2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo and Golf R
Volkswagen enthusiasts – and there are many of you out there – have been somewhat lukewarm to the newest Jetta, introduced late last year. However, sales so far this year are up by over 75 percent, so Volkswagen must be doing something right. Their goal is to more than double sales by 2018, which means VW cars have to appeal to more than just the VW faithful. VW has to attract people who might normally be more inclined to buy a Toyota or Honda if they are going to achieve the lofty sale goals that have been set. Does this mean they are going to abandon enthusiasts and only sell “boring” cars?
No, at least that is the key message the company is keen to put out. VW plans to build awareness of the full product line with some great advertising and also promote the tag line: “That’s the Power of German Engineering.” VW’s goal is to make German engineering more accessible to a wider group of buyers.
2012 Volkswagen model lineup
This week it has been showing off the full lineup of its 2012 models to the media and others at its US headquarters in Virginia. It considers the Beetle, Jetta, Passat and Tiguan as the core models that will appeal to the mass market. The Golf, GTI, Jetta SportWagen, CC, Eos, Touareg and Routan are niche models set to appeal to different buyers.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to drive a few of the 2012 models on the back roads of Virginia – and yes we did feel the earthquake! Californians in attendance were blasé about it but locals, most of whom had never experienced one before, were caught off-guard. (Ironically the earthquake struck at the exact time Toyota was unveiling the new Camry in multiple venues around the country.)
2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo
I have never been a fan of the Beetle, neither the original nor the New Beetle. However, I like the newest 2012 Beetle, especially the Turbo with a DSG transmission. I think it is a much more attractive looking car, especially the wide stance when viewed from behind. It has VW’s traditional road handling characteristics with a nicely finished dashboard and quality interior trim.
I didn’t get a chance to drive the 2012 Jetta GLI but it should appease many critics of the regular Jetta as it has a nicer interior and a multi-link rear suspension. It is being positioned, as it always has been, as the sedan version of the GTI. I had previously driven the 2012 Passat and I think VW has done a better job with this all-important car than they did with the Jetta.
The 2012 Tiguan has been freshened and it is a perfectly adequate compact SUV. Personally I’d still rather have a Jetta SportWagen but the Tiguan is an alternative for those who might normally go after a Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4.
2012 Volkswagen Golf R
I left the best for last – the Golf R, which will arrive early next year. It is the most powerful Golf VW has ever sold in the U.S. And, as you’d expect it’s blast to drive. Despite having 256 horsepower and 243 ft.-lb. of torque it grips the road tenaciously with no torque steer as it has a 4Motion all-wheel-drive system What’s more it’s only available with a six-speed manual transmission. I think that makes it the only mass-market car, aside from the Lotus Elise, sold in America that is not available with an automatic. VW says it is what potential customers demanded. Way to go VW! Enthusiasts will love you for that.
Related posts:
- Quick Drive: 2012 Volkswagen Passat
- Driven: 2012 Volkswagen CC Lux Limited
- LA Auto Show: 2012 Volkswagen EOS convertible
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