golf mk6

The Volkswagen Golf Mk6 (or VW Typ 5K) is the successor to the Mk5, and was unveiled at the Paris Auto Show in October 2008. Volkswagen released pictures and information on 6 August 2008, prior to the official unveiling. The vehicle was released to the European market in the winter of 2008. Major investments have been made in production efficiency, with a claimed productivity improvement at launch of nearly 20% in comparison with the previous model, and further gains planned for the next twelve months. Although billed as the Mk6, the new model was in effect a thoroughly re-engineered facelift

Design

Volkswagen GTI Mk6 3-door (Europe)

Like its predecessor, the Mk6 Golf is based on the Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform. Effectively it is a reskin of the Mk5 rather than an all-new design, it was developed with engineering improvements to shorten the previous model’s excessive assembly time, and answered criticisms of that model’s cheapened interior quality compared to that of the 1997 Mk4.

The new Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet was presented at the 2011 Geneva International Motor Show, Volkswagen calls the new model “a new chapter of a global success story”. The four-seater has a soft top with an electro-hydraulic drive that opens the Golf’s top in 9.5 seconds. The top can also be opened or closed during driving at speeds of up to 30 km/h (19 mph). After a nine years without a convertible Golf, This will be the first Cabriolet model under the Golf family since 2002.

The new VW Golf Cabriolet’s styling follows that of its hard-top three-door counterpart, but it differs somewhat with a new rear section, lower profile roof line and more swept-back angle of its front windscreen frame. Bi-xenon headlights are an option. Unlike the regular Golf, the Cabriolet has LED rear lights, which are only available for the R and GTI versions of the hardtop. Safety features include the automatically deploying roll-over bar, front airbags, side head/thorax airbags, knee airbag for the driver and ESP.

There are six turbocharged direct-injection engines whose power outputs range from 77 kW (105 PS; 103 hp) to 155 kW (211 PS; 208 hp). Four of the petrol engines (TSI) and one diesel (TDI) are available with the DSG dual-clutch gearbox; while three of the engines are available with energy-saving BlueMotion Technology.

In February 2012, Volkswagen announced that it would build a Cabriolet version of the GTI, powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.

Variant

Variant

See also: Volkswagen Golf Variant

A facelifted variant Mk5 Golf Variant model was introduced in 2010 as the Mk6, despite carrying the front fascia, interior styling, and the drive line from the new Golf, the underpinnings are based on its fifth generation predecessor. It is sold in the USA as the Jetta Sportwagen, in Mexico and Canada as the Golf Wagon and in South America as the Jetta Variant or Vento Variant.

Twin Drive

Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn announced Golf Twin Drive plug-in hybrid concept based on Mk5 Golf, which uses 2.0 L 91 kW (122 hp) I4 turbodiesel and 61 kW (82 hp) electric motor with lithium-ion batteries. The car can run about 50 kilometres on battery power.The combined power is 128 kW (174 PS).

Volkswagen developed the Twin Drive system with eight German partners, and is planning a trial fleet of 20 Golfs outfitted with the system in 2010.

The production version was expected to be based on new Mk6 Golf, featuring a 1.5 L turbodiesel engine and electric motor, with estimated arrival date of 2015.[9]

Golf GTI “Wörthersee 09” (2009)

It is a concept car based on Golf GTI. 2.0-liter TSI engine is rated 155 kW (211 PS) with top speed of 238 km/h (148 mph) and 0–100 km/h acceleration of 6.9s. It includes Firespark Metallic red body with GTI stripes, high-gloss black 19-inch alloy spoke wheels, smoked LED taillight, lowered sport chassis, new sport exhaust. Interior includes aluminum tread plates, brushed aluminum trim and glossy black painted frames around the air vents, red borders floor mats, sport seats with outer black nappa and side flash red nappa with light “Berry White” leather piping.

The vehicle was unveiled at GTI Meet at Wörthersee.

Golf R

VW Golf VI R at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

There was much speculation about this vehicle, with uncertainly surrounding its name. Golf R20 was the most common name used prior to the Frankfurt Motor Show. Once finally unveiled by Volkswagen at the Frankfurt IAA, on 15 September 2009, it was confirmed the R32 replacement would simply be called the Golf R.

The Golf R is powered by a 2.0-litre FSI turbocharged engine that produces 199 kW (271 PS) and 350 N·m (260 lb·ft) of torque. VW claims the car can get from 0–100 km/h in 5.5 seconds for DSG equipped models, or 5.7 seconds for cars fitted with a manual gearbox.

The Golf R features these main upgrades over the standard FSI EA888 engine:

  • Lower compression forged pistons
  • Strengthened connecting rods
  • Enlarged wrist pins
  • Stronger piston rings
  • Upgraded bearings
  • Reinforced engine block
  • Upgraded camshafts (longer duration)
  • Upgraded injectors (+13% flow)
  • Larger K04 turbo producing 1.2 bar of boost (+3 PSI over K03 equipped GTI)
  • Larger intercooler (+30%)
  • Relocated bypass valve

The Golf R employs a familiar, but revised (4th generation) Haldex 4motion all-wheel drive system.

The Golf R has many similar styling traits to its Scirocco R sibling and is the first Golf to have LED rear tail lights factory fitted.

In Australia, Japan and South Africa the Golf R engine is detuned to suit hotter climate conditions. It is detuned from 199 kW (271 PS; 267 bhp) to 188 kW (256 PS; 252 bhp) and 350 N·m (260 lb·ft) to 330 N·m (240 lb·ft).

On 9 December 2010, Volkswagen announced that the Golf R will be available in the United States beginning 2012. Both two- and four-door versions will be offered, although the DSG transmission will not be an option. Pricing, exact product naming, and options have not yet been announced.[13] US Golf R version features a slightly detuned engine producing 191 kW (256 hp) and 243 lb·ft (329 N·m). The North American version also shipped with incandescent tail lights, identical to the ones found on the GTI, instead of the LED tail lights used in the rest of the world.

On 14 December 2010, Volkswagen of Canada announced that the Golf R will be available in Canada beginning in “early” 2012. Only a four-door version with six-speed manual transmission will be offered. Four colours of the GTI will be available plus the R-exclusive “Rising Blue”. All options are pre-selected including navigation, sun roof, leather interior, and “Kessy keyless entry”.

The base price before shipping and handling cost in the US is $33,900

International markets

In the United States and Canada, the car was sold as the Volkswagen Golf when it arrived in showrooms in October 2009, dropping the “Rabbit” badge that was used for the Golf Mk5. The wagon, a restyled version of the Mk5 and the only Golf model made in Mexico, is sold in Canada as “Golf Wagon”, but in the United States retains the “Jetta SportWagen” designation (while wearing Golf front sheetmetal). North American Golfs will carry over the same engines as the Mk5 (the same 2.5L five-cylinder from the Mk5, the 2.0TDI and the 2.0T) and, while the GTI and TDI continue to offer the six-speed manual transmission: the 2.5 L will re-use the five-speed manual (automatic will be a six-speed tiptronic). The new Golf is also available in Mexico but for the time being only in the wagon configuration that is marketed as Golf Sportwagen that became available in early October replacing the Bora Sportwagen with the new Golf’s front end.

Volkswagen Golf 77TSI 5-door, Australia
Volkswagen Golf 118TSI Comfortline 5-door, Australia

The Australian public got their first taste of the new Mk6 at the Melbourne International Motor Show, which began on 27 February 2009.[16] The new Golf was launched around the country at the same time. The Mk6 GTI went on sale from 30 October 2009.[17] On 19 January 2010 the Golf was awarded the 2009 Wheels Car of the Year title, which is acknowledged as the country’s most prestigious car award.[18] It was the first time the Golf had been awarded the title since 1976. VW Australia launched the new base model golf with 1.2 litre engine same as the new Polo in September 2010 and went on sale in 2011.

In South Africa the new Mk6 Golf went on sale in April 2009. The South African version of the GTI went on sale in July 2009.

In Japan the new Mk6 Golf went on sale in April 2009. The Japanese version of the GTI went on sale in August 2009.

In China, the Golf Mk6 is made by FAW-VW, and in March 2010 the GTI begins to be built locally. It is the first time the GTI is built in China. The Chinese-Spec Golf GTI uses a different engine than the international one, a 2.0 TSI which produces only 150 kW (200 hp), 7.5 kW (10 hp) less than the original one. This engine is also used by the VW Magotan.

In Mexico, the only two versions available until August 2011 were the German-imported 3 door GTI in both 6 speed manual and 6 speed DSG transmissions, and the Mexican-produced Golf SportWagen with a 170 bhp 2.5 L inline 5 cylinder with a 6 speed Tiptronic transmission. In September 2012, a 5-door version in Comfortline trim, with 1.4 L TSI engine with 177 hp and 6-speed manual gearbox imported from Germany was added. Since the end of production is imminent, it will be limited to 4,000 units.

In Chile, the Golf Mk6 was presented in October 2010 at the XI Salón del Automóvil de Santiago, starting sales immediately. Chile is the first country in South America to sell the Mk6, as a restyled version of the Mk4 is still in production in Brazil for Latin America. The Mk6 is available in Chile with the 1.6 L Petrol engine (101 hp) both in five-speed manual and seven-speed DSG transmissions.

In India, the Golf Mk6 was rumored to be introduced in 2011 but in a recent interview, Volkswagen Chief Executive Officer said that the plans for introducing a Golf have been suspended, to preserve the success of VW Vento in the Indian market. The Golf, if released, would be similarly priced as the Vento and VW does not want Vento sales to slip. He also stated they may bring in a more localized Golf with the same engine choices as the Vento when numbers stabilize in the near future.

Motorsport

In auto racing, APR Motorsport has led two MKVI VW GTI’s to victory in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Street Tuner (ST) class.

To commemorate the 35th Anniversary of the Golf GTI, Volkswagen Motorsport enters the 2011 24 Hours Nürburgring with the “Golf24”. This Golf is equipped with a 2,500 cc five-cylinder turbo engine with 324 kW (440 PS) and 540 Nm, permanent 4WD and a sequential six-speed gearbox. In the third VLN race of 2011, the Golf24 finished sixth overall, with its best lap only nine seconds slower than the fastest race lap, which was clocked by a Ferrari 458. For the 24 Hours, the team hopes for rain, and jokingly considered to wet the track by aerial firefighting.[25] Eventually, though, neither of the three Golf24’s finished the race, with one of them suffering a pit-entry accident and another blowing a gearbox. When the gearbox of the remaining Golf24 started overheating, VW decided to retire it to find out the cause of the gearbox trouble.

Awards

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