Volkswagen has this week announced that its convertible Golf Cabriolet will return in 2011, at the same time signalling the death knell for the Golf 5-based Eos convertible.

The news follows reports from around this time last year that suggested Volkswagen’s purchase of the Karmann brand and its plant at Osnabruck could lead to the Cabrio’s return.

The Golf Cabrio last appeared in the company’s line-up as part of the Golf 3 range, although it benefited from a front-end Golf 4 update in 1999. The Eos, replacing the Cabrio when the fifth-generation Golf arrived, had a similar styling update last month, getting Volkswagen’s new letterbox grille and sharpened headlights.

Volkswagen has offered few details for the new Golf Cabriolet, although it is expected to do away with the folding hardtop of the Eos, returning to the softtop style of its predecessors. As with previous generations, the new Golf Cabrio will likely be all-but-identical to the Golf’s two-door bodystyle from the ground up to the belt line and boot lid.

Production is set to begin next year at Volkswagen’s Osnabruck plant in Germany. The last vehicle to be produced by Karmann at Osnabruck was the Mercedes Benz CLK, which finished production in June last year. Karmann and Volkswagen have a strong history together, thanks in particular to the iconic Beetle-based Karmann Ghia of the 1950s. Previous generations of the Golf Cabriolet have been built by Karmann, and with the current generation Eos reaching the end of its life cycle, a new Golf Cabrio has seemed likely for some time.

The renderings (above and top) offer a glimpse at how the new generation Golf Cabriolet might look.

Adapted from TheMotorReport

The new Volkswagen Polo has been named as the 2010 World Car of the Year. This is the second year in a row that a Volkswagen model has been crowned as the World Car of the Year. The new Golf won the award in 2009.

Merit, value, safety, environment, significance and emotional appeal are the criterias for the World Car of the Year. In 2010, the top three contenders for World Car of the Year title were, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Toyota Prius and Volkswagen Polo.

“We are honored that the Volkswagen Polo was chosen by this distinguished group of jurors,” said Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG.

The award was received by Walter de Silva, Head of Design of the Volkswagen Group at the New York International Auto Show.

“The new Volkswagen Polo generation fascinates in two ways – by its uncomplicated, unique and timeless design as well as its high efficiency. Already more than 230 000 customers worldwide have placed their orders for the new Volkswagen Polo,” said Mr de Silva.

Now in its seventh year, the annual World Car awards have become one of the world’s most prestigious, credible and significant programs of its kind. The majority of the 59 World Car jurors from 25 countries throughout the world chose the Polo from 30 entries. Each juror drives and evaluates new vehicles on a regular basis as part of their on-going full-time professional work. Through their respective media they collectively reach an audience of many millions worldwide.

Since its South African launch in January 2010, over 6 700 new Volkswagen Polos have been sold. The new Polo is manufactured at the Volkswagen of South Africa production plant in Uitenhage for the local market as well as for export to the global right hand drive markets such as Japan, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Malta and Cyprus. Uitenhage is the sole production site for the right hand drive five-door new Volkswagen Polo. Due to the high demand for the new Polo in Europe, Volkswagen of South Africa will also build left hand drive export units in 2010.

Sometime ago, rumours of a Golf 6 cabriolet surfaced, complete with renderings and an expected launch date of 2010. Of course production of the car still remains a rumour, and an unconfirmed one at that. Now that VW has completed its takeover of the former Karmann factory in Germany – the once iconic coachbuilder and convertible roof specialists who manufactured the classic Beetle-based Karmann Ghia coupe – rumours of the new cabriolet may not be unfounded. And thanks to the skills of a few graphic designers, we’re able to get an idea of what the new car may look like.

Assuming it gets the green light, the Golf 6 Cabrio will compete with such models as the Opel Astra CC and Peugeot 308CC, but unlike so many folding tin-top cabrios, Golf will instead offer a more traditional fabric top – technology shared with its Audi A3 cousin.

Should the roof technology be the same as that of Audi’s, the Golf Cabrio will utilise a multi-layer construction for impressive refinement at high speeds. The mechanism will also be fully automated and will be able to be raised or lowered at speeds of up to 30 km/h – a process that should take less than 10 seconds. Once down, the roof will sit flush with the bodywork behind the rear seats.

The German tuners at Motoren Technik Mayer have just come out with a stellar example of the world’s favourite sport compact car, the Volkswagen GTI.

The standard Golf 6 GTI comes from the factory with a 155 kW 2,0-litre TFSI four cylinder engine and Volkswagen launched the more potent 199 kW Golf R at the Frankfurt Motor Show recently.  The new MTM VW GTI however, promises to deliver power on par with the Golf R and should save owners quite a few pennies at the same time.

For the fraction of the difference between the two cars, owners can upgrade their front wheel drive hot hatch with MTM’s tuning program that raises output to match the Golf R at 199 kW but also raises torque to a total of400 N.m. With a simple air filter and reflashed ECU the GTI’s top speed rises to 264 km/h. In order to handle the additional power MTM offers a variety of high performance clutches and a variety of Brembo brake setups, to bring the high speed high jinks to a quick halt. Finishing off MTM’s latest show piece are a set of their signature Bimoto lightweight rims, measuring 19 inches in diameter and finished in a similar black to compliment the decorative stripe that runs along the base of the doorsill.

The German tuner is offering an all around upgrade for the Golf 6 GTI that makes it almost as good as the upcoming Golf R for a lot less money.

Adapted from TopSpeed

VW has unveiled the Volkswagen Scirocco, Golf 6 and Passat CC R-Line product range in Frankfurt. Volkswagen Golf 6 R-Line comes equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, sport chassis, side skirts, new bumpers, a roof spoiler and a diffuser. The interior of the Volkswagen Golf 6 R-Line features a leather steering wheel, stainless steel pedal caps and foot support, R-Line door tread plates and sport seats.

The Volkswagen Scirocco R-Line package features the same elements included in the Golf R-Line kit.

The Volkswagen Passat CC R-Line package includes 18 inch rims, a front spoiler and side skirts, door tread plates, sport seats and a climate control system.

Press Release (Click to expand)

Adapted from ZCars