Despite the fact that the sixth-generation of VW's insanely popular hatchback has yet to hit the driveways of actual customers, speculation on gen-seven is already well underway. Number-six continues the tradition of enlarging each successive model-year, but that trend is set to come to an end after this redesign. Europe is currently working on legislation to limit carbon emissions and the U.S. is set to cap manufacturer's fuel efficiency at a much more stringent rate that what we have now. Therefore, the Golf, or Rabbit in the States, should shed a few pounds in its Extreme Makeover and will likely get some smaller entry-level engines. We'd imagine that Volkswagen is hard at work on diesel engines, especially considering the buzz surrounding the Jetta TDI these days, as well as small gasoline engines with forced induction. Whatever happens, expect efficiency to take top priority as the years pass by.


[Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req'd]

It is anything but surprising that Volkswagen will debut a new GTI, the traditional sporting model of its mainstream Golf. What is a bit more surprising, though, is that there will be two other performance editions of the original hot hatch from which to choose, at least in Europe. One of them is the R-model, which should come from the factory with a super-hot 270-horsepower engine along with all-wheel-drive. While that's cool and all, the real shocker comes in the form of the Golf GTD. That model will come to the party with a high-performance diesel engine making 170-horsepower and somewhat more torque. Automotive News claims that the new hi-po diesel will hit the European market in April of 2009. Since we are just now getting diesels from VW in America, we're not exactly holding our breath for the GTD stateside. You can bank on the GTI making it on our shores shortly after the regular gen-6 Golf Rabbit.


[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

Volkswagen has seen fit to offer stop/start technology on the next generation of its little hatchback, the Golf... or the Rabbit if you happen to live in the United States. To go along with the gasoline and carbon-saving technology, Vee Dub will add a BlueMotion label to all Golfs so-equipped. Although the stop/start technology will be standard on the BlueMotion Golf, it will also be optional on other models, according to Automotive News. So far, we have no indication on what powertrains the half-hybrid systems will be offered with, but we do know, and have already written about, new small engine options for the sixth-generation of the Golf. Considering how close we are to the planned late 2008 or early 2009 launch of the new hatch, we're sure that this new small-bore engine won't be available right away.

Expect to see VW's new stop/start technology trickle upwards to other models in its range. As is usually the case, the cost of the associated hardware will surely go down as it is installed in more and more vehicles.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

It is getting to be rather common these days to see a tuning company add ridiculous amounts of power to already high-performance vehicles. Some companies have earned quite a reputation for taking German designed and engineered cars and adding superchargers, turbochargers or just really big engines, such as RUF with Porshces and Brabus with Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

What is usually left by the wayside in these conversions, however, is fuel economy. High performance tuning company 9ff has decided to tackle that angle, in addition to their stable of power modifications. When you think about it, many of the same modifications done to increase the acceleration of a vehicle can also increase its efficiency, mostly by reducing weight. 9ff has started with a Golf 1.9 TDI, then fitted lightweight components wherever possible and changing out the wheels and tires for low-rolling-resistance models. The progress of the vehicle can be tracked as part a ten-part segment on Auto Motor und Sport TV, which begins airing on May 6th. Click here for their own page dedicated to the project.

[Source: German Car Scene via Autoblog]

When Martin Winterkorn took over for Wolfgang Bernhard very recently, he examined the next versions of the Rabbit and VW's other models hybrid plans and immediately put them on hold. An unnamed VW executive says, "the hybrid business case doesn't work out, no matter how you look at it." Toyota might have something to say about that thought...

The hybrid Touareg apparently is still on track to be the first VW hybrid, and is expected to be on sale in 2008. Winterkorn also is planning to delay the release of their next Rabbit, citing design changes. It is being reported that Winterkorn did not like the large air openings on the redesigned car.

[Source: Autoweek]