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Volkswagen has released a new Golf to the
European market: The “Variant” that is as spacious as it is variable. On 1st
June, 2007, dealers presented the model in Germany; other countries and
continents will follow successively. The new Variant – like the classic Golf
and the Golf Plus (including CrossGolf) – is in its third single remake of
the successful “Golf” album. Earlier editions of the station wagon were also
sales hits: More than 1.2 million cars have found buyers since 1993, and
660,000 units have been registered in Germany alone. Now the third generation
wagon has arrived.
New Golf Variant targets market leadership in Germany
- Despite progressive fragmentation of the station
wagon segment, wagon models of the so-called Golf class are still enjoying high
demand. About 650,000 examples of this type of vehicle are sold in Western Europe
each year. Seven out of every 10 cars go to the five largest countries in Europe
(Germany, Italy, Great Britain, France, Spain), almost 200,000 of them to
Germany. Not to be underrated is the high proportion of commercial customers.
Volkswagen estimates that nearly two thirds of all Golf Variants are registered
as company and commercial cars. Of these, a majority are paired with the
1.9-litre TDI – an especially economical car for high-distance drivers – which
couples its good performance (187 km/h top speed) with exceptionally low fuel
consumption (5.2 litre/100 km on average).
Cargo area with up to 1,550 litre capacity
- Like its predecessor, the new Golf Variant, now
15.9 centimetres longer, is marked by an ideal ratio of interior and exterior
dimensions. Its maximum cargo capacity grew from 1,470 to 1,550 litres, for
example, and when used as a five-seater 560 litres of cargo (with spare wheel
well) still fit into the cargo area.
Classy basic equipment features, enormous panorama sunroof
- Volkswagen is offering the new Golf Variant in
three equipment lines; Trendline, Comfortline and Sportline. Even the Trendline
base equipment line comes with ESP, six airbags, 16-inch wheels, power windows
front and rear, central locking with remote keyless entry, tilt-up cargo floor
and asymmetrically split folding rear bench seat with armrests. Distinctive
special equipment, and in the case of the Golf Variant Sportline even standard,
is the newly designed, two-piece glass panorama sunroof with a length of 1.36
metres and width of 0.87 metres.
Highly efficient engines; power range from 75 kW to 125 kW
- The new Golf Variant is being
launched with two diesel and three petrol engines, including four direct injection
engines. Serving as the entry level engine is a 1.6-litre four cylinder that outputs
75 kW. Positioned above it are the twincharged TSI engines with high-end technology.
These high-torque power packages deliver 103 kW and 125 kW, respectively. Factory
equipped with diesel particulate filters are the two strong TDIs of the Golf Variant
at 77 kW and 103 kW. Innovative: The DSG dual clutch transmission. It is optional on
all engines with the exception of the 1.6-litre petrol engine.
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