Volkswagen delivers a better equipped and priced Golf Match Edition, with an added Bluemotion edition.

Volkswagen is sharpening the appeal of the already generously equipped Golf with the announcement of the highly specified Golf Match BlueMotion Edition, and Golf Match Edition, priced from £19,840 (OTR RRP).

Building on the stylish looks and renowned reliability of the current Golf line-up – the seventh iteration of the brand’s iconic family hatchback – the new Golf Match Edition models add high-end equipment as standard including Discover Navigation with Car-Net Guide and Inform, and Winter Pack.

The new cars arrive with an even higher level of specification than the Golf Match they replace. The additions offer more than £1,100 in customer value if specified separately, but at a cost of just £100.

Buyers can, therefore, get behind the wheel of the new Golf Match BlueMotion Edition 1.0 115PS TSI six-speed manual three-door from £19,840 (OTR RRP). The Golf Match Edition, meanwhile, is available from £20,400 (OTR RRP) in 1.4-litre TSI 125 PS BlueMotion Technology five-speed manual three-door model form.

While the Golf Match was already one of the most comprehensively specified vehicles in its class with standard features including front and rear parking sensors, front fog lights and a mirror pack – which consists of automatically-folding door mirrors with puddle lights and reverse-activated dipping on the nearside – the new model builds on that solid foundation still further.

Smart 16-inch ‘Dover’ alloys continue to distinguish the new car, while the Discover Navigation system now fitted as standard includes a 6.5-inch colour touch-screen control system for navigation, CD and radio functions. This boasts preloaded European navigation data, two map view options, three calculated routes (Fast, Short, Eco), dynamic navigation based on TMC live traffic updates, branded points of interest and Traffic Sign display, and also features Car-Net Guide and Inform online services.

The Car-Net Guide and Inform system neatly combines engaging functions such as Online Traffic Information, Personal Point Of Interest, News and Weather updates, and Fuel Info and Parking Info.

This suite of hi-tech features comes in addition to the Golf Match Edition’s standard ACC Adaptive Cruise Control with Front Assist and City Emergency Braking, Driver Alert System, PreCrash preventive occupant protection, Driver Profile Selection, automatic wipers, an automatically dimming rear-view mirror and dusk sensor (automatic driving lights); and of course the aforementioned alloy wheels, parking sensors, front fog lights and mirror pack.

Meanwhile all Golf models come as standard with seven airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag; ABS with ESC, XDS electronic differential lock; an automatic post-collision braking system and Isofix preparation for two rear child seats. Bluetooth telephone preparation, audio streaming and an eight-speaker multimedia entertainment system are also standard on the new Golf Match Edition, along with air conditioning, a Stop/Start system with battery regeneration, and a host of other features.

Customers are able to add to that impressive roster of standard equipment with hi-tech options include High Beam Assist, Park Assist, DCC Dynamic Chassis Control, a rear-view camera, keyless entry and a panoramic sunroof.

The Golf Match BlueMotion Edition is offered with a 1.0-litre TSI 115 PS engine in six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG form, both returning 65.7 mpg combined.

The Golf Match Edition is available with a 1.4-litre TSI 125 PS engine with six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG gearboxes returning 54.3 to 56.5 mpg combined; a 1.6-litre TDI 110 PS BlueMotion Technology engine with five-speed manual or seven-speed DSG gearbox returning 72.4 to 74.3 mpg; or a 2.0-litre TDI 150 PS BlueMotion Technology unit with six-speed manual or six-speed DSG gearbox returning 62.8 to 68.9 mpg. All engines meet the latest EU6 emissions standards.

This high value addition to the Golf range is available to order now, with the first deliveries expected in January 2016.  For more information on the new model, and the rest of the award-winning Volkswagen range, visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.

Prices and availability are shown below:

Ford starts to improve the dire EcoSport, and about time too.....

• Ford today announced it will deliver significant styling, drive dynamics, and equipment upgrades for the EcoSport SUV
• EcoSport will for the first time be made available without a rear-mounted spare wheel; interior benefits from subtle, stylish upgrades, including a restyled instrument cluster
• Ride and handling enhanced with reduced ride height, suspension retuning and revised rear twist beam; optimised Electronic Stability Control and power steering systems
• More refined EcoSport offers improved convenience and comfort with heated windscreen, heated mirrors, heated front seats; thicker sound deadening materials
• At the Geneva Motor Show this week, Ford displayed a sporty EcoSport S, which includes the upgrades to EcoSport that will be available to customers starting in June
• EcoSport S is presented in Deep Impact Blue with black roof and mirror caps and unique 17-inch alloy wheels; extends Ford’s SUV line-up alongside Kuga and forthcoming Edge

Ford at Geneva today announced it will deliver a range of styling, drive dynamics and equipment enhancements for the practical and affordable EcoSport.

Customers will for the first time be able to order the compact SUV without a rear-mounted spare wheel. Subtle and stylish interior improvements include a restyled instrument cluster with chrome surround, light dimming function, and chrome tips for window switches.

EcoSport driving dynamics benefit from suspension retuning with revised rear twist beam, and revised spring and damper rates for chassis optimisation, a 10mm reduction in ride height and optimised Electronic Stability Control and power steering systems. Convenience and comfort is also enhanced with a Winter Pack – with heated windscreen, heated mirrors and heated front seats.

Ford’s SUV line-up in Europe already includes the mid-sized Kuga, and will be extended to include the Edge SUV, which goes into production for Europe at the end of 2015. Ford has registered more than 4,000 EcoSports in the UK since its launch last April. The new upgrades will be available to order from June.

“Ford EcoSport is already popular with customers in Europe who are looking for a flexible, stylish, and economical compact SUV,” said Joe Bakaj, vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe. “This range of enhancements – including an EcoSport that is now available without the rear-mounted wheel – makes EcoSport an even more compelling choice as part of our growing SUV range.”

For vehicles without the spare wheel, the rear swing-gate on EcoSport hasalso been revised to allow for easier partial opening where space is limited, and all models now feature an EcoSport badge. Inside, the handbrake lever positioning has been optimised for accessibility. Noise, vibration and harshness levels have also been reduced with thicker sound deadening materials in the doors and dashboard, as well as tighter seals around the pedals.

Equipment that will later this year be made available with EcoSport for the first time includes satnav technology and Rear View Camera.

EcoSport S

Making its debut at Geneva, the sporty EcoSport S delivers an insight into the upgrades and equipment for a model that will be available to order towards the end of this year.

The model displayed is the first EcoSport with distinctive exterior colour Deep Impact Blue. This is complemented by a black roof without roof rails, mirror caps and unique 17-inch alloy wheels. Further exterior upgrades will include a sporty rear diffuser element and privacy glass.

The full list of EcoSport enhancements includes:

• Spare wheel optional, with a tyre mobility kit in place of the spare as the standard offering
• Colour 4-inch display
• Charcoal black lower instrument panel, centre console and door boards
• Partial leather seats standard for Titanium models
• Significant Noise, Vibration and Harshness reworking via enhanced sound package
• Significant dynamics upgrade – with revisions to springs, dampers, spring aids, steering gear, rear axle twist beam, Electronic Stability Programme settings and steering assistance profiles
• Reduced gearbox torque truncation in lower gears provides more available torque for both EcoBoost and TDCi diesel
• Instruments can be dimmed, have chrome-surround rings, window-lifter switches have chrome tabs
• Heated windscreen, heated mirrors, and heated seats available as a combined “Winter Pack” which also adds rear seat ducting at floor level to improve comfort in the rear seat in cold conditions
• Privacy glass optional
• The handbrake is relocated to improve accessibility
• Powertrains are upgraded to EU6.1 emission standard, with the diesel gaining 5PS