Volkswagen launches updated, cutting-edge Golf R

As consumer needs in the Chinese market are diversifying, Volkswagen Import is maintaining its fast pace in bringing more of its splendid German offerings to the country.

During the Chengdu Motor Show 2017, Volkswagen Import presented a fleet of upgraded models to meet Chinese buyers' diversifying demands, including the high performance New Golf R and three exciting 2018 models: the Tiguan, Sharan and Beetle. All three are hitting the market with cutting-edge technologies tailored for Chinese tastes and requirements.

Top performance car

In Chengdu, one can easily underestimate how spicy Sichuan cuisine is, unless a local resident steps in to assist you. Similarly, it is easy for the power concealed underneath the hood of a newly launched Volkswagen model to be underestimated.

The New Golf R is the latest of the series to be brought into the Chinese market by Volkswagen Import.

Despite being undercover as a member of the Golf family, the chrome R badges, 18-inch wheel rim, LED lights and 4 exhaust tips betray its true identity as a performance monster born for speed.

A veteran will quickly separate the New Golf R from its peers, given its more premium and sporty exterior details. The newly designed LED headlights with daytime running lights, dark LED taillights with dynamic turning signals, and front and rear bumpers create an even sportier look.

The exhausts are placed further out to the sides to give the car a wider appearance.

While displayed at the main stage of Volkswagen Import's pavilion at the Chengdu trade show, the New Golf R - in lapiz blue - was always surrounded by journalists, fans and enthusiasts.

"Transcending legendary speed limits", the New Golf R gives loyal fans who love Volkswagen R models a legendary speed experience.

Capable of hitting the track without needing refits, it also gives the ultimate control to those worthy high-performance car enthusiasts, who seek out innate value in the models they drive.

As a tradition, the Volkswagen Golf R has always been the most powerful model of the series.

The current design and technology updates boost the power output to 213 kilowatts, rocketing the car from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 4.8 seconds. This gain in dynamics is not only linked to the 380 Newton meters torque coming from the third-generation EA888 2-liter direct injected turbo engine, but is also due to the new and extremely fast-shifting 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox.

Engineered with 4Motion all-wheel drive, the New Golf R offers assured and confident control even for the most challenging track or ultimate driving.

Infotainment and connectivity

To ensure their products meet the needs of Chinese consumers and offer greater convenience, the German brand has upgraded its innovative in-car technology equipment.

One of the highlights is the upgraded second-generation infotainment system the Discover Media, which has a new look and easy operation, now equipped on the New Golf R and all the three 2018 models.

The driving forces behind Volkswagen's efforts are the local market's high acceptance of the latest, world-leading internet and connectivity technologies, and the country's unparalleled rate of development, which is years ahead of other markets.

The new models now have a touch screen and eight soft-touch buttons that seamlessly integrate as a whole central console.

The switch and select dials are now placed in the middle, with all the other buttons now incorporated on the screen.

The system carries the Volkswagen Car-Net and App-Connect, to better suit the needs of local Chinese consumers and to maximize in-car entertainment and mobile services.

Chinese users will find that Baidu Car-Life has been newly integrated into these Volkswagen models, in addition to Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink, supporting Baidu Navigation, Baidu Music, and Chinese voice control Xiaodu, together with popular local mobile apps including QQ Music.

Volkswagen Media Control is also on board to empower wireless control for multimedia and navigation.

The driver and passengers can control the in-car infotainment system freely and wirelessly through their smartphones and other mobile devices connected with the on-board Wi-Fi.

VR experience

In addition to introducing more new models, Volkswagen Import employs technological approaches to enrich the customer experience. On the Volkswagen Import booth, the Touareg virtual reality experience zone showcased the company's state-of-the-art customer-engagement technology, offering digital product experience to customers.

Putting on a VR headset, with remote control in hand, a user can experience a Touareg riding experience, offering deep immersion and super realistic interaction by utilizing leading technologies.

Such VR facilities will soon be deployed in Volkswagen Import's dealership showrooms, to enable more customers to enjoy this advanced and interactive digital experience in the near future.

With high respect for local demands and usage trends, and continuously creating value has been Volkswagen Import's all-time creed, fueling its more than decade-long journey in China and illustrating the incomparable priority the brand has placed on the world's largest auto market.

haoyan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/04/2017 page19)