Volkswagen cars

2013 Volkswagen Golf R by H&R Springs

The Volkswagen Golf R showed up to the 2012 SEMA Auto Show with the help of the fine folks of H&R Springs.

For their take on this Golf R, H&R Springs took the liberty of decking it out with a comprehensive program that really reflects on their capabilities as an aftermarket company.

It’s no secret that H&R Springs have the innate skill to not only complete a program like this, but to make it stand out from the rest of its peers. That was the mission with this program and they’ve certainly taken it to heart.

From the subtle exterior and interior improvements to the comprehensive chassis and suspension upgrades, H&R Springs really went out of their way to build a program for the Golf R that translates in any language, whether here in the US or over there in Europe.

Find out more about the H&R Springs’ program on the Volkswagen Golf R after the jump.

2013 Volkswagen Beetle Beach Battle-Cruiser by European Car Magazine

A multitude of Volkswagen Beetles will be on hand at the 2012 SEMA Auto Show to show off a variety of custom programs for the iconic vehicle.

One of these models is called the Beetle "Beach Battle-Cruiser" by European Car Magazine. The surf-inspired Beetle has everything you need to make your day at the beach run as smoothly as possible. It comes with all the amenities for weekend runs in the sand, including a roof rack where you can place surfboards and other beach paraphernalia.

The California-looking Bug also gets a slew of exterior updates, including a unique body kit by FMS Automotive that has a deployable shower system. You read that right: this Beetle has its own shower. Moving into more salient upgrades, the Beetle Beach Battle-Cruiser also received a new set of 19" CustomFuchs Performance wheels wrapped in Continental Extreme Contact DW tires and a revamped interior with Katzkin leather seats featuring a midnight black color with matching military green suede inserts.

The Beetle Beach Battle-Cruiser also comes with a performance upgrade, which isn’t all that surprising considering the nature of the event it’s going to. Revo Technik took the lead in this front, adding its own turbocharger into the Beetle’s 2.5-liter, five-cylinder engine. With the turbocharger, as well as the addition of a new intake and exhaust system, as well as the cursory software upgrade, the Beetle Beach Battle-Cruiser is now capable of producing a mouth-watering 400 horsepower.

400 ponies on a Beetle? Sign us up!

2013 Volkswagen Beetle 53 Edition

It doesn’t wink at other cars - at least we don’t think so - nor does it scale up walls - this we’re pretty sure of - but if you’re interested in owning a Herbie-inspired Volkswagen Beetle, then this special edition Beetle is just the car for you.

It’s called the Beetle 53 Edition and if you’re familiar with the lovable Herbie Beetle, then you’ll recognize that the Beetle 53 Edition carries the exact same livery and graphics as that of Herbie itself.

Take a look and you’ll see the Beetle 53 Edition dressed in a Pearl White body color complete with Herbie’s distinctive red and blue stripes running down the length of the car. As an added bonus, the number "53" is prominently displayed on the hood of the car.

The Beetle 53 Edition is available on all engine trims of the Beetle except the Turbo model. If you’re looking to own a piece of the Beetle 53 Edition, you can choose to own the 1.2 TSI model for €22,090 ($28,500 at the current rates), the 1.6 TDI for €23,770 ($30,700 at the current rates), the 2.0 TDI for €26,150 ($33,800 at the current rates), and the 2.0 TDI 6-speed DSG for €27,980 ($36,100 at the current rates).

2013 Volkswagen Beetle by Rotiform

Wheels manufacturer Rotiform is bringing their own custom take on everyone’s favorite little hatchback, the Volkswagen Beetle, to the 2012 SEMA Auto Show.

For their program, Rotiform decided to integrate the Beetle’s heritage and add a more modern look to it. The company accomplished this by combining custom touches from the past through today, beginning with the installation of an all-new rear axle to accommodate the similarly new air suspension system from AirLift.

Once they accomplished this, Rotiform fitted the Beetle with its very own set of new - and very red - concave wheels, which were then wrapped in Nitto performance tires. Moving on from the suspension and wheels upgrades, the Beetle was also treated to a matte gray aluminum vinyl wrap courtesy of 3M and a retooled interior that saw plenty of the vehicle’s standard factory pieces replaced with parts from other available trims.

The last order of business for Rotiform was to shave the engine bay to give the Beetle a much smoother look. In the end, the aftermarket company accomplished what it set out to do: build a classic-looking Beetle that carries modern touches.

Mission accomplished, we should say.

2013 Volkswagen "Super" Beetle by APR-VWvortex

The Volkswagen Beetle is one of those cars that people either love or hate. It has a style that not everyone can really grasp in a positive way, which is evident in the lack of tuning packages developed for the economy car during its history. That being said, the new Beetle is attempting to gain momentum with a slew of new tuning packages scouring the show floor of the 2012 SEMA Show. One of these packages comes from VWvortex and is being dubbed the ultimate Super Beetle.

At first glance, the suped up Beetle doesn’t appear to have any super powers. It features a matte Azure Blue Metallic vinyl film and sits on a new set of 19" fifteen52 three-piece Split Formula TR wheels. The interior was only provided with new Recaro Sportster CS seats, and that’s it.

Under the hood is when the super powers start to show themselves. The SuperBeetle was co-developed with performance specialist APR and is based on a 2013 Beetle Turbo. The car’s standard 2.0 TSI engine has been updated with an APR Stage IV GTX Turbocharger System that boosts the output from 200 to more than 500 HP! This setup is combined with a high-performance intercooler system, as well as a host of Stage IV components including, an ECU upgrade and a new APR RSC Turboback Exhaust System. In order to improve the car’s traction, the tuner also installed a 4MOTION all-wheel drive system from the limited-edition Golf R and an upgraded Haldex all-wheel drive race controller.

That kind of power deserves a more grounded look, so the car was lowered with an H&R Adjustable Coilover Suspension combined with Volkswagen Racing StreetSport+ Camber Plates and H&R Sport Sway Bars.

Anyone sitting next to this car at a stoplight is sure to think this is just another yuppy Beetle, but as soon as the green hits, all systems are go! Unfortunately, this will not be experienced by anyone as the cars displayed in SEMA will only be trashed after the event. Anyone looking to get in on this action better give the folks at APR-VWvortex a holler. Maybe they’ll work something out...

2013 Volkswagen Polo BlueGT

Volkswagen has been really busy with its compact European hatchback, the Polo, as of late. First Vee-Dub released the Polo R-Line, then it teased us with the Polo WRC Street, and the latest was the high-performance Polo R. As per usual, none of those models are making it to the U.S. – sigh – but our U.K. friends get to tell us all about them.

VW is at it again by giving our Euro readers yet another version of the Polo to whip around. This time, however, this one is a hybrid of sorts. No, not an electric-gas hybrid, but rather a nice mixture of performance and fuel economy – kinda like eating fat- and sugar-free ice cream, but it still actually tastes like ice cream.

So how tasty is this Ben and Jerry’s sans the fat and sugar? Does it still have the tasty peanut butter-filled pretzels and chucks of chocolate in it, or is more like what you really get when you buy “healthy” ice cream: tasteless frozen skim milk with chunks of strange, chewy mess obviously sweetened with saccharine?

Click past the jump to read our review and find out.

2014 Volkswagen Golf VII Convertible

With the new generation Golf already on the market, Volkswagen is undoubtedly finishing up the execution of the rest of the model’s variants. We’ve already seen the GTI version get previewed by the concept car at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, so now it’s time to check out what the new convertible will look like.

The Volkswagen Golf Convertible will be among the latest variants to be added to the new generation Golf line-up. It will feature the same design elements launched with the standard Golf VII, but will retain the usual soft top seen in the previous generation Golf Cabriolet.

Under the hood, the convertible version will keep the same engine line-up as the hatchback version. This means customers will have the possibility to choose between four engines: two petrol - a 85 HP 1.2-liter TSI and a 140 HP 1.4-liter TSI - and two diesel - a 105 HP 1.6-liter unit and a 150 HP 2.0-liter unit.

Expect the seventh generation Volkswagen Golf Cabrio to be launched sometime in 2014.

2014 Volkswagen Phaeton

Despite the sluggish sales of the flagship Phaeton since its launch in 2003, VW is intent on designing and developing the next gen flagship right from scratch.

Talking to Autocar at the Sao Paulo Motor Show, R&D chief Ulrich Hackenberg confirmed that there will be a 2014 Volkswagen Phaeton that will feel ’very new’ as compared to the current gen, which we think is very boring in terms of design and driveability. You would never feel excited when you step into a Phaeton, unlike its competitors like the Mercedes S-Class or the Jaguar XJ. It’s a car that, frankly speaking, one wouldn’t look forward to sitting and driving when you go to work or for a long drive. It’s been sitting on the same old platform for the last 10 years with little tweaks to the design and changes to the engine line-up. For VW to make the Phaeton a success in the luxury saloon market, little tweaks just isn’t enough. Now though, believing what the R&D chief has said, that’s about to change for good.

Apart from the confirmation, he also revealed that it would be underpinned by the new modular MLB platform for large sedans in the VW Group, underpinnings which will also be used beneath the next-generation Continental family from Bentley and Panamera family from Porsche. Good to see that VW is intent on making it a success.

With that, the Phaeton will be marketed as a car for those who like the ride comfort of a Bentley, but can’t afford one.

2012 Volkswagen Taigun

It’s only been a few days since rumors about a new Volkswagen baby-SUV began and now, at the 2012 São Paulo International Motor Show, the company has unveiled the new Taigun concept - a preview version of a new New Small Family by Volkswagen.

The Taigun is painted in a breezy "Seaside Blue" exterior paint finish and was designed using the latest Volkswagen design DNA. It measures 3,859 mm long, 1,728 mm wide, and 1,570 mm tall, but despite these compact dimensions, it still offers interior space for up to four passengers and a boot-space of 280 liters. This boot space can be increased to 987 liters when the rear bench seat is folded down. Its looks come from its bigger brother in the lineup - the Tiguan - and includes the same double-split front grill, sharp headlamps, and an overall look that is less rounded and more aggressive, much like the rest of the Volkswagen lineup. The look is perfected with a set of 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 205/50 R17 tires.

The Taigun is powered by a 1.0-liter TSI engine that delivers a total of 110 HP and 129 lb-ft of torque. With a total weight of 2171 lbs, the concept will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 9.2 seconds and up to a top speed of 115 mph, all while delivering a fuel economy of 52 mpg.

2014 Volkswagen Polo R

Volkswagen’s compact hatchback positioned right between the Up! and the Golf – the Polo – is all set to put on its big-boy pants. That’s right; VW is giving the Polo the “R” treatment. No, we’re not talking about the “R-Line” treatment, which is little more than some aesthetic changes. We mean the balls-to-the-wall high-performance “R” treatment, much like what the Golf is getting.

The details on this model are not yet complete, but we do know that it will borrow the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine from the outgoing GTI mk6. VW will then punch up its horsepower to the 225-pony range and ship it to the front wheels – no AWD option. According to reports, the Polo R will bolt to 60 mph in just over 6 seconds and give it a 150 mph top speed, making it extremely quick for its class. Sure, the Focus ST will smoke it, but it’s a step under the Focus’ class.

Much like the Polo R-Line, the Polo R will feature some extra ground effect and larger rims to give it a sportier look, but the complete details on the exterior are not yet known. We also expect the suspension to be lowered and the brake system to be upgraded, giving it better handling and braking to better work with the 45 extra ponies.

According to reports, the Polo R is all set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2013. Rumors are also afloat that the Polo R will hit European showrooms in mid 2013, but there is no confirmation yet. Of course, the Polo will not be offered in the U.S.

We expect to see the Polo R to go head-to-head against the Renault Clio RS and the Peugeot GTi, which each feature a 197-horsepower, 1.6-liter engine. Depending on the weight difference, this could give the Polo R a significant advantage.

We’ll add more information to this review as VW releases more details.

Image Note: All images are of the Polo R-Line