2013 Volkswagen Passat 3.6 Sel Premium on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Volkswagen rules out more potent Polo R

Volkswagen may be planning ever more powerful versions of its Golf, but don't expect that lust for power to trickle down to the smaller Polo anytime soon as the German automaker has reportedly ruled out the prospect of making a Polo R. This according to Autovisie, the automotive section of Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, in speaking to VW representatives at the launch of the new Polo GTI. Where the previous Polo GTI offered 177 horsepower, the new one packs 189 and is available with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The company briefly offered a Polo WRC Street with 220 horsepower, but that was only for a limited edition that Autovisie says will not be repeated for mainstream production. Which may just be for the best, as far as we're concerned, as no versions of the Polo are offered in the US, and we don't need yet another piece of forbidden fruit we can't get our hands on. The decision may seem at odds with the Polo R WRC rally machine with which Volkswagen has been dominating the World Rally Championship for the past two seasons, but was likely made in order to keep the Polo from infringing on Golf territory. VW currently offers the Golf GTI with 210 horsepower and the Golf R with 292, and showcased an even more powerful version with nearly 400 hp.

VW confirms development of 10-speed dual clutch, 134-hp/liter diesel

Each year, the Vienna International Motor Symposium showcases some of the up-and-coming technologies automakers are engineering for the use in passenger cars, and Volkswagen AG CEO Martin Winterkorn revealed some big developments VW is working on for its future products. Winterkorn discussed a multi-faceted approach that VW is looking to reduce its fleet fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.
Some of the bigger news he discussed included a "high-performance" diesel engine that will produce 134 horsepower per liter and a 10-speed DSG automatic transmission. While no specific applications were mentioned, we can only hope this is for the Audi R4 we keep hearing about.
Another topic he touched on that caused us to perk up our ears was had to do with VW's plug-in hybrid technology. While we know the PHEV versions of the Audi A3 and Porsche Panamera are on the way, Winterkorn also said that these two models will be followed up by Golf, Passat, Audi A6 and Porsche Cayenne plug-in models. Scroll down for a press release highlighting the automaker's future fuel-saving initiatives.

2015 VW Golf R caught getting a flogging on 'Ring

The upcoming version of the Volkswagen Golf R is nearly ready for prime time, if this video of the car flying around the Nürburgring is any indication. The all-wheel-drive R seems to make quick, neat work of the corners we see here, and sounds pretty devilish in the process.
Expectations are that the new Golf R will run a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (what else?), tuned to produce even more than the current car's 256 horsepower. (Some sources have indicated outputs as high as 286 horsepower, with 280 pound-feet of torque. It's still not clear if Volkswagen will bring the six-speed dual-clutch transmission to the US-spec Golf R in this next go-round or if we'll stick to having only... eh... the stick.
In either case - watching the video below will only whet your appetite for the new, highest performing member of the Golf family.