Tag Archives: VW

News

VW Golf A59 is getting back

At the recently held SEMA Show, Volkswagen announced several concepts, one of which is the Golf A59 prototype. The concept was developed at the end of the last century under the name Golf Mk3 Rallye as part of a feasibility study for the company’s possible entry into the World Rally Championship (WRC).

In 1993, Schmidt Motorsport from Cadolzburg created the Golf Mk3 Rallye, and the reason for this was the need for a road model due to the FIA ​​rule for the WRC in 1994, which is the production of 2,500 homologation units of the rally car. Unfortunately, it never went into mass production, and only two examples were produced, of which this one is in driving condition.

The car is equipped with a unique lightweight carbon/Kevlar body kit that includes additional intakes on the front bumper, hood vents made of GRP, significantly wider WRC-inspired fenders, a large spoiler and a sports bumper that has room for four exhaust pipes, but two are still set. There is also a large VW logo on the tailgate, plastic side windows and a rear windscreen. Inside, it is equipped with Recaro A8 seats, a three-spoke steering wheel, a digital instrument cluster, additional controls and a roll cage.

The prototype received Bilstein shock absorbers in the front with a longer stroke and wider shoulders, while the rear is multilink with Bilstein struts. There’s also a set of 16-inch Speedline SL817 wheels wrapped in 225/45 R16 tires.

When it comes to the powertrain, the Golf Mk3 Rallye is powered by a 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder engine with 271 hp (199 kW) and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) of torque. Power is sent to both axles via a 6-speed manual transmission with a rear limited-slip differential. The A59 reached a top speed of 168 mph (270 kph) and was the fastest Golf at the time.

Source: VW

EV, Future, News

Volkswagen ID LIFE

At the car show, which is currently taking place in Munich, Volkswagen presented the concept of a “people’s car” available for every pocket. As Volkswagen announced, the price of ID LIFE, as it was called, will be 20,000 euros.

For the past five years, Volkswagen’s plan has been to make a car from the ID family. Thanks to the ACCELERATE strategy and the rapid transformation to electric mobility, this small car can be expected from 2025.

“In creating the ID. LIFE, we have consistently focused on the needs of younger customers. We believe that, even more so than today, the car of the future will be about lifestyle and personal expression. The customer of tomorrow won’t simply want to get from A to B; they will be much more interested in the experiences that a car can offer. The ID. LIFE is our answer to this,” says Ralf Brandstätter, CEO of the Volkswagen brand.

It is an urban car that retains simplicity and minimalist appearance, which is visible at first glance. No expensive materials. Recycled materials, wood, rice husk and rubber were used in the construction of the vehicle. The mirrors have been replaced by cameras. A textile roof has been installed which, if necessary, can be easily removed. This will most delight fans of rides on sunny days.

Inside, there is no standard control panel. On the steering wheel, there is a touch screen on which all the commands are located. The front and rear benches are foldable and can be used for different occasions. For those who like fun, the car is equipped with a game console and a projector.

ID.LIFE was developed on the MEB platform, and is powered by an electric motor with an impressive 234 hp (172 kW). With front-wheel drive, this electric car reaches 62 mph in 6.9 seconds. It uses a 57 kWh battery that provides a range of 249 miles (400 kilometers).

By 2030, Volkswagen wants to achieve electric models in sales of at least 70 percent in Europe and 50% in North America and China, respectively.

Source: Volkswagen

News

Toyota victim of computer chip shortage

The shortage of computer chips has led to a decline in vehicle production worldwide. This has mostly affected large manufacturers such as VW, Ford and GM, which will significantly reduce production and even suspend it in some plants. One of the victims of the chip shortage is Toyota.

Thanks to large stocks and a lesson learned from 2011, Toyota has successfully dealt with the shortage of computer chips. However, a long-running shortage of chips has forced the Japanese company to reduce vehicle production by almost 50 percent.

In an official statement, Toyota announced that only 1 of the 28 production lines in Toyota’s 14 factories will operate in September, while the remaining will be shut down. In the United States, production will be reduced by almost 100k vehicles, which should not lead to layoffs. Completely unexpected, because this is the biggest production stoppage in the automotive industry in recent history.

Due to this situation, Toyota said: “Due to Covid-19 and unexpected events with our supply chain, Toyota is experiencing additional shortages that will affect production at most of our North American plants. While the situation remains fluid and complex, our manufacturing and supply chain teams have worked diligently to develop countermeasures to minimize the impact on production. ”

How long this situation will last is not known. Many producers expect production to return to normal by the end of the year. Toyota is not so optimistic. They believe that the problem could continue in 2022.

Source: Toyota