Monday, January 13, 2014

Volkswagen Golf GTD, 2014

 
 
 
  •  Volkswagen Golf GTD, 2014

There is a new Volkswagen Golf GTD. With 135 kW / 184 PS, up to 380 Nm torque, a combined fuel consumption of just 4.2 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of just 109 g/km, this sporty and sharply designed GTD is more powerful, fuel-efficient and lower-emitting than ever. Compared to the previous model, it offers 14 more PS, 30 Nm more torque, 0.9 l/100 km less fuel consumption and a 25 g/km improvement in CO2 emissions. As an option, Volkswagen offers the GTD with an automatic dual-clutch gearbox (DSG); here too, a low fuel consumption value of 4.5 l/100 km (CO2: 119 g/km) shows the diesel to be a highly efficient car. In both gearbox versions, the new Golf GTD conforms to the Euro-6 emissions standard that takes effect in 2014.

Stop/start system and 7.5 seconds
This Golf is the first GTD to have a stop/start system on board as standard, and in battery regeneration mode it utilises deceleration phases to charge the battery. The 2.0-litre common rail turbo-diesel of the EA288 engine series was not only networked with these "BlueMotion Technologies"; it was also completely redesigned. The results: pure efficiency. The Volkswagen Golf GTD accelerates to 100 km/h in just 7.5 seconds. In fourth gear, this Volkswagen handles the classic overtaking manoeuvre (80 to 120 km/h) in a safe 6.0 seconds. Its top speed of 230 km/h (DSG: 228 km/h) demonstrates that it is a genuine sports car as well. The same applies to its noted maximum torque of 380 Nm, which is available at a constant value from 1,750 to 3,250 rpm.

Superior handling properties
Attributes of its special position as a sporty car also include standard features such as the further advanced XDS+ vehicle dynamics function, progressive steering that is as direct as it is comfortable, sport suspension (15 mm lower) and 17-inch ("Curitiba") wheels with size 225 tyres. This combination produces handling properties that advance into the range of high-class and high-priced sports cars.

Sound actuator and driving profile selector
An optional sound actuator exclusively developed for the VW Golf GTD can add acoustic emphasis to the work of the TDI. Based on the engine speed and mode of the selected driver profile selector ? an option that is automatically paired with the sound actuator ? is controlled via CAN bus and generates either a comfort-oriented sound ("Normal" and "Eco" modes) or a powerful and sonorous timbre ("Sport" mode). The engine noise is routed over the actuator integrated in the engine compartment and into the interior via the windscreen, and from there it is experienced as a sound generated from the outside via the exhaust system. However, it is actually inaudible outside of the car. The faster the GTD drives, the quieter the sound, so that long-distance comfort is unaffected.

Cornering lights in front spoiler
Like the new Golf GTI, the Golf GTD also leaves the factory in Wolfsburg with bi-xenon headlights including cornering lights as standard. While the front end of the Golf GTI sports a red painted trim strip, the GTD glistens with a trim strip in understated and elegant chrome. This chrome trim strip extends into the headlights and divides the front end into an upper area with LED daytime running lights and bi-xenon elements and a lower section with the turn indicators. Beneath this is the bumper designed specifically for the GT models with (optional) LED fog lights integrated on the right and left as well as air guide elements painted in gloss black and the lower radiator grille insert with its black honeycomb structure.

Privacy glass for rear seating area
At the rear, the smoked LED rear lights with integrated white trim strips at the height of the tornado line for the reversing lights, dual chrome tailpipes mounted on the left, GT-specific roof edge spoiler with lateral aerodynamic elements on the rear windscreen and GTD badge all make this car out as the sportiest Golf ever with a TDI engine. For the first time on the "GT models", it is also possible to order rear windows with factory-installed rear glass that has 90 per cent instead of 65 per cent tinting. As for the Golf GTI, the selection of standard body colours for the new GTD includes the three classic GT body colours "Tornado red", "Black" and "Pure White".

Sport seats with style
Passengers enter the passenger compartment over standard white illuminated stainless steel sill plates. The driver and front passenger sit down on sport seats upholstered with a classic GT tartan pattern fabric - which is called "Clark" in the GTD (and GTI). The seats of the GTI and GTD are identical in concept. In front, they are both equipped with height adjustment, a manual lumbar support and a pocket on the seatback. Their ergonomic properties are ideal. Visually, instead of the red coloured elements of the GTI, the GTD elements feature a melange of black, grey and white colour hues as well as chrome parts. A leather interior ("Vienna") may be ordered as an option. A black roofliner rounds out the sporty ambience in an upward direction.

Touchscreen and ambience lighting
Along with the automatic climate control system (Climatronic), Driver Alert System and Composition Touch radio system (including SD cart slot and AUX-IN interface), ambience lighting is also a standard feature. The pedal caps and foot rest made of brushed stainless steel, the three-spoke, multifunction leather-trimmed, flat-bottomed sport steering wheel (with aluminium accents), a GTD gear shift grip and the instrument cluster with extended adjustment options of the "Premium" multifunction display are all indicative of the exclusive-sporty flair aboard the new Volkswagen Golf GTD.

Navigation with Google Earth
The sporty long-distance icon is the first VW Golf GTD to launch with technologies - in addition to such systems as XDS+ and progressive steering -that include the Driver Alert System and Post-Collision Braking System as standard. Meanwhile, optional high-tech features include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), the surroundings monitoring system Front Assist plus City Emergency Braking, Lane Assist lane-keeping assistant and the latest generation of DCC dynamic chassis control (including driver profile selector). Also new on-board is a 400 Watt sound system from Dynaudio that was customised for the model series. Another new option in the programme: Car Net for transmitting online information such as the Google Earth map service.
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Mini Paceman John Cooper Works, 2014

 
 
 
  •  Mini Paceman John Cooper Works, 2014

The MINI John Cooper Works Countryman's assured road manners are complemented by a comprehensive array of safety equipment. The car's high strength body structure teams up with standard safety features - including front and side airbags, side curtain airbags for the front and rear seats, three point inertia-reel seat belts for all occupants, belt tensioners and belt force limiters for the front seats, and ISOFIX child seat attachments in the rear - to provide outstanding occupant protection all-round.

Muscular proportions, dynamic lines and an aerodynamic kit mould the unmistakable figure of an elite sportsman

The new model sees the compact Sports Activity Coupé concept re-emerge in an extra layer of muscular proportions and dynamically stretched lines. Long doors, the coupé-style roof swooping downwards from the windscreen and side windows tapering towards the rear shape the side view of the car. The upright front end exudes power and presence, while the broad-set rear - with its large tailgate - offers a hint of the car's surefooted road holding. The performance-maxing character of the MINI Paceman John Cooper Works is further emphasised by an aerodynamic kit. The particularly muscular front and rear aprons and bespoke side skirts ensure the airflow around the car is even more efficient. The aerodynamic kit is part of standard specification for the MINI Paceman John Cooper Works, as is the sports exhaust system with polished stainless steel tailpipe embellishers and the 18-inch light-alloy wheels in Twin Spoke Black Burnished design with polished spoke fronts and black rim wells. Among the items on the options list are exclusive 19-inch light-alloy wheels in Cross-Spoke Crusher design. John Cooper Works logos on the radiator grille, tailgate, door sill strips and side indicator surrounds provide additional confirmation of the car's identity.
 
Irresistible combination: sports car ambience in the cockpit, lounge setting in the rear
Inside the car, the distinctive interior design combines with the customary sports car ambience of John Cooper Works models to particularly alluring effect. The two individual rear seats offer impressive shoulder and headroom, outstanding lateral support and unusually high levels of comfort. The armrests in the rear side panels further enhance the lounge-style character of the rear compartment. These are integrated into a circular rear trim element, which matches the colour and material of the seats. The individual seat layout is highlighted by two mouldings in the load compartment cover which extend out from immediately behind the head restraints into the rear. The rear seat backrests can be folded down separately, allowing the boot capacity of the MINI Paceman John Cooper Works to grow from 330 to as much as 1,080 litres.

A sports steering wheel with red contrast stitching and John Cooper Works logo, dark-coloured dials for the 260 km/h (162 mph) speedometer and the rev counter, an anthracite-coloured roof liner, a gearshift lever with red shift pattern lettering, red contrast stitching for the gearshift lever gaiter, and floor mats with red stitching are all part of the standard equipment count for the extreme sports model, as are cloth sports seats in Diagonal Track John Cooper Works Carbon Black trim with red contrast stitching. Lounge Leather sports seats in Carbon Black Championship Red are available as an option. Standard Piano Black interior trim strips add the finishing touches to the racing-inspired aura inside the MINI Paceman John Cooper Works. Exclusive Chili Red trim - consisting of red elements for the cockpit and doors and a red stripe for the otherwise black trim strips on the centre console - can be ordered as an option.

The MINI Paceman John Cooper Works built alongside all the other variants of the brand's first Sports Activity Coupé and the MINI Countryman at the BMW Group's partner firm Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik in Graz, Austria. Production will take place on a separate assembly line set up and operated according to the exacting standards of the BMW Group. As with all the brand's models, the high-performance powerplant for this sharpest of all MINI Paceman models will be sourced from the Hams Hall engine plant, one corner of the MINI production triangle in England.

Racing expertise fuels peak performance - Engine and gearbox
Instantaneous power delivery and an unquenchable appetite for revs define the 1,598 cc four-cylinder engine powering the MINI Paceman John Cooper Works. The latest generation of the turbocharged John Cooper Works engine brings together technical details honed in race competition and cuttingedge innovations developed by the BMW Group's powertrain experts. Highlights include reinforced pistons, a weight-optimised crankshaft, an aluminium cylinder block and bearing mount, and further optimisation of the air supply and exhaust gas discharge system. Plus, the turbocharger is twinned with a generously sized intercooler. The four valves of each cylinder are operated by two overhead camshafts, low-friction rocker arms and hydraulic valve clearance compensation elements. The exhaust valves are sodium-filled to help provide the extra cooling required by a turbocharged engine.

The twin-scroll turbocharger joins forces with petrol direct injection and variable valve control based on the BMW Group's VALVETRONIC technology. This throttle-free load control system significantly improves both the engine's responsiveness and its efficiency.

The MINI Paceman John Cooper Works's powerplant develops its maximum output of 160 kW/218 hp at 6,000 rpm. Peak torque of 280 Newton metres (207 lb-ft) is on tap between 1,900 and 5,000 rpm, and can be increased to 300 Newton metres (221 lb-ft) for short periods between 2,100 and 4,500 rpm using the overboost function. This opens the door to gratifyingly vivacious acceleration to which the standard-fitted sports exhaust system provides a suitably striking soundtrack.

The front-mounted transverse engine of the MINI Paceman John Cooper Works teams up as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox. A six-speed automatic is available as an option. Both variants have been revised and retuned to take into account the extra torque developed by the MINI Paceman John Cooper Works's engine, enabling outstanding performance combined with even greater efficiency. The automatic comes with the Steptronic function, which allows the driver to change gear manually using either the selector lever on the centre console or the shift paddles on the steering wheel.

The likewise standard Sport Button on the centre console can be used to tweak the engine's responses and soundtrack, as well as the power assistance provided by the steering. If the automatic gearbox is specified, pressing the Sport Button also quickens up shift times.

Smile-inducing acceleration, impressive efficiency
The choice of gearbox has no effect on the sprinting power of the MINI Paceman John Cooper Works. The new car dashes from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a trifling 6.9 seconds, regardless of whether the engine is sending its power through its manual or automatic conduit. Top speed stands at 226 km/h (140 mph) for the manual version or 224 km/h (139 mph) for the automatic.

The MINI Paceman John Cooper Works marries this impressive performance with eye-catching economy. The engine's inherent efficiency and extensive MINIMALISM technology - such as Brake Energy Regeneration, the Shift Point Display and the Auto Start/Stop function (on manual cars) - are the trump cards here. Among the other components helping to give the Paceman John Cooper Works its efficiency edge are Electric Power Steering, whose electric motor only uses energy when power assistance is actually required, a mapcontrolled oil pump, an on-demand coolant pump, lightweight construction elements and optimised aerodynamic properties. Average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is 7.4 litres (automatic: 7.9 litres) per 100 kilometres / 38.2 (35.8) mpg imp, and CO2 emissions come in at 172 (184) grams per kilometre.

Surging forward with irresistible force - Power transfer and chassis
The MINI Paceman John Cooper Works converts the power of its turbocharged engine into extreme driving fun with compelling responsiveness and unshakable poise and assurance. Pulling the strings behind the scenes are advanced chassis technology - optimised specially for the MINI Paceman John Cooper Works - and the standard-fitted ALL4 all-wheel-drive system; the engine, power transfer and chassis of the new car come together to make a finely-tuned team. The vast well of expertise built up by John Cooper Works over its many years in motor sport underpins the car's captivating, but always controllable, handling.

The bespoke John Cooper Works chassis ensures optimum roadholding and unbeatable agility with every change of direction. And ALL4 allows the inimitable sense of driving fun through enthusiastically taken corners to be enjoyed in even greater depth - off road as well as on.

ALL4 all-wheel-drive system maximises assurance and sporting ability
The ALL4 all-wheel-drive system teams up with the thrillingly potent engine under the bonnet of the MINI Paceman John Cooper Works to deliver a razorsharp interpretation of the brand's trademark go-kart feeling. The ALL4 allwheel- drive system developed for MINI uses an electromagnetic centre differential to distribute drive seamlessly between the front and rear axles. This means power is always sent to the wheels where it can be translated most effectively into forward propulsion. The system therefore not only provides a noticeable increase in traction and driving stability on loose ground and in adverse weather conditions, it also enhances agility in quickly taken corners.

In normal driving situations ALL4 diverts a maximum 50 per cent of the engine's power to the rear wheels, rising all the way to 100 per cent in extreme conditions. This provides - at all times - a traction-led expression of the handling talents for which MINI is famed. The control electronics of the MINI ALL4 system are integrated directly into the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) management unit, which gives ALL4 extremely short response times and allows it to carry out proactive adjustments in the distribution of drive. The system uses the data collected by DSC to tweak the power split pre-emptively and to impressive effect through dynamically taken corners, for example. And that means the driver enjoys outstanding agility combined with surefooted driving characteristics in customary MINI style.

Lowered sports suspension as standard
Another key player in giving the MINI Paceman John Cooper Works its skyhigh levels of driving fun is chassis technology optimised specially for the new model. A single-joint MacPherson spring-strut front axle and forged cross members, a central-arm rear axle, Electric Power Steering with speed-sensitive power assistance and an extremely high-performance braking system with red callipers make for a potent combination. The front brake discs are 307 millimetres in diameter and 24 millimetres thick, the rears 296 x 10 millimetres. The standard sports suspension includes particularly firmly tuned springs and dampers, strengthened anti-roll bars and a 10-millimetre drop in ride height.

18-inch light-alloy wheels in Twin Spoke Black Burnished design with polished spoke fronts and black rim wells are also part of standard specification, while tyres come in 225/45 R18 format. The options list includes 19-inch light-alloy wheels in Cross-Spoke Crusher design - again created exclusively for the MINI Paceman John Cooper Works.

The standard DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system also comprises DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) mode, which allows a degree of wheel spin to help the driver pull away on loose sand or snow, for example. In DSC Off mode, an electronic locking function for the front axle differential comes into play. In tight corners it brakes a spinning wheel as required to improve handling. Known as Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC), this system enhances the car's traction without adversely affecting its steering properties.

Individualist hits the ideal lines - Equipment and accessories
The MINI Paceman John Cooper Works identifies itself as an extreme sportsman and individualist without the need for a second glance. And neither does it require more than a single corner to demonstrate its stand-out character with stunning clarity. Playing a key role here alongside the extraordinarily powerful engine and model-specific chassis technology is the standard fitment of the ALL4 all-wheel-drive system, an aerodynamic kit, 18- inch light-alloy wheels, a sports exhaust, a Sport Button and DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) including DTC (Dynamic Traction Control). John Cooper Works logos on the front end, rear and flanks complete the exterior picture, while the bespoke design of the interior delivers a focused sports car ambience. The premium profile of the MINI Paceman John Cooper Works is further emphasised by the standard inclusion of front foglamps, air conditioning, a run-flat indicator, electric windows, remote control central locking, electrically adjustable exterior mirrors, the Centre Rail storage and attachment system, and the MINI Boost CD radio. Customers can also order their cars with all the comfort, functionality and individuality-enhancing options available for the other MINI Paceman models, a full complement of MINI Connected features and John Cooper Works accessories.

Race feeling fed to four individual seats
The MINI Paceman John Cooper Works ensures that the inimitable feeling of race action can be a pleasure enjoyed by four. Both the sports seats for the driver and front passenger and the two individual rear seats are trimmed in Diagonal Track John Cooper Works Carbon Black cloth with red contrast stitching, although Lounge Leather sports seats in Carbon Black Championship Red are available as an option. The door sill strips come with special John Cooper Works lettering, while the interior trim strips of the cockpit, doors and centre console are in Piano Black as standard. Optional Chili Red trim - available exclusively for the John Cooper Works model - consists of red elements for the cockpit and doors and a red stripe for the otherwise black trim strips on the centre console. A sports steering wheel with red contrast stitching and John Cooper Works logo, dark-coloured dials for the 260 km/h (162 mph) speedometer and the rev counter, an anthracite-coloured roof liner, a gearshift lever with red shift pattern lettering, red contrast stitching for the gearshift lever gaiter, and floor mats with red stitching are all part of the standard equipment count for the new extreme sports model.

Comfort, functionality and individuality on demand; exclusive and innovative functions from MINI Connected

The John Cooper Works model can also be ordered with virtually all the options offered for its MINI Paceman siblings. Highlights include xenon headlights, Adaptive Headlights and black headlight housing, Comfort Access, automatic climate control, heated seats, Park Distance Control with rearmounted sensors, multifunction buttons for the steering wheel (including cruise control), an electrically operated tilting/sliding glass sunroof, a rain sensor with automatic headlamp activation, and automatically dimming rearview mirror and exterior mirrors. Among the features available to further enhance the car's functionality are a storage package, a level load compartment floor with removable cover and a luggage compartment partition net. Plus, the ambient lighting system (part of the optional light package) enhances the unique ambience inside the car.

As alternatives to the standard MINI Boost CD radio, options such as the harman/kardon hi-fi loudspeaker system, MINI Visual Boost radio and MINI navigation system are on hand to take care of entertainment and navigation requirements. The MINI Visual Boost radio and MINI navigation system link up with a 6.5-inch, high-resolution colour display in the Centre Speedo and Bluetooth hands-free functionality, complete with a USB audio interface. The maps for the MINI navigation system are stored on the car's built-in flash memory device. Also on the options list are a voice control system, a handsfree system/mobile phone preparation and a DAB tuner for receiving digital radio programmes.

The MINI Connected option also gives Paceman John Cooper Works owners access to a wide range of infotainment, communications and driving experience-related services, and allows full Apple iPhone integration. In addition, regularly updated MINI Connected apps provide an unmatched and constantly changing variety of functions, such as web radio, use of Facebook, Twitter and foursquare, Dynamic Music, Driving Excitement, Mission Control and the MINIMALISM Analyser.
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