ABT Sportsline has now been customising vehicles for five decades – and right on time for the Anniversary, the Allgäu Company is presenting the new, sixth GTI. Sporty and fast “Golfs” in particular have carried these three letters since 1976. ABT was the place to go for everyone who wanted even more dynamic and driving fun from the very beginning. The latest generation of the compact sports car also bears the magic abbreviation, and of course it is now available in a breathtaking ABT version. The engine output is impressive, because due to optimized engine management (ABT POWER), the standard 210 HP (154 kW) become a dynamic 260 HP (191 kW). ABT POWER S makes the GTI even hotter: a new turbocharger, „Made in Kempten“, is used additionally in this case. The 2.0 TSI then has an output of a sporty 300 HP (221 kW) and accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in around six seconds. Thanks to ABT chassis springs, the GTI’s centre of gravity is located a good 30 mm lower, so the Über-Golf can be driven even more sportily. The chassis setting, which was designed by Christian Abt, is especially good fun on winding roads. And in the extreme case, the powerful ABT braking system also kicks in. Read the rest of this entry »

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Euro NCAP today releases the results for some of Europe’s best-selling cars. This is the last time that Euro NCAP will release results under its current rating system, before the organisation’s new rating system is launched in February 2009. Of the twelve vehicles whose results are released today, eight received Euro NCAP’s maximum award of five stars.

Euro NCAP’s top scorers for adult occupant protection in this release were the Alfa Romeo Mito, Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 308CC, Volkswagen Golf VI, Renault Megane, Honda Accord, Opel Insignia and the Volvo XC60. Not all of these cars performed as well in child occupant or pedestrian protection. Read the rest of this entry »

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Volkswagen is unveiling its most important automotive secret of the year: the new Golf. The car – Europe’s most successful with more than 26 million sold – was improved in all areas. “This sixth generation of Golf cars will completely redefine the quality and comfort level of its class over broad categories, offering more customer value than ever before”, says Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board at Volkswagen AG. The European market launch of the new Golf will begin in October; following in succession will be Africa, Asia, Australia and North America. The entry price for the German market is around 16,500 Euros. Read the rest of this entry »