The UK welcomes the new VW e-Golf, available to order from today.

• Based on the standard Golf: World Car of the Year and European Car of The Year 2013
• Range of 118 miles, standard full charge in 13 hours; fast charge to 80 per cent in 35 mins
• Top speed of 87 mph; 0-62 mph in 10.4 seconds
• AC electric motor produces 85 kW / 115 PS and 270 Nm of torque

From today, 11 March, customers can place orders for the fully electric Volkswagen e-Golf, which is priced at £25,845 on the road (including £5,000 Government grant or £30,845 RRP).  The e-Golf can be ordered from one of 24 Volkswagen EV specialist Retailers across the UK, with the first deliveries expected at the end of June. 

Based on the multi-award-winning Golf hatchback, the e-Golf offers the same virtues of practicality, refinement and advanced technology, but with a purely electric drivetrain and no tailpipe emissions.

Like its smaller electric sibling, the e-up!, the e-Golf can be charged from a household three-pin socket using the cable provided.  With a standard UK 230-Volt, 2.3 kW supply, this recharges the battery in 13 hours.  An optional wallbox for home use provides 3.6 kW supply and can recharge a flat battery in eight hours.  The wallbox is currently available at no cost, through British Gas, while all customers of Volkswagen electric products are also eligible for a green electricity tariff through Ecotricity.  Through use of the e-Golf’s standard combined charging system (CCS) and a DC supply, the battery can be fully recharged (at levels of up to 40 kW) to 80 per cent capacity in just 35 minutes.

An AC electric motor (85 kW / 115 PS, and 270 Nm) provides drive, linked to the front wheels via a single-speed gearbox.  The lithium-ion battery is integrated into the Golf’s floor and weighs 318 kg.  It consists of 264 cells, together rated at 390 Volts and 26.5 kWh. 

Acceleration from 0-62 mph takes 10.4 seconds.  By comparison the Golf BlueMotion, which is powered by a 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine with 110 PS and 250 Nm, takes 10.5 seconds.  Top speed for the e-Golf is 87 mph.  Depending on driving style, charge level and ambient conditions, the e-Golf has a range of up to
118 miles. 

An optional heat pump helps deliver maximum range in winter.  This add-on module for the electric heating and air conditioning uses heat from both ambient air and the vehicle’s drive systems, significantly reducing electricity consumption.  It can increase the e-Golf’s range in cold weather by up to 20 per cent.

As well as a standard driving mode, the e-Golf has two economy profiles: ‘Eco’ and ‘Eco+’.  ‘Eco’ cuts peak power to 70 kW / 95 PS, reduces the output of the air conditioning system and modifies the accelerator response.  Top speed is cut to 74 mph and 0-62 mph takes 12.1 seconds.  ‘Eco+’ limits maximum power to 55 kW / 75 PS, torque to 175 Nm, and top speed to 56 mph, while the accelerator response is modified and the air conditioning disabled.  In either mode, full performance can be accessed by kicking down on the accelerator pedal, as in a vehicle with a conventional automatic gearbox.

The e-Golf’s range can also be influenced by regenerative braking.  There are five modes: D, D1, D2, D3 and B.  In D, the vehicle coasts without regenerative braking when the accelerator is lifted.  In each other mode, lifting off the accelerator pedal provides greater regenerative braking.  In D2, D3 and B, the brake lights are activated when the driver’s foot is lifted from the accelerator pedal, provided that a predetermined level of deceleration is achieved.

The e-Golf is the first production Volkswagen to feature full LED headlights.  These produce brighter light and use less electricity than xenon headlights.  Other bespoke exterior design elements include C-shaped LED daytime running lights in the front bumper, a signature blue strip running the width of the radiator grille and into the headlights, and a blue-edged Volkswagen roundel.  The interior includes blue stitching on the upholstery, and the option of blue ambient lighting.

In the UK, the e-Golf is available with five doors only, and in a single well-equipped trim level based on the standard Golf SE, with the addition of 2Zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, e-specific ‘Tilleves’ alloy wheels and Discover Pro satellite navigation, with an eight-inch colour touchscreen.  For the e-Golf the Discover Pro system includes added functionality including a range display, and the option to pre-programme the vehicle’s heating or cooling systems.  For smartphone users (Android or iOS), the Volkswagen ‘Car-Net’ app enables many vehicle functions to be controlled remotely, including charging, heating or cooling and more.  Three years’ subscription to Car Net is included as standard.

The new Volvo Drive-E power-train family, offers low CO2 and great driveability.

Volvo Car Group’s new two-litre, four-cylinder Drive-E powertrain family can truly be considered as offering customers a world-class blend of drivability and low CO2 emissions. The D4 with 181 horsepower and manual gearbox is the first diesel car with this level of power output in the premium D-segment with CO2 emissions under 100 g/km.

The Volvo S60 T6 FWD with 306 horsepower and the new 8-speed automatic is the first car in the segment that delivers over two horsepower per gram of CO2 from a combustion engine only. The car accelerates from 0-62 mph in 5.9 seconds.

“During the development phase of our Drive-E powertrains, we promised to bring efficient driving pleasure into a new dimension. The official European NEDC certification now confirms that we outperform competitors when it comes to power versus CO2 emissions,” says Derek Crabb, Vice President Powertrain Engineering at Volvo Car Group.

The new D4 FWD can be ordered now and is available in the new S60, V60, XC60, V70, XC70 and S80. It is also available to order with the new 8-speed automatic. The new T6 engine is expected to be available during 2014.

Class-leading diesel at 99 g/km

The Volvo S60 D4 with 181 horsepower and manual gearbox has class-leading CO2 emissions at 99 g/km, which translates into fuel consumption of 74.3 mpg. A Volvo V60 D4 with up to 17-inch tyres also breaks the 100-gram barrier according to the NEDC certification with CO2 emissions the same as its’ sister saloon at 99 g/km.

The Drive-E diesels feature world-first i-ART technology with pressure feedback from each fuel injector instead of using a traditional single pressure sensor in the common rail. Each injector has an intelligent chip on top of it that monitors injection pressure. Using this information, the self-adapting i-ART system makes sure that the ideal amount of fuel is injected during each combustion cycle.

“The combination of injection pressure at 2,500 bar and i-ART technology gives the customer an engine with high performance, improved fuel economy and considerably lower emissions. It is a breakthrough comparable to our invention of the lambda sensor for the catalytic converter in 1976,” says Derek Crabb.

Petrol engine with compressor and turbo

The new two-litre, four-cylinder T6 engine features both a supercharger and a turbo charger. Using the supercharger to fill in the bottom end torque gives the petrol engine a big, naturally aspirated feel. The mechanically linked compressor starts to function immediately at low revs, while the turbocharger kicks in when the airflow builds up.

“We have created a range of smaller, more intelligent engines with power curves that give exciting driveability compared with engines with more cylinders. At the same time we continue to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions,” says Derek Crabb.

Prepared for electrification

The Drive-E engines are prepared for future electrification from the start. The compact size of the four-cylinder engines means that the electric motor can be fitted in the front or rear of the vehicle. The battery pack will be located in the centre of the car.

“The success of our V60 Plug-in Hybrid has also proved there is no contradiction between driving pleasure and low emissions. And we have already confirmed that the all-new XC90 will be introduced in 2014 with a petrol plug-in hybrid at the top of the range,” says Derek Crabb. He concludes: “The first Volvo car back in 1927 featured a two-litre, four-cylinder engine. So you can safely say that the new Drive-E powertrain family remains true to our heritage.”

FRANKFURT - Volvo

The rapid transformation of Volvo Car Group (Volvo Cars) is highly evident at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. The new Volvo Concept Coupé, which was revealed at a press conference today, showcases the capability of the company’s new Scalable Product Architecture – and the new, super-efficient four-cylinder Drive-E powertrains are now available in six Volvo models.

“We are creating a new product portfolio that blends a strong heritage with innovative technology and emotional design. Every core area is brought into a new dimension, also injecting more emotion into the rational properties that are the heart and soul of Volvo,” said Lex Kerssemakers, Senior Vice President, Product Strategy and Vehicle Line Management at Volvo Car Group.

Paving the way for new XC90
Concept Coupé is the first in a series of three concept cars that demonstrate the new design direction of Volvo Cars. They are paving the way for the introduction of the all-new XC90 next year.

“The Volvo Concept Coupé show what you can expect from our new architecture: the confident stance, the proportions and the most prominent design signatures. Even though the all-new XC90 is a different type of car, you will recognise the connection instantly,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President Design at Volvo Car Group.

Launch of Drive-E powertrains
The first three engines from Volvo Cars’ new two-litre, four-cylinder Drive-E Powertrain family are launched during the autumn of 2013.

Initially, the new S60, V60 and XC60 are available with three engines from the new engine family: the 306 hp petrol turbo T6, the 245 hp T5 and the turbo diesel D4 with 181 hp. The T5 and the D4 are also available in the new Volvo V70, XC70 and S80. To deliver the desired responsive, smooth and fuel-efficient drivability, the engines are teamed either with a new eight-speed automatic gearbox from Aisin or an enhanced six-speed manual, tuned for improved fuel economy.

The T6 and D4 will be available in the UK.

Volvo Cars’ strategy is to use electrification to create the most powerful versions in the new four-cylinder Drive-E engine family, taking power figures up into V8 territory. The concept car in Frankfurt is equipped with Volvo Cars’ ingenious plug-in hybrid technology. A high-performance petrol engine teamed with an electric motor on the rear axle gives Volvo Concept Coupé a total output of about 400 hp and over 600 Nm of torque.

“Our successful V60 Plug-in Hybrid has already proved that the most efficient car can be one of the most fun to drive, and the pleasure is guilt free. And today we can confirm that the new XC90 also will come a plug-in hybrid at the top of the range,” said Lex Kerssemakers.

World-first I-Art
The high-performance petrol engine T6 is fitted with a supercharger and turbocharger combined, while I-Art delivers seemless and frugal diesel performance. Developed together with Volvo strategic partner Denso, I-Art features pressure feedback from each fuel injector. This ensures that the ideal amount of fuel is injected in each of the cylinders during each combustion cycle.

“Our four-cylinder engines offer higher performance than today’s six-cylinder units and lower fuel consumption than our current, already efficient four-cylinders,” said Lex Kerssemakers.

New features in 60-series
On top of the new Drive-E powertrains, Volvo Cars introduce new infotainment and safety features in the 60-series. Sensus Connect features a refreshed HMI with a number of innovative functions. Lane Keeping Aid, which helps the driver stay in the lane by applying extra steering torque to the steering column, and the parallel parking wizard Park Assist Pilot are now available in the S60 and V60.

Swedish Metal takes on German Techno in the Volvo V40 Challenge

Volvo Car UK is taking the unprecedented step of putting its all-new V40 in direct competition with its class rival, the Mercedes A-Class, in a test drive comparison with a difference.

Under the tag line "Bored of German Techno? Try some Swedish Metal", Volvo is asking customers to challenge their perceptions and test drive both the V40 D2 R-Design and the Mercedes A-Class A180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport. After driving the two cars back to back, if the customer still chooses the Mercedes, Volvo will pay the first month's payment*.

Since launch, the all-new Volvo V40 has received many positive media reviews, strong customer feedback and become Volvo's best-selling model in the UK.  A five-seat five-door hatchback with three faces, in the form of the standard V40, the V40 R-Design and the V40 Cross Country, it allows drivers to choose the car that suits them.

The V40 Challenge is being targeted at those considering purchasing the Mercedes A-Class A180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport and asking them to give the V40 D2 R-Design a test drive.  If after test driving both vehicles the customer chooses the Mercedes, Volvo Car UK will pay for the first month's payment*.

Jon Wakefield, sales director for Volvo Car UK said: "The all-new V40 has been a roaring success since its introduction and we have such belief in the V40 being a fantastic product that we're being bold enough to put our money where our mouth is. I have no hesitation in telling people what a great car the V40 is, and by getting more and more people to test drive it, I'm sure more and more people will agree with me."

"Some may call us brazen, others may call us bold, but there's no denying that we have such confidence in the V40 that we're prepared to challenge people's opinions and make them consider their options. This campaign is sure to raise a few eyebrows!" says Georgina Williams, head of marketing for Volvo Car UK.

The all-new Volvo V40 was launched in Geneva in 2012 with the R-Design and Cross Country versions launched in Paris in 2012. Up to the end of May, Volvo Car UK have registered 4905 all-new V40s, accounting for just under 36% of all Volvo Car UK sales and successfully taking the place of the C30, S40 and V50.