The UP! Lite takes what everyone knows following almost a hundred years of diesel electric train and applies it to cars. The sleek four-seater tips the scales at a featherweight 1,532 lbs and is fitted with a 0.8-liter TDI two-cylinder turbo-diesel engine 50 HP mated to a 14HP electric motor and a a seven speed DSG transmission. Acceleration from 0-60 MPH is pegged at a leisurely 12 seconds but still, 70 MPG! It would be like never filling up at all. Of course, this is just a "concept" but telegraphs vehicles VW is planning on rolling out globally in 2011, so we're betting it's pretty close to the real deal. Well, except for those wheels.

Yesterday, a tight, sexy, red dress overcame the sensible underwear of our Contender Puma, in a remarkably tight 52%/48% Nice Price cat fight win. The whole idea of animalistic appellation Brazilian cars was so appealing that we've decided to hit up another today, albeit one that's a canine homage rather than feline.

Starting in the 1970s, Volkswagen began naming their cars after winds- Passat, Scirocco, Golf, etc. With the exception of the Scirocco, these cars came to America under an assumed name- the Golf as the Rabbit, and the Passat as the Dasher- potentially presaging an entire lineup of Santa's reindeer-named cars. The animal names continued over at their upscale branch, Audi, where the Dasher sibling 80 became the Fox in the U.S.. Over the years, Volkswagen has vacillated over maintaining their European names on the cars eventually showing up on these shores, with intermittent sccess (Touareg is apparently a derivation of the name of a slave-trading African tribe), and while Audi has moved to various derivations of alfa-numeric naming conventions, VW has stuck with the names, and even revisited Fox at one point.

Introduced to the U.S. in 1987, the Gol-based VW Fox attempted to provide the German maker with an entry-level model. Available as either a two-door coupe, or four door sedan (a three-door wagon was also available between '88 and '90) that were nearly six inches longer than the contemporary Golf, but on a four and a half inch shorter wheelbase. This provided a commodious trunk, but a somewhat claustrophobic interior, especially in the back. Motivating the Fox was a longitudinal version of the Golf's 1.8-litre four with Digifant fuel injection and 81 ponies giving chase. A five-speed, similar to that used in the Audi Fox of years prior backed that up, and along with that manual gearbox came manual windows, manual mirrors, manual climate control, manual. . . well, you get the picture.

The Fox shared gauge graphics with its German cousins, but little else, including that durability that VW was known for at the time. Because of that, very few have been cared for, or are in as nice of shape as our 1993 example today. For better or worse, this white coupe appears about as clean as the day it samba'd off the ship and into the heart of its happy owner. He's very enthusiastic about the car, and it makes you kind of wonder what is his motivation for selling it. At $3,300, you can guess that he holds it in pretty high esteem, despite its need for an alignment, or the broken mirror. A mention of rust is a warning flag as these cars are magnets for the red plague, some losing floorboards to the extent that Fred Flintstone would feel at home padding around in them.

So what do you think of this other Brazilian immigrant? Does $3,300 put it in the fox hunt? Or, would you only pay that much if it came with Megan Fox?

You decide!

Windy City Craigslist or go here if the ad disappears. A shake of the ol' foxtail to the anonymous tipster for the link.

Help me out with NPOCP. Click here to send a me a tip, and remember to include your commenter handle.

When Billy Joel sang about trading in your Chevy for a Cadillac-ac-ac-ac he intoned that Anthony can't drive with a broken back, but at least he can polish the fenders. Well, Anthony may have taken umbrage at having to polish the acres of fenders on yesterday's custom Caddy, broken back or no. A narrow 58% of you shared that indignation over the coup' d'etat asking price and so, for today at least, stay in Vegas it will.

Another place were you can gamble is on the used car lot, especially when looking at something so unique and rare that spotting another on the road- much less finding parts for it at your local Pep Boys- means a roll of the dice. Coming up not boxcars but Puma car is today's boy from Brazil.

Founded by São Paulo-based racer Genaro "Rino" Malzoni, Puma originally constructed DKW-based racers under the Malzoni name. When VW bought DKW in 1964 and ended the Brazilian production of the make, Malzoni switched to building rear-engined sports cars based on the Brazilian-built Karmann Ghia. Taking styling cues from many contemporaries, the newly-branded Puma cars became modestly successful in the South American nation, enjoying domestic protection tariffs that kept out competitors. When those were finally lifted in the 1980s, Puma ran into the issues that most cottage-industry makers do and folded due to profitability challenges. A short-lived resurgence in the late ‘80s - early ‘90s failed to swell total production numbers significantly.

What we have today is a 1981 example of the GTI coupe. Its nose is reminiscent of an Alfa Spider and overall the design reflects the appreciation for clean, unfettered aerodynamic shapes that are also seen in the personal hygiene practices of many of the women of Brazil. The engine started out as a 1600, but has been punched out to 2,054-ccs by Bernie Bergman, who knows what he's doing when it comes to VW flat fours. The $8,500-U.S. asking price is a far cry from the $9,900 at which the car was previously offered- when it had a smashed nose. That may reflect either a soft market for Brazilian sports cars, or a Black Friday deal that's run over.

As Pumas were only brought into the U.S. in very limited numbers, this is a rare opportunity. As it's basically a VW Karmann Ghia underneath, maybe that rarity is with good reason. So, what do you think about this leão de montanha? For $8,500 would you go Brazilian? Or, does that just make you want to blame it on Rio?

You decide!

Oldride.com or go here if the ad disappears.

Help me out with NPOCP. Click here to send a me a tip, and remember to include your commenter handle.

Like the sedan and hatchback, the Superb Estate comes in S, SE and Elegance models, gets your choice of gas or diesel engines, a manual transmission or a DSG. The rear hatch has a power open option with load and road illumination as well as a detachable flashlight built right in. As always, there's no chance of this latest Euro-wagon hitting US shores.

Yesterday, a high price and a peek under the skirt that resulted in some disappointment resulted in the Prince becoming a pauper as 62% of you told us twenty large was too much for a single-cam wannabe. Today's contender is the real deal, and it has but a single cam as well, however it keeps it on the down-low.

Upon the transfer of ownership of Auto Union from Mercedes Benz to Volkswagen, development of new Audi cars was halted. But much like a German Unibomber, Ludwig Kraus continued in secret to advance the progress of the C1 platform- to be known as the 100. VW leadership gave the car a green light for production having been impressed by a fully realized prototype, as well as some unflattering photos of them that Kraus claimed to possess. Well, that last part may or may not be true.

The 100ls arrived in 1968 and came to the U.S. the following year as a four-door sedan and two-door coupe. Handsome and conservative, the 100 looked like the form a front-drive Mercedes might take, and with good reason as the car is filled with elements of MB ownership. The 1.8-litre four cylinder is similar to the Benz fours of the time- although the Audi four is canted over at 40 degrees. Even its numerical nomenclature is Benz-ish.

The 100 did reasonably well here in the U.S., paired in dealerships with the much pricier Porsches, but durability issues and unfavorable exchange rates eventually drove down sales. That's unfortunate, because, had it been more popular, perhaps Audi could have been persuaded to bring over the lovely fastback version- the coupé S, an example of which is our subject today.

The Coupé S received a bored 1.9-litre version of the 100's four, bumping power to 113-bhp from the 1.8's 100 and making for acceleration that still belied the car's bodystyle as a fastback. The seller of this clean 1971 edition claims it to be one of only two in the States, and that may be the case as I've never seen one here, and I've lived here all my life. Also noted is the replacement of the Solex carbs with more modern Webers, but that the originals will come with the purchase. Unspoken, but obvious in the pictures, is that the seller is not an ace photographer. Still, he does have a taste for obscure and interesting cars, of which the Coupé S is in spades. In the car's favor is that, while extremely rare, parts shouldn't be, other than internals for the 1.9.

There's no Buy It Now option, so rabid Audi fanatics (you know who you are) will need to do the bid-wait two step on this auction, and while the starting point is $15,000, that doesn't meet the reserve, which remains a mystery. But lets use fifteen large as our baseline today, because this is too interesting a car to leave un-ruminated upon.

So, what do you say, are you willing to plunk down $15,000, plus whatever, for as rare an Audi as you are likely to find here in the states? Or, does that price make this an Auto Union that'll have to be without you?

You decide!

eBay or go here if the ad disappears. This week we are thankful for camp6ell for the tip

Help me out with NPOCP. Click here to send a me a tip, and remember to include your commenter handle.

That's not to take away from the accomplishment of Pandamonium Racing's BMW E30; I'll post about their overall win once I'm back to civilization. Now I"m going to pack up the Crown Vic and head south 130 miles. Check in later for more LeMons Arse Freeze roundups!

Speaking of not coming back, I've considered axing the entire Down On The Junkyard series. Why? Because dudes will find an 18-month-old DOTJ post with a car they're looking for via Google (for example, a search for "Renault 16" will show a DOTJ post as the 3rd result), and then start pestering me to sell them the parts from "my" car. When I tell them that the junkyards I frequent turn over their entire inventory every few months and that the car was crushed long ago (not to mention the fact that I'm not in the parts-selling business), they refuse to believe me. Look, the pictures are right there! Sell me parts! It was tolerable the first few hundred times, but now I'm getting so damn many of these demands for parts from long-ago-crushed cars that I'm approaching Clueless Internet Incomprehension Burnout. So, let's say it's 2012 and you're looking for parts for your Squareback and you've found this post: THIS CAR IS GONE! CRUSHED! RENDERED INTO CHEAP WASHING MACHINES IN GUANGZHOU!


Where were we? Oh yes, this '71 Squareback. Look, it's the carbureted engine, and the twin Solexes are still there! In fact, everything is still there. Fresh junkyard finds are fun!

The interior is pretty well thrashed, but a few usable bits remain.

We've picked out four of the five fav's over at Inhabitat, you'll have to go peak at their list to find out the last, cheeky entry, but we've dropped in the basics on each so click "Next" to learn more. [Inhabitat]

The Solar Black Bear" is an EV project at the University of Maine and plugs into the wall for a complete charge but also uses a rack-mounted solar array to extend its range out to about 100 miles.

VW Bugs and Earth friendliness would seem to go hand-in-hand, but the original bug wasn't exactly catalyzed and clean. This particular example on the other hand is emissions free and runs on a 12V electrical system, it even retains a four speed manual transmission. The best part? It's owned by Manitou High School in Colorado Springs, and is used for driver's ed training.

The stretched H1 limo gets its green cred by operating on a combination of biodiesel, electric power generated by a solarvoltaic array on the roof and a solid waste gassifier. Probably needs to be stretched just to fit all the equipment on board.

The '65 Impala Super Sport is an interesting case of modern engine meets awesome ride. Unbelievably, car was built by MTV's Pimp My Ride and got a Chevy Durmax diesel tuned run on biodiesel and snorting out 800 HP and 1200 lb-ft of torque. It'll go 0-60 in 3.5 seconds and gets double the fuel economy it used to. Unfortunately, they also reworked the interior.

VW showed us and a bunch of elderly curmudgeons auto journalists sketches of that mid-size sedan (code named "NMS") at their Wolfsburg plant last week. While we weren't able to take pictures, just imagine a CC/Phaeton love child that sits somewhere between the two in terms of size. It's swoopier and more closely related to the CC than the sketch above. Arriving as either a 2012 or 2013 model, the VW NMS will be larger than the Passat, which VW had determined is too small to achieve strong sales in America.

To keep the price free of currency fluctuations and to appeal to patriotic buyers, the NMS will be built at a new factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee that'll open in 2011 with production of that vehicle. That plant's annual capacity is 150,000 vehicles, a healthy chunk of the 800,000 vehicles VW wants to sell here annually by 2018.

Even as other automakers go bankrupt and face a huge downturn in sales, VW increased its global market share to 12% as of July and reported a $1.77 billion operating profit during the first half of this year.

Joining the NMS to reach that sales goal will be a new version of the Ford Fiesta-rivaling VW Polo, likely equipped with a choice of 1.2 and 1.4-liter supercharged and turbocharged TSI engines. Those engines are sort of a lower-cost, lower-weight alternative to hybrid powertrains, offering the power of larger, 2.0 or 2.5-liter engines with the fuel consumption of the smaller capacity. Expect to see the larger of those two engines in the Golf, too.

We had the opportunity to try that 167 HP 1.4-liter TSI engine in the VW Passat on the Oschersleben track and found its lack of capacity wasn't detectable over the 2.5-liter five-cylinder Golf we drove on the road earlier in the day. In fact, the 1.4 makes equivalent torque (177 lb/ft) to the 2.5, but across a much wider rev range (1,500 to 4,500 RPM) without any turbo lag or other downsides. Blindfolded, you couldn't tell the difference between the two engines until it came time to pay for fuel, the 1.4 achieves well over 30 MPG in the heavy Passat mid-size. Expect to see similar technology roll out across the VW and Audi lineup in a variety of engine sizes.

Also on the Eco front, the fully-electric VW E-UP ! will go on sale in 2013. The four-seat subcompact will be equipped with 18 kWh Lithium-Ion batteries powering an 80 HP electric motor good for 84 MPH and and 80-mile range.

The company also plans an all-new 2013 VW Beetle that'll be larger inside, with more leg room for rear seat passengers, yet the same size outside. That'll be thanks to less ridiculous, more sophisticated packaging designed to make the Beetle less of a joke and more of a halo car for the entire VW range.

Speaking of halo cars, the next-gen 2011 VW Phaeton will likely return to the US. Based on the same platform as the upcoming Audi A6 and A8, it'll cost in excess of $50,000, giving VW one of the most extensive ranges of any single brand, starting with the sub $15,000 Polo and running through the E-UP ! Golf, Beetle, Jetta, Eos, Tiguan Passat, CC, NMS, Toureg and Phaeton.

Last week we reviewed the US-market 2010 VW Golf TDI and found that it exorcised the Ghosts of VW's somewhat ill-spec'd past to create a nearly ideal practical car. It combined quality, luxury, fun and economy to create one of the most complete packages on the market today. If VW can do as well with the rest of its new products, that 800,000 US sales a year goal sounds totally feasible.

After over 450 miles of oil was sprayed all over America's freeways, the Beetleballers (well most of them) arrived on the Las Vegas strip to complete the endurance rally.

Beetleball headman, Jimbo, stood in the middle of Las Vegas Boulevard waving a checkered flag as the Volkswagens cruised (flew actually) down the strip to the finish.

First place overall with a time of 6 hours, 18 minutes and 20 seconds (and first in Open Class Beetle) Jim's Auto Center #1116 driven by Nicolas Nieto and navigated by Daniel Cummings. The car not only ran very well it was the only VW that didn't vomit oil at the finish line.

Second place overall with a finishing time of 6 hours, 34 minutes and 16 seconds (and first in the Baja Bug class) was Krider Racing #1118 driven by Randy Krider and navigated (while simultaneously blogging for Jalopnik) by Rob Krider.

Third place overall with a finishing time of 6 hours, 50 minutes and 13 seconds (and first in Stock Class Beetle) was #1108 driven by Damon Dayton and navigated by Rosie Almaraz. There were unsubstantiated rumors that there was some curb hopping and sidewalk driving to get to the finish line on the strip. Damon's response, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."

Damon was also kind enough to stop to help any broken down Beetleballers on his journey, however the conversation along the roadside went like this:
Damon, "Hey, you guys alright?"
Poor Sap with a Blown Motor, "Yeah, our motor is finished though."
Damon, "Bummer. Hey, uh, with that blown motor, I guess you guys probably don't need that extra two gallons of fuel. Throw that in my tank would ya. Thanks!"

Earning the coveted D.F.L. trophy (last place) with a finishing time of 9 hours, 35 minutes and 25 seconds (and ironically first place in the Vintage Bus Class) Bugformance #1164 Bus of Greg Hawkins and Dominic Descent. These guys had some minor mechanical issues and replaced the ignition, fuel system and anything else they could think of during the rally. They came absolutely prepared for any issues and had a complete engine assembly in the rear passenger compartment of the bus. The extra weight contributed to their mountain climbing speed of 44 miles per hour.

The overall Beetleball champion for the 2009 season (after running three events) was Jeff Copelan driving his very clean 1965 Beetle in the Stock Division. He will be honored with the #1100 number plate for the 2010 season.

If you have the guts/lack of sense to try to run an endurance rally in an air cooled VW then check out the different events at www.beetleball.com. They also run a rally from Vancouver to Ensenada. Rumor has it in 2012 they are going to run from Manhattan to San Francisco.

The Beetleballers are revving the life out of their Volkswagen motors as they head through California, Arizona and Nevada on the way to Vegas with a quick stop in Amboy (if they can find it).

The beginning of the Beetleball Long Beach to Las Vegas began with high drama as the cars headed down the 710 freeway only to encounter a non-rally vehicle impaled on the back of a Cal Trans sweeper truck. Most teams found out at this point that Volkswagens don't stop particularly well. Everyone slipped through unscathed as they headed into the darkness.

Krider Racing had the early lead with the Beetleball Indy Pace Car passing them near race mile 108. That pass gave them the lead until the little VW packed it in around race mile 374. The engine seized leaving the driver and navigator to stand on the side of the road until another Beetleballer picked them to give them a ride to the finish.

The first checkpoint in Amboy, California gave many teams grief. Namely Krider Racing who had one of their 24 Hours of LeMons drivers, Steve Kuhtz, standing in the desert all night waiting to give them 11 gallons of gas. The only problem was he was standing on the wrong road and the team missed him (and their much needed splash of gas).

Speaking of gas, the GT40 replica beetle ran out of the precious fluid a few miles prior to the Hoover Dam. Their driver stood on the shoulder waiving a red gas can. Other Beetleball teams stopped to help them (and will have their assistance time subtracted from their overall time). How about that for sportsmanship?

This post was concocted in the Blog Bug with me attempting to type and hold on to the requisite VW dashboard mounted "I'm gonna die!" bar. Few more miles to go before the winners can be crowned in Las Vegas (or a few more miles so more Volkswagens can die).

For the 1,750-pound '81 Rabbit Diesel, Volkswagen felt that 48 horsepower was plenty; in fact, the Rabbit Diesel had a better power-to-weight ratio than the 1,724-pound/53-horsepower '69 Beetle, and diesel torque should have made it feel even quicker. That was not the case, however; I've driven both cars (in fact, I did my driver training classes in a dual-brake-pedal Rabbit Diesel), and the Beetle feels slightly zippy while the Rabbit Diesel feels dangerously slow. Perception? Reality?
Still, these things sip that costly oil through a cocktail straw, giving Rabbit Diesel owners the right to sneer at those resource-depleters in thirsty Priuses. Most of the survivors seem to be the Rabbit pickups, but I was able to find this sedan parked by the Bay, quite close to the '88 Peugeot 505 Turbo.

With a LeMans start (a sprint across the street on foot and then brief panic as you try to get the 40 year old Beetle to start) the 2009 Beetleball Long Beach to Las Vegas is underway!

In the cover of darkness this morning Beetles screamed out of the Queen Mary parking lot in Long Beach, California on their way to CheckPoint #1 in Amboy, California. Navigators nervously try to get their teams through the maze of Los Angeles freeways while drivers ignore their navigators and take "a short cut." Only time will tell which teams (if any) will make it to Las Vegas.

Before the start I asked one driver how long he thought the little Volkswagens could travel before needing fuel. His response, "When the car quits, that's how far it can go." I don't think any truer automotive words have ever been spoken.

The concept is simple, bring a Type 1, air cooled, VW, leave the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California and be the first one to the strip in Las Vegas, Nevada.

We will be bringing you live updates on Jalopnik as the Beetleball road rally takes place. If you're familiar at all with Volkswagen Bugs you'll agree that just finishing the event would be quite an accomplishment. If our borrowed (stolen) Baja Bug can keep up with the rest of the teams we will continue the stream of updates.

You're probably wondering how a race like this on public roads could be legit. Remember were talking about Volkswagen Beetles here. The Beetle we have entered topped the dyno at a whopping 51 rear wheel horsepower. I'm not worried about a speeding ticket, I'm actually afraid we may get cited for impeding traffic.

Before the cars can head out they must be inspected by Big Red who has experience with the Baja 1000. The tech was pretty stringent, "Is it a Volkswagen?"
"Yup."
"Does it leak a lot of oil?"
"Yup."
"Okay, you can run."

There are 33 classes to compete in with a mandatory checkpoint in Amboy, California, then a jog across the Hoover Dam and into the world famous Las Vegas Strip for the finish. So he wouldn't get lost, one seasoned Beetleballer wrote the route instructions on his arm.

For information about the event go to www.beetleball.com

Quote of the day: "I'll see you in Amboy."
"I'll see you in jail."

The MK VI Golf will start at $17,490 for the two-door and $19,190 for the four-door when equipped with the crappy 2.5-liter five-cylinder. The TDI starts at $21,990, but helps justify that increase with a standard touchscreen audio interface with Sirius satellite radio and the afformentioned sport suspension.

The 2.0-liter turbodiesel makes 140 HP and 236 Lb/Ft - good for 0-60 MPH in 8.6 seconds - and comes with either a 5-speed manual or 6-speed DSG gearbox. Equipped with the manual, the TDI returns 30 MPG city, 41 MPG highway; equipped with the DSG, it does slightly better at 31/42 MPG, 2 MPG better than the 2009 VW Jetta TDI.

Here's the press release:

2010 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF:
SIMPLY PUT—THE BEST GOLF OF ALL TIMES THAT ONCE
AGAIN SETS NEW STANDARDS FOR ITS CLASS

HERNDON, VA, September 28, 2009 – For 2010, the venerable Volkswagen
Golf is ready to stand out yet again-sporting fresh, dynamic styling inside and
out. The Golf, now in its sixth generation, will be available with the highly
anticipated, athletic yet extremely fuel efficient, TDI clean diesel engine.
Available in both two and four-door models, the new Golf carries the Volkswagen
brand heritage into overdrive with proven, German-engineered performance and
refinement at affordable starting prices. The new Golf starts at $17,490 for the
two-door model, and $19,190 for the four-door version. Several options are
available to make the 2010 Golf a perfect choice for those consumers who
demand a compact car that is equipped to not only be functional when called
upon, but also looks, drives, and feels fun at the same time.
Having already been honored as the "World Car of the Year," the latest-
generation Golf promises more vigor, better usability and the best fuel economy
of any Golf to date.

Exterior
From the first glance, the 2010 Golf proudly shows off the new "face" of the
Volkswagen brand with an all-new front end design that includes a wider, double-
bar grille that blends into angled halogen headlamps for a sportier visage (High
Intensity Gas-discharged Xenon headlamps are available as an option on the
TDI model). The body-colored bumper sits above a revised lower front fascia
featuring a wide-mouthed cooling duct. Crystalline oval fog lamps complete the front fascia on TDI models. These elements, combined with the Golf's wider
appearance give the hatchback a more commanding road presence.
Black window trim and the absence of side moldings keep things simple
along the sides, for a cleaner look that remains pleasing to the eye. Heading to
the rear, a hatch spoiler with integrated third brake light sits atop the hatch and is
painted to match the rest of the body while touching on the Golf's sporty
capabilities. Updated taillights mimic their counterparts from up front, and feature
integrated clear turn signal and reverse indicators along the bottom edge.
Running lights are blended into the lower rear bumper which adds a blacked out
insert and a cutout for a pair of exhaust tips.

Engine and Transmission
The 2010 Golf will be available with the choice of two engines, customers
can choose a 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder gasoline engine, or the 50-state
compliant, 2.0-liter four-cylinder clean diesel TDI engine.
The standard 2.5L engine puts out a very usable 170 horsepower at 5,700
rpm, and a potent 177 lbs.-ft. of torque at 4,250 rpm. The 2.5L features an
aluminum alloy cross flow head with four valves per cylinder, double overhead
camshafts, maintenance-free hydraulic lifters, and Motronic® sequential multi-port
fuel injection.
A five-speed manual transmission comes standard on the two-door model,
and a six-speed automatic gearbox with Tiptronic® control is standard on the
four-door, which allows drivers to shift manually with an up or down push of the
gear lever. The manual transmission with the 2.5L engine results in a quick zero
to 60 mph time of 7.8 seconds, and rewards drivers with a return of 22 mpg in the
city, and 30 mpg on the highway. Drivers who option their Golf with the six-speed
automatic transmission can enjoy 23 mpg in city driving and 30 mpg for highway
travel, and an 8.1 second run to 60 mph from a standstill.
For drivers that desire a fuel-sipping compact that emits 25 percent less
greenhouse gas and achieves more than 30 percent better fuel economy
compared to a similar gasoline engine, the 2010 Golf equipped with the 2.0L
clean diesel TDI engine is more than up to the task. Available in both two-door
and four-door models, the Golf TDI is marked by its fusion of German-tuned
performance and impressive fuel economy – compliments of an advanced
electronically-controlled turbocharger and the electronically-controlled direct
injection fuel system. The valve train consists of a single overhead camshaft, four
valves per cylinder and maintenance-free hydraulic lifters for added piece of
mind. All combined, the 2.0L powerhouse produces 140 horsepower at 4,000
rpm, and an impressive 236 lbs.-ft. of torque between 1,750 and 2,500 rpm.
To deliver all that power to the road smoothly, a traditional six-speed
manual transmission comes standard on the clean diesel TDI, and is good for an
EPA-estimated 30 mpg during city travel, 41 mpg on the highway, and zero to 60
mph time of 8.6 seconds. Drivers can also go for the optional six-speed
automatic Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG®) transmission with Tiptronic, and have the
performance of a manual gearbox with the effortless precision of an automatic
transmission. The DSG uses an automated dual-clutch system that instantly
engages and disengages gears without the need for a driver-activated clutch
pedal. A computer engages one clutch on the next gear needed, just as the
clutch from the previous gear is released. Each resulting shift is quick yet
smooth, and lacks the power loss that occurs when using a traditional manual
transmission. Tiptronic mode stops the transmission's automated shifting and
instead lets the driver control gear changes by either tapping the gearshift lever
up or down, or using the shift paddles mounted to the steering wheel. With the
DSG transmission, the Golf clean diesel TDI models provide 30 mpg in the city
and 42 mpg on the highway, as well as an 8.6 second sprint from zero to 60
mph.

Chassis and Suspension
The new Golf yearns to be driven and inspires drivers with the confidence
to do so with the utmost of ease and comfort, whether cruising along the
highways, or taking on the twists and turns of country roads. At its core is a laser-
welded unibody construction that remains stiff and helps keep everything in line
as the Golf zips along. At the front, a fully independent suspension with
McPherson struts and an anti-roll bar comes standard on the 2.5L models, while
the TDI models include an updated sport suspension for improved road-hugging
dynamics. Moving to the rear, a fully independent four-link arrangement with coil
springs, telescopic shocks and another stabilizer bar keep the Golf agile yet
rider-friendly in most any driving situation.
Steering is enhanced with an electro-mechanical, variably-assisted, power
rack-and-pinion system that, when combined with a quick ratio, gives an
unprecedented level of control and accuracy in the corners and out on the
straights. Bringing the Golf to a halt are power assisted four wheel disc brakes,
with vented rotors at the front and solid rotors at the rear and the safety of an
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). The advanced braking system works
seamlessly with the car's Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) that includes a
collection of traction and safety features such as Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR),
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA), and Electronic
Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD).

Interior
On the inside, the latest Golf carries its refinement throughout with a variety
of stylish additions that will aim to keep drivers and passengers comfortable and
pleased. All models start out with eight-way manually adjustable sports seats at
the front, which include two-way adjustable lumbar support, and adjustable head
restraints. The rear seats include adjustable head restraints for all seating
positions, a center armrest, and have 60/40 split folding capability for maximizing
cargo space when needed. Both the front and rear seats come standard with
Volkswagen's "Me2" cloth fabric. Heated seats are available as an option on all
2010 Golf models with the cold weather package, which also adds convenient
heated windshield washer nozzles. At the helm, the updated three-spoke
steering wheel features an embossed center section, and is upgraded to a
leather-wrapped version with multifunction controls on TDI models.
Brushed metallic appearance trim inserts are standard on the dash and in
the door panels of all Golf models, and accent the redesigned instrument panel
and center console. Chrome trim surrounds the tachometer on the left side,
which incorporates an integrated temperature gauge, and the speedometer on
the right, has an integrated fuel gauge. Located between the black analog
gauges is a multi-function onboard computer display that provides the driver with
key information regarding the selected gear, fuel mileage, odometer, and more.
Up top, a full power sunroof can be ordered on all Golf models.
The HVAC system controls are handled by a more ergonomic arrangement
of knobs and buttons versus the more traditional dial and button layout,
complimenting the different stereo and navigation systems available. Standard
on the 2.5L models is an eight-speaker AM/FM radio system with single-disc CD
player, MP3 CD readability, and an auxiliary input jack for connecting portable
media players. All TDI models come standard with a touch-screen 8-speaker
sound system featuring an AM/FM/Sirius™ satellite radio, in-dash six-disc CD
changer with MP3 CD readability, theft deterrence, and an auxiliary input jack.
Mobile Device Interface (MDI) is also standard with the TDI model. For
audiophiles, the crystal clear 300W Dynaudio Lite premium sound system is
available as an option for TDI models, while Bluetooth™ connectivity, for hands-
free calling with a paired mobile phone, is an option on all 2010 Golf models.
The Golf TDI can be ordered with the new touch-screen navigation system
with a 6.5" high resolution display, integrated 30GB hard drive (10GB for
navigation, 20GB for audio), WMA / MP3 audio CD playback, DVD playback, an
SD memory card slot and a 3.5mm auxiliary input jack in the center console. The
system provides both visual and audible commands through the center console
display, as well as the digital display located in the instrument cluster.

Active and Passive Safety
The new Golf upholds Volkswagen's full-line promise of riding protection for
drivers and passengers alike, and includes the Prevent and Preserve Safety
System with 40 different standard features that all work together to help avoid
accidents whenever possible and help protect occupants when an accident is
unavoidable. These include six airbags (dual front, dual front side thorax, and
side curtains), optimized front head restraints, front seatbelt pretensioners with
load limiters, three-point safety belts in all five seating positions (two front and
three rear) with emergency locking retractors, and more. Four-door Golf models
also offer the option of having rear side thorax airbags for outboard passengers.
In addition to the above standout safety items, the 2010 Golf, like all 2010
Volkswagen models, comes with the Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP®) as
standard equipment, ahead of the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration's (NHTSA) mandate that by 2012, all vehicles produced will need
to include some form of Electronic Stability Control (ESC). According to NHTSA,
having ESC in a vehicle results in 35 percent fewer single-vehicle crashes and
30 percent fewer single-vehicle fatalities in passenger cars. Volkswagen's ESP
compares the driver's intended course with the vehicle's actual direction. If a
discrepancy is detected, ESP automatically brakes individual front or rear wheels
and/or reduces engine power as needed to help maintain directional control.

Warranty
The 2010 Golf comes standard with 24-hour Roadside Assistance for three
years or 36,000 miles (whichever occurs first), plus the following new vehicle
warranties:
• Five-year / 60,000 mile (whichever occurs first) Powertrain Limited Warranty
• Three-year / 36,000 mile (whichever occurs first) New Vehicle Warranty
• 12-year unlimited distance Limited Warranty against corrosion perforation
The Golf, like all 2010 model year Volkswagens, is included in the no-
charge Carefree Maintenance Program. Under this program, all of the Golf's
scheduled maintenance, as described in the maintenance booklet, is covered for
the length of the New Vehicle Warranty – three years or 36,000 miles, whichever
occurs first. Additionally, all current Volkswagens, including the Golf, use
synthetic oil, which, when combined with state-of-the-art German engineering,
eliminates the need for a 5,000 mile oil change. This ultimately allows for all
current Volkswagen owners to driver farther between scheduled oil changes.