New Volkswagen Polo R-Line and Passat Exclusive Edition

European customers now have new choices when it comes to Volkswagen's Polo supermini and the Passat as the German brand is expanding its customization program for the two aforementioned models.

For the Polo, Volkswagen has introduced two R-Line styling packages. The first is the R-Line Exterior package that is available as an option for the Polo Comfortline (€1,450) and the Polo Highline (€1,010).

It includes 16- or optionally 17-inch alloy wheels shod in beefy 215 tires, black gloss finish for the front grille, model-specific front and rear bumpers, a rear diffuser, chrome tail pipes, a roof spoiler, side skirts, fog lamps and LED license plate illumination.

The second option for the Polo is the R-Line Plus that styles up the interior. Priced at €855 for the Polo Comfortline and €450 for the Polo Highline, it brings a pair of sport seats up front (optionally available in Alcantara and leather), black roof lining, a sport leather steering wheel, glossy black dashboard trim, and aluminum pedals and door sills.

Moving on the Passat, Volkswagen has created the Exclusive Edition based on the Highline trim level that is available as a four-door sedan at €32,450, and as a Variant (station wagon) at €33,625.

On the outside, the Passat Exclusive Edition features bespoke 18-inch alloy wheels and a 15mm lowered ride height thanks to the sport suspension.

Most of the changes take place inside where VW's R GmbH division has equipped the Passat with Nappa leather seats in a "chocolate brown" hue with colored stitching and piping in a contrasting "Pepper White", leather door panels and steering wheel, special floor mats, and a combination of wood and metal-like trim.

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Volkswagen Passat With Auto Pilot

Auto Pilot system combines other driver-assistance function and is able to drive the car alone at speeds of up to 130 km/h (81 mph).

Volkswagen is using its research subsidies wisely.

The German automaker is working on a system called Temporary Auto Pilot (TAP) which can semi-automatically drive a car on its own under limited conditions.

TAP works by combining other functions like ACC adaptive cruise control and Lane Assist (which helps keep the car within a lane) into an integrated system. Always monitored by the driver, and always leaving her/him the ability to override the system when needed, TAP can drive a car 'semi-automatically' at speeds of up to 130 km/h (81 mph) on a highway.

The system was developed by VW as part of the EU funded R&D project HAVEit ("Highly Automated Vehicles for Intelligent Transport") where the TAP system was presented as a complete project.

Said Volkswagen's Executive Director for Research, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Leohold:

"[This is] an important milestone on the path towards fully automatic and accident-free driving."

Sounds great. Hey, how about an onboard toilet?

Source: VW

2011 Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion

Volkswagen has announced final specifications for the Passat BlueMotion.

Available as a sedan or estate, the eco-minded family car is powered by a 1.6-liter TDI engine that produces 105 PS (77 kW / 103 hp) and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque. This enables the sedan to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 12.2 seconds and hit a top speed of 198 km/h (0-100 km/h in 12.2 seconds and a top speed of 196 km/h in the estate). More importantly, thanks to a start/stop system, improved aerodynamics and a lowered ride height, owners can expect to average 4.1 L/100km with CO2 emissions of 109 g/km (4.3 L/100km and 113 g/km in the estate). That's an improvement of 0.1 L/100km for both sedan and wagon.

Currently available at dealerships, the Passat BlueMotion is priced from €26,450 in Germany.

VW Releases UK Pricing for New Passat Ahead of January Launch

Starting from Tuesday [Oct.19], UK buyers will be able to place their order for the redesigned Volkswagen Passat. Available in sedan and Estate variants, the new car will cost from £18,470 for the entry-level saloon with a 122HP 1.4-liter TSI petrol to £26,955 for the station-wagon with the 170HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel and a DSG transmission.

Revealed for the first time at the Paris Motor Show in the beginning of October, the 2011 Passat has been cosmetically refreshed inside and out, while all diesel engines are now equipped with VW's BlueMotion Technology featuring battery regeneration and Stop/Start systems as standard.

Currently, the most fuel efficient model in the range is the entry-level 1.6-litre TDI 105HP which VW says is capable of exceeding the economy of the outgoing BlueMotion model with a combined economy of 65.7 UK mpg [54.7 mpg US] and CO2 emissions of 114 g/km. In early 2011, VW will expand the Passat's lineup with the new BlueMotion model that will return 68.8 mpg [57.2 mpg US] and emit 109 g/km of CO2.

The new Passat will be available in the UK in three trim levels (S, SE and Sport), with all models fitted with six airbags, ABS, ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme) and WOKS (whiplash-optimised head restraints) as standard.

Additional standard equipment over the outgoing models include an iPod interface and leather multifunction steering wheel for the S model; an eight-speaker digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity and the new driver fatigue detection system for the SE trim level, and a new RNS 315 touchscreen satellite navigation for the Sport variants.

According to the German automaker, the best-selling version of the new Passat in the UK is forecast to be the SE 2.0-litre TDI 140 PS model, while the company also said it expects the Estate to out-sell the sedan model for the first time with sales accounting for around 53 per cent of total volume.

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