tour in an aim to educate the general public on the benefits of clean diesel engines to the environment. The Dieselution Tour will be making a stop at the AltWheels Alternative Transportation and Energy Festival on September 28 to 29 in Boston, Massachusetts. The AltWheels festival will be the Dieselution's first public stop. The people behind the Tour will be using interactive displays and exhibits to point out the growing concern for the protection of the environment. The exhibits will also feature how the automaker designed their advanced diesel engines and all its parts like the Volkswagen glow plug Duraterm, and other for-diesel engine components. The Dieselution Tour will be going across the United States and making stops at events and displaying the company's diesel technology. They will spend four months on the road and the biggest event that they will be making a stop in is during the 2008 Super Bowl.



The Dieselution Tour will also be making stops at auto shows across the country. "Volkswagen of America considers the Dieselution Tour an important informational resource for everyone concerned about the environment and improved fuel economy standards," said Keith Price, Public Relations Manager for Product and Technology at Volkswagen of America. He further said that this tour is aimed to change the perception of many American consumers whose view of a diesel engine is that of diesel engines in the 80s which produces a lot of soot and noise. "We want to show Americans that today's clean diesel technology is a quantum leap from the powerplants introduced nearly 30 years ago.

This tour aims to change any outdated perceptions about diesel technology," said Price. In the end, this tour is about bringing consumers to Volkswagen dealership. With gasoline priced higher than diesel, consumers need just a bit more persuasion to give diesels a chance. And that persuasion is what the Dieselution Tour brings to the table. "As the diesel car sales leader in the United States, we have worked hard to make our diesels cleaner, quieter and more fuel efficient," said Price. "Once consumers realize that a clean diesel alternative can improve their fuel economy by nearly 35 percent over comparable gasoline engines, we're confident that many drivers will visit their local Volkswagen dealerships."

Polo VW’s Baby Has Grown Up

The VW polo has certainly improved with age since it was first launched way back in 1975 the year Lord Lucan disappeared and Bohemian Rhapsody topped the UK charts. Now in its 33rd year the latest generation Polo is arguably the best yet and is packed with a range of features you would normally expect to find on larger models. Together with VW’s renowned build quality the Polo gives you the feel of large car protection in a small affordable package.
The Polo is available in a wide range of models from the base E through to the sizzling GTi which is the most powerful production Polo to date. A number of engine sizes also means that there should be no problem finding a model to suit.
Safety is also a big feature so with that in mind the Polo comes with ABS and HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assist) Multi airbags and rear head restraints as well as Isofix child seat fittings. All of which gives the Polo an impressive 4-star Euro NCAP rating.
Solid engineering comes in the form of a laser-welded body shell that is galvanised to offer a 12 year protection warranty. Exceptional body rigidity is achieved with front and rear crumple zones to help absorb impact and side impact protection again with safety in mind.
The Polo incorporates design features such as body-coloured bumpers and mirrors, front fog lights and alloy wheels on most models. A blue instrument lighting panel adds a touch of style to the interior.
Moving to the interior an adjustable steering column and height-adjustable seat belt are a welcome addition often not found in smaller cars, handy if you possess a Jeremy Clarkson- like physique. Speed sensitive power steering gives reassuring control at higher speeds and adjusts accordingly for fine control when parking.
To drive the Polo is precise and linear into corners and with ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) available should you overdo things, although this is not really necessary in a car of this size.
Inside the Polo feels surprisingly spacious for a small car with plenty of front and rear leg room and more importantly head room. At 250 litres capacity the boot is also a good size and grows to an impressive 1,030 with the rear seats folded.
An overview of the range starts with the E model which although is the base model still comes with a good range of standard features and is available as a 3 or five door with a choice of two petrol engines with a 5 speed manual gearbox.
Next up is the Match which offers in addition a 6 speed auto, 3 petrol engines and 1 diesel. Features include ‘Climatic’ Air conditioning, Alloys and is ipod ready.
The SE adds 14″ Alloys and remote locking. BlueMotion 1 comes with a unique styling pack and trip computer.
The Polo Sport has sports seats and suspension (the clue is in the name!) Also a chrome trimmed radiator grill and leather trimmed steering wheel and gear knob.
BlueMotion 2 has some clever features such as coming home lighting function, rain sensors and a automatic dimming interior rear view mirror.
The Dune has BBS Alloys, and a Dune styling pack that includes unique front and rear bumpers, side and wheelarch protection, roof rails and raised suspension.
Finally we have the all new GTi which is the best of the lot and packs a mighty punch on performance levels. With a 1.8- litre turbocharged engine producing 150 BHP acceleration is from 0? 62mph in 8.2 seconds, and a top speed of 134mph making this the quickest production Polo yet.
The GTi also comes with 16″ Alloys, twin exhausts and aluminium look pedals and chrome plated instrument surrounds. Sports suspension comes as standard and extras such as cruise control is available as are parking sensors. Although frankly if you need help parking a Polo you might need to consider something like a Smart car!
All this adds up to a small car that punches well above its weight.