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A MICROBUS WITH GTI DNA?
Volkswagen’s new Golf Sportsvan

This article is from our archives and has not been updated and integrated with our "new" site yet... Even so, it's still awesome - so keep reading!

Published on Sun, Sep 8, 2013

By: The LACar Editorial Staff

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HOT WIRE—It’s not the reincarnation of the Microbus, but it’s about as close as we’ve seen so far. Volkswagen calls it the Golf Sportsvan—and the car maker says it will do what the Microbus never did: Handle like it’s a GTI. Well, maybe close to one, thanks to its standard XDS+ system derived from the GTI. The production-ready concept car is being introduced at the 65th International Motor Show in Frankfurt. Along with the world premieres of the new high performance Golf R and the electric e-Golf, VW is presenting the new Golf Sportsvan at the Frankfurt show. The Golf Sportsvan provides even more space than the spacious Golf hatchback, and sports the line’s first use of a Blind Spot Monitor for exiting parking spaces. While driving, the Blind Spot Monitor warns of vehicles in the blind spot. When reversing out of a parking space, the system recognizes approaching traffic behind the car. If a collision is imminent, the system automatically activates an emergency braking function. Un-Microvan-like Features Volkswagen says the Sportsvan will has features never even dreamed of in the Microvan era, such as DCC dynamic chassis control, the Front Assist surroundings monitoring system with City Emergency Braking, adaptive cruise control (ACC), Driver Alert System, PreCrash Occupant Protection system, Light Assist and Dynamic Light Assist main beam control systems, driver profile selection, Lane Assist lane-keeping system, Park Assist parking assistant, an entirely new generation of radio and radio-navigation systems (Discover Pro with WLAN hotspot) and a 400 Watt Dynaudio Excite sound system with subwoofer and new centre speaker. Another new system on-board the future Golf Sportsvan: Car Net for transmitting online information such as the Google Earth™ maps service. Powertrain The car maker has not stated whether the Sportsvan will make its way to the USA. It did announce a range of six new engines for the car, all equipped with a stop-start system as standard. The four turbocharged petrol direct-injection engines (TSI) produce 63 kW / 85 PS, 81 kW / 110 PS, 92 kW / 125 PS and 110 kW / 150 PS of power. The range of the turbodiesel direct-injection engines (TDI) covers two power levels: 81 kW / 110 PS and 110 kW / 150 PS. Except for the 63 kW TSI, all of the engines may be combined with an optional automatic dual clutch gearbox (DSG). VW predicts that the Sportsvan with the 1.6 TDI BlueMotion with 110 PS will have the best fuel economy ratings of any compact minivan.

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The Love Wagon VW says a key characteristic of the Sportsan is a 60:40 split rear bench seat with individual longitudinal adjustment of its sections. The entire three-seat bench is claimed to be adjustable up to 180 mm in a fore-aft direction. As an alternative, the individual seat on the right side of the vehicle (40 per cent) and the double-seat on the left side (60 per cent) can be individually adjusted over a range of 180 mm. In addition, VW says rear passengers can adjust the angle of their backrests. VW says unlatching the rear seat backrests from the luggage compartment is easy. When unlatched, the backrest sections are said to automatically fold forward, creating a nearly level surface together with the cargo floor. VW also says the cargo floor itself can be removed entirely very swiftly or adjusted in height. When the two separately adjustable sections of the rear bench seat are moved to their front-most positions, up to 585 liters of cargo fit into the luggage compartment of the Sportsvan. When a cargo deck up to the backrests of the front seats and up to the roofliner is used, the former Microbus makers says a maximum storage capacity of 1,512 liters is available. Volkswagen promises that the Golf Sportsvan will be one of the most versatile vehicles in the compact class. It also promises GTI DNA and features that even the $65,000+ Phaeton didn’t have when it reached our shores. We’ll have to wait and see how much the former Microbus maker can deliver when the production Sportsvan arrives. For more information about Volkswagen products, go to vw.com

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SPECIFICATIONS Name of vehicle: Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan Price: TBA Engine types: Four turbocharged petrol direct-injection engines (TSI) will be available, producing 63 kW / 85 PS, 81 kW / 110 PS, 92 kW / 125 PS and 110 kW / 150 PS of power. Two turbodiesel direct-injection engines (TDI) will be available at two power levels: 81 kW / 110 PS and 110 kW / 150 PS. Except for the 63 kW TSI, all of the engines may be combined with an optional automatic dual clutch gearbox (DSG). The MPG champion is expected to be the Sportsvan with the 1.6 TDI BlueMotion with 110 PS. A stop-start system will be standard with all engines EPA mileage estimates: TBD Drive configuration: Front-wheel drive Transmission: Manual or available automatic dual clutch Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) on five of the six powerplants Suspension highlights: Standard XDS+ electronic differential lock is integrated into the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system. XDS+ makes driving through bends sportier, faster and more precise.

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