CEO Martin Winterkorn wants VW to become the world’s number one automotive group by 2018. While the company is currently is Europe’s number one and it has increased its sales in China, Russia and Brazil, in the U.S., despite posting a 31 percent increase in 2012, it trails both General Motors and Toyota.

With its European sales having plunged by 15 percent due to the debt crisis and the market set for another decline in 2013, the sixth in a row, the German group is focusing its push in the Americas.

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Volkswagen says the European market launch of its seventh-generation Golf is exceeding all expectations and that it is struggling to meet demand after having received more than 100,000 orders for the compact model, which is currently available in three- and five-door hatchback body styles. Read more »

The new model has received five stars from Euro NCAP and and prestigious Euro NCAP Advanced Awards for innovation in the field of security.

In addition to the system Lane Assist and Front Assist, recognition from Euro NCAP experts have earned the security of passengers and the emergency braking assistant multiple collisions Multicollision brake assist, called the most significant innovative solutions in the automotive industry.

The highest award the new Golf has received for it implements a system of occupant protection, the effectiveness of which was monitored in a collision with a pillar, as well as front and side impacts. Rear impact assessed ability to protect occupants from whiplash injuries. Volkswagen took care professionals and the safety of young travelers. This is clearly proved by tests using dummies the size appropriate for children 1.5-3 years. No less convincing results looked security systems designed to protect pedestrians.

In addition to the security of passengers, Golf seventh generation features and auxiliary systems. In addition to the included standard with emergency braking assistant and installed as an option for passive occupant protection novelty can be equipped with adaptive cruise control with brake assist City Emergency Braking, system Front Assist, the system of recognition of driver fatigue, assistant traffic on the strip tracking function for road markings. All the new Golf can be set up to seven auxiliary systems, which significantly increases the level of safety of the car.

In the case of car skids and the inevitable collision with other road safety system closes the side windows, thereby increasing the efficiency of operation of the side airbags and airbags to protect the head of the driver and passengers.

On the eve of the 2012 SEMA Show, Volkswagen presented its range of customized cars that include six Beetles and one Golf Mk6 tune.

The lineup kicks off with the "Ultimate Super Beetle" show car built in collaboration with performance specialist APR and the VWvortex team. The concept is based on the 2013 Beetle Turbo with the 2.0-liter TFSI, which in factory trim, produces 200-horses.

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It has been almost two months since Ford published the third episode of its "Focus ST Sessions" web on August 29, only to remove the video a few hours later, without ever explaining why it did so.

Now we see that the Blue Oval has re-launched the clip under the new title "(Abandoned) Block Party", again featuring the Focus ST versus the VW Golf GTI Mk6 with professional drivers Ken Block and Vaughn Gittin Jr. taking the wheel. Obviously, you will be wondering if Ford changed anything in the latest clip.

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Volkswagen isn't alone in preparing for the European launch of the brand new, seventh generation Golf in the second week of November; joining the Wolfsburg-based brand is an expanding group of tuners that are working on a variety of performance components and cosmetic upgrades.

German car magazine Autobild was able to get an early look at what three renowned VW Group tuners are reading for the new Golf hatchback with preliminary renderings and in the case of ABT, some initial details on the performance packages.

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When it comes to tuners and photo shoots with pretty ladies, 99.9 percent of the times, the girls are professional models who have nothing to do with the cars that they are posing together.

Nevertheless, there's always that one exception to the rule, which brings us to German aftermarket and racing tuner BBM Motorsport and Andrea Friedrich.

Apart from being a qualified real estate agent [sic] and having won the Miss Yamaha 2012 and Monster Energy Girl titles, the 23-year-old woman has also obtained an "A" racing license and will participate at events such as the Nürburgring-based VLN and GLP series.

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In exactly a month's time to the day, Volkswagen will begin deliveries of the seventh generation of its Golf (which is already available for order), in Germany and other European countries.

The automaker is wasting no time enriching the range of the Golf Mk7, as VW announced today the addition of three new petrol engines, the option of 4Motion all-wheel drive on certain models, and a new “Driver Assistance Pack”.

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One of our tipsters tells us that in Russia, a yellow sign with an exclamation mark represents the same thing that the British "L-plate" does: a newly licensed driver.

In this case, we have not one, but allegedly two future Russian driving stars in the making, the first sitting behind the wheel of a Chinese Lifan hatchback and the other a previous iteration of the Volkswagen Golf.

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One of the reasons why Volkswagen hasn't officially mentioned anything about the North American availability of the new, seventh generation Golf that was presented at the Paris Motor Show last week, is because it hasn't reached a final decision on where it will produce the compact hatchback for the local market.

Nevertheless, that may change soon as VW CEO Martin Winterkorn told German magazine Automobilwoche, a sister publication of Autonews, that the company is leaning towards its factory in Puebla, Mexico, for the North American production of the new Golf. The same plant also builds the Jetta saloon.

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The seventh generation of the Volkswagen Golf, which just received its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show last week, will cost from £16,330 OTR (US$26,250 or €20,350 at the current rates) when it goes on sale in the United Kingdom on October 18, with first deliveries due in January.

This means that, even though better equipped, the new entry-level Golf S 3-door with the 1.2-litre TSI 84HP (85PS) petrol unit starts from a price lower point than the respective outgoing model with the same engine (£16,425).

In Britain, the Golf will launch in two body styles, three- and five-door hatchbacks, both available in three trim levels named S, SE and GT, plus a choice of four petrol engines and two diesels.

In 2013, the range will be enhanced with the production variants of the 217bhp (220PS) GTI and the frugal (88.3mpg UK / 73.5mpg US / 3.2lt per 100km) diesel-powered BlueMotion.

The petrol engine lineup at launch starts with a four-cylinder 1.2-litre TSI unit producing 84hp (85PS), rising via a 1.2-litre TSI 104hp (105PS) and a 1.4-litre TSI 120hp (122PS) motor to the all-new 1.4-litre TSI 138hp (140PS) engine with Active Cylinder Technology.

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A version of the seventh generation of the popular GTI model, which we will have in March.

Hot modification was 2.0 turbo 220 hp. with. and 350 Nm, and a set of Performance Package offers increased in 10 forces. In the first case, acceleration 0-100 km / h to be 6.6 in the second - 6.5 seconds. The maximum speed of 250 km / h

By default, the car comes with a six-speed mechanics, for a fee accessible shestidiapazonny robot DSG dual clutch. Average fuel consumption should not exceed 6.0 l/100 km (18% compared to its predecessor), carbon dioxide emissions - 140 g / km.

Serial VW Golf GTI will be shown next autumn in Frankfurt.

Meanwhile, the details became known to the Russian Golf: he will appear at dealers in March, and the cost will be slightly more expensive than ever. For our car market will provide increased ground clearance and other springs. Gamma engines in Russia will be represented by all units except the diesel 1.6.