Following the internet’s unofficial, unscheduled and probably unwanted (at least by Volkswagen) reveal of the sixth-generation Golf this week, VW has thrown its cards on the table and revealed its hand. Along with high-res images, VW has revealed that the new Golf will launch this October in Europe and then find its way to markets in Africa, Asia, Australia and North America. Unfortunately, the company did not specify the U.S. (could just be Canada, for instance), but we’re going on VW of North America’s word that it will eventually go on sale in the States. Europeans, however, get first dibs and the base price will be 16,500 Euros at launch.

The car’s new design carries forward trademark Golf cues but adds a bit of crispness. VW says it’s more “three-dimensional” than the current car, which is strange since they’re both technically objects in space. Regardless, VW does fess up to the Scirocco’s influence, particularly the broad shoulder section on which the roof sits. The interior also was inspired and borrows bits and pieces from the more expensive Passat CC.

Power for the new Golf, in Europe at least, will be provided four gas engines and two diesels. All of the gassers will be TSI, i.e. they incorporate both a supercharger and turbo. The diesels meanwhile get common rail injection across the board with two balancer shafts to quell vibrations. Finally, DSG is essentially replacing the automatic in all Golfs except base models. Either a 6- or 7-speed DSG will be used depending on which engine it’s paired to. Electronic doo-dads include “automatic distance control” (ACC), “adaptive chassis control” (DCC), a “park steering assistant” and updated ESP system.

Check out VW’s official press release after the jump for more details and peruse the new high-res images in the gallery below. Continued

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After loosing the number 2 spot in worldwide sales to Toyota in 2003, Ford is on its way to yield the third place to the VW Group. During the first half of 2008, Volkswagen managed to slip into the third position right behind Toyota and GM, leaving Ford in fourth place. The German Group reported sales of 3.27 million vehicles during the first half of the year, a 5.8 percent increase over 2007. Ford on the other hand saw its sales fall 11 percent during the same period to 3.09 million vehicles.

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VW Group tuning specialist ABT has launched the first wave of products for the new Volkswagen Passat CC. Though ABT’s visual package is still pending, the Kempten based tuner offers power upgrades for both the 1.8 TSI (from 160 to 200 Hp) and 2.0 TSI (from 200 to 240 Hp) petrol engines. In the forthcoming weeks, ABT will also offer a power kit for the 2.0 TDI diesel engines, upgrading the 140 Hp version to 170 Hp and the 170 Hp version to 190 Hp. Buyers can also add a sport suspension kit along with new 18 or 20-inch alloy wheels in two different designs.

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Last week, Volkswagen of America announced it would build it’s first US factory since it’s Pennsylvania factory closed in 1984 in Chattanooga Tennessee. The new plant will build a new mid-sized replacement for the Passat. What CEO Stefan Jacoby didn’t announce was where powertrains will come from. The new car will be available with gasoline, diesel and hybrid power-plants. The power-train is one of the most expensive components in the vehicle so getting the most out of building cars in the dollar zone means building them here as well. The gasoline engines will likely be sourced from the Puebla Mexico factory that also supplies the assembly plant there. The Mexican factory doesn’t currently produce transmissions. VW is apparently waiting on Audi’s decision on a US factory before finalizing plans for new engine and transmission plants. Audi and VW share powertrains, so the two brands will likely want to build in a location convenient to both assembly plants. If VW does decide to build hybrid transmissions in North America they may even end up exporting some of those back to Europe as well.

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There’s something very cool about VW’s new ECE 9.150 Armored Truck that was released for the Brazilian market. Maybe it’s the gunmetal grey color or the Samurai armor looks, we’re not sure yet. But we can imagine that if it weren’t for the skyrocketing gas prices, this armadillo of a VW could have actually made a career here in the States as a high-end alternative to the customized Hummer H1/H2 models. All you need is a custom made interior and good-looking set of alloys (like the ones we photoshoped above) and you’re all set to take the “hood” by surprise. See photos after the jump Continued

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Volkswagen and LEGO fans alike are in for a treat with this one. Based on the iconic 1960 “Charlotte” model, the 16″ (41cm) long and 6½” (16cm) high LEGO Beetle features a series of realistic details and functions like opening doors, hood and trunk, a spare tire in the front and engine in the back, a movable stick shift, opening glove compartment and seats that fold forward. In the U.S., the LEGO Beetle is priced at $119.99.

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It’s the year 2028; China’s population has surpassed the 3 billion mark, man has landed on Mars, Jenna W Bush has followed in the footsteps of her sister Barbara becoming the second female President in the history of the U.S., and gas prices have dropped to $20 a gallon. But most people don’t really care (about gas prices, that is) as their cars are equipped with hybrid powetrains that utilize ultra efficient diesel engines that consuming less than half a gallon of fuel to create enough electricity to power the car for more than 100 miles. Well, at least that’s how we envision the future. But you can also check out VW’s new interactive site called “Volkswagen2028” that attempts to give us a glimpse of the automotive world of tomorrow. Aside from the Up! that we first saw at last year’s Frankfurt Show, the German carmaker has also created three more concept cars: the sporty two seater “EGO”, the spacey and versatile “ROOM” and the three-wheeler city dweller “ONE”.

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Thirty-four years after Volkswagen revealed the original Scirocco, the name has been resurrected to badge a new two-door coupé based on the platform of the current Golf. With coupé sales in Europe down to just 20,000 last year (from a high of 138,000 in 2000), some might say it’s a brave step from VW.

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When Fiat unveiled the revamped 500 almost a year ago, the company said it hoped the car would be considered the “iPod of cars.” There’s one aspect of the iPod, though, that Fiat is probably glad they aren’t associated with: the products disposability. I mean, really, does Apple need to release a new version every other month?

Lucky for Fiat, “residual experts” say that the 500 will hold onto more of its value in three years than previously expected. Sure, the vehicle will still be worth less than half of what you paid for it today, but the experts say the value will be 46 percent of the original list price instead of the previously expected 42 percent. All the reasons for the change in prediction were not given, but one is that this is a stylish car that’s also pretty clean. Fiat’s announcement, pasted after the jump, says that small- and medium-sized companies like the 500 since “it offers drivers a high profile company car that is low on fuel use and CO₂ emissions.” Sound like a better deal than having a dead iPod in 36 months.

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A high powered Volkswagen Scirocco concept car has been unveiled at the annual Worthersee Festival in Austria at the same time as a trio of race-prepared, factory-entered Scirocco racers prepare for the start of the Nurburgring 24-hour race.

The Scirocco GT24 road car has a race-tuned 2.0-litre four-cylinder TSI engine developing 295bhp at 6,500 rpm. This is mated to a six-speed DSG gearbox which puts power through to the front wheels only. The gearbox features uprated clutch plates along with revised gear ratios and a lightened flywheel linked to a differential lock.

The vehicle is based on the shell of the Scirocco race car, prepared by Volkswagen Motorsport in Hanover and is finished in Volkswagen Racing Blue.

Although many components are carried over from the road car, the Scirocco GT24’s dimensions vary significantly, with a 227mm gain in length and 61mm gain in width to accommodate a wider track.

Lowered, adjustable race damper units account for a 75mm drop in ride height on a set of 18″ lightweight racing wheels housing 362mm (255 mm at the rear) racing brake discs clamped by six-piston callipers.

With many components removed from the road car the Scirocco GT24 weighs 178 kg less, tipping the scales at 1,120 kg.

Inside the GT24 is a rollcage and Recaro bucket seats with five-point harnesses are included for the driver and passenger.

The road-going Scirocco, on which the GT24 concept is based, goes on sale in the UK on August 29. It will be powered initially by a 2.0-litre TSI engine developing 196bhp linked to a choice of six-speed manual or DSG gearboxes.

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