This isn’t the first time the new Polo has been recognised for it excellence. This year it has already been named Best Car 2009 by “auto motor sport” magazine and just a few days ago it won the Auto Trophy by “Autozeitung”, the German language automobile enthusiast magazine.

“The new Polo stands for German engineering craftsmanship and superior cutting edge technology. The fifth generation Polo was designed to address customer expectations with even greater uncompromising standards. That is why we are naturally very pleased to see our efforts validated in the form of this award,” says Professor Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management, Volkswagen Group.

Polo is Car of the Year 2010 is a post from: Reviews 4 Cars

To do this they developed a specially revised map for the Scirocco 2.0 TDi’s engine management system, which was refined to increase the performance. Normally the VW Scirocco 2.0 TDi produces 138bhp (103 KW) but after APS get their hands on it a Scirocco 2.0 TDi will boasts 170bhp (127KW).

Interestly, fuel economy is unaffected by the APS Stage One performance upgrade, so a combined figure of 55mpg can be expected.

Priced at £499.00 fitted, including VAT @ 15%, the APS Stage One VW Scirocco 2.0 TDi performance upgrade is available now.

APS Can Add 32BHP To Your Scirocco Coupe is a post from: Reviews 4 Cars

The title of this post deserves a sub-title along the lines of “the future is here today”, but I will resist the temptation! However driverless cars are getting more and more credible ever year.

Recently, Stanford University’s School of Engineering and Volkswagen America held a special dedication ceremony for the new Volkswagen Automotive Innovation Laboratory (VAIL) which will do research on vehicle-safety, environmental issues, as well as continuing work on autonomous driving. And this is where the car that parks itself comes in.

As part of the ceremony the Standard/VW team demonstrated the “first ever” autonomous parking by a driverless car. The VW Passat called Junior entered into a car park, found the firs empty space and reversed into it. There was nobody in the car… It was all handled by computer.

At the same event VAIL also unveiled the Pike’s Peak Audi TT-S, that they hope will drive itself up the 2010 Pikes Peak course without a driver.

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest motor sports race in America. The race is run on a 12.42 mile course with 156 turns that begins at 9,390 feet and finishes at the 14,110 foot summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs.

Cars That Drive Themselves is a post from: Reviews 4 Cars

Volkswagen has confirmed the specifications and availability for the Scirocco R and Golf R which are developed by Volkswagen’s special projects wing. The Golf R is the fastest accelerating Volkswagen ever produced!

The Scirocco R develops 265 PS with its 2.0-litre TSI four-cylinder engine and a six speed manual gearbox. And if fitted with the DSG gearbox it can do 0 to 62mph in 5.8 seconds. The Golf R with as a similar 2.0-litre engine producing 270 PS and the 3-door version with the DSG gearbox can hit 62 in 5.5 seconds.

For the first time on an ‘R’ model, the Scirocco R is front wheel drive and is fitted with the XDS electronic cross-axle traction control system to ensure improved grip in all conditions. While the Golf R uses a pre-charged hydraulic version of Volkswagen’s 4MOTION four wheel drive system.

To set the ‘R’ models apart from a conventional Scirocco or Golf, both feature unique styling features. New front bumpers complete with LED running lights and a trio of deep airdams, Xenon lights which frame gloss black grille elements, gloss black wing mirrors, sill extensions and 18-inch five-spoke ‘Talladega’ alloy wheels housing gloss black ‘R’ callipers give the new models a purposeful look.

At the back, both models feature roof mounted spoilers and are fitted with twin exit exhausts; the Golf R’s positioned in the centre of a gloss black diffuser and the Scirocco R’s mounted on either side. Smoked rear light units, which on the Golf house high-intensity LED bulbs, further differentiate the R models.

The first examples of these ‘R’ specials are expected to arrive in showrooms in February 2010.

Scirocco R And Golf R Available To Order is a post from: Reviews 4 Cars

Volkswagen has launched its greenest Golf yet, this new VW Golf will do 74.3 mile per gallon. Back in July, Volkswagen announced a new, highly efficient Golf model which did 68.9 MPG, now this new model is beat that by 5.4 miles per gallon.

The new BlueMotion Golf uses as its basis the standard Golf’s 1.6-litre TDI common rail engine, but the BlueMotion has a number of additional features which enhance economy and reduce emissions. These include a Start/Stop system, regenerative braking, hill hold, longer gear ratios, low rolling resistance tyres, a multifunction computer showing recommended gear changes for maximum economy and sports suspension.

The new BlueMotion Golf costs £17,325 (RRP OTR) with a £585 premium for the five-door model. While this is £785 more than the standard S 1.6-litre TDI 105 PS Golf, the BlueMotion Golf is exempt from annual road tax and a driver covering 10,000 miles per year will save over £120 per year in fuel savings alone.

Most Fuel-Efficient Golf Launched is a post from: Reviews 4 Cars

The acclaimed new Scirocco also marks the introduction of a new range of personal finance packages from Volkswagen Finance – making the new coupé even more affordable.

The Scirocco makes its return 34 years after the launch of the original Volkswagen coupé – of which over 77,000 examples were sold in the UK.

Equipped from launch with a powerful 2.0-litre TSI 200 PS engine linked to a choice of six-speed manual or DSG gearboxes the new Scirocco is fitted with six airbags as standard along with air-conditioning, a touchscreen CD stereo and Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC) which allows the damping to alter to suit the road conditions.

Prices for the new Scirocco start at £20,940 fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox, rising to £22,270 for the DSG-equipped vehicle.

New Scirocco Hits the Road is a post from: Reviews 4 Cars

The Caddy Topos Sail design concept, based on the smallest model in the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle van range, uses design cues from classic yachts and has its multi-functional roof covered with wooden decking surrounded by aluminium roof rails.

The wooden sun deck on the roof is accessed via four matching wooden and aluminium steps in the Caddy’s tailgate, and to complete the design theme there are wooden inserts along the side of the vehicle and in the rear bumper.

Other highlights of the Volkswagen stand demonstrate its strong heritage in leisure vehicles with a celebration of 20 years of the California camper.

Volkswagen campers became popular almost as soon as the Transporter van was introduced in the 1950s, and the California model was introduced in 1988 when the third generation of the Volkswagen Transporter was in production.

With California conversions of the subsequent fourth generation of Transporter van and today’s latest fifth generation model, more than 80,000 have been sold, which must make it one of the most successful campers ever.

Today’s California was introduced in 2006 and is unique as it is now made by Volkswagen, who must be the only vehicle manufacturer to produce its own camper.  It is built to the same high quality standards as the rest of the range, and sold with a full three year warranty.

Concept – A Caddy with a Boat Deck! is a post from: Reviews 4 Cars