Latest news with #AndreasMindt
Auto Express
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
New Volkswagen T-Roc will arrive in August with fuel-sipping hybrid tech
The second generation of the hugely popular Volkswagen T-Roc will be revealed in August, the brand's CEO has confirmed, and is set to be the first VW to feature new full-hybrid technology that'll eventually make its way into the Golf and Tiguan as well. The first images of the all-new T-Roc were leaked online in January and shared on the Instagram account rollendereporter. From what we can tell, they are snapshots of the infotainment system's settings menus showing the new car's much more aggressive design. Advertisement - Article continues below The wide-mouthed front end that looks like it could bite your arm off has a clear resemblance to the latest Volkswagen Tiguan, Tayron, Golf and Passat, although to our eyes there is also some similarity with the new MG3 and MG HS SUV. Looking beyond the sizable grille and prominent air intakes on either side, we can see a slim set of LED headlights connected by a thin strip – just like the other, aforementioned VWs – while the rear features a larger lightbar. The new model also carries forward the current T-Roc's rakish roofline and sloped rear window. We asked Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer whether the brand's design boss Andreas Mindt – who took on the role in 2023 – had had a chance to shape the new T-Roc since his arrival. He told Auto Express: 'I'd say about 50 per cent. We changed a few things in the front, the back and the interior, definitely. The car was in a good space, much better than some of the previous ones, so there was no need to redo the car completely.' Schäfer added that dealers have already seen the new T-Roc, and much more besides: 'We showed them all the cars from now until 2028 and they were blown away. The feedback was phenomenal, like wow. We also gave them an indication of price and all of this gave dealers a lot of confidence.' Full-hybrid cars – or self-charging hybrids, as Toyota calls them – use a combination of a petrol engine and an electric motor. This type of set-up allows for pure-electric driving, mostly around town at lower speeds, or has the two power sources working together to maximise efficiency. But most importantly for some drivers, the cars don't need to be plugged in anywhere to charge their battery. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Technical details about Volkswagen's new full-hybrid powertrain are still under wraps, but Schäfer did explain to us why the company is only now introducing this technology when it plans to go electric-only in less than a decade. 'We needed to do it anyway, because South America needs it,' he told us. 'They have a need for a HEV [Hybrid Electric Vehicle] drivetrain, and the car is built in South America for South America, and also in China.' He continued, 'we're experimenting [with full-hybrid tech] now because certain regions like North America are gliding into HEV. Interestingly enough, although HEV has become a big theme in the US specifically, it was a technology that everybody said was not necessary anymore. But now with the BEV slowdown in the US, the balance is moving towards HEV.' Underneath, the T-Roc will sit on the MQB evo platform used by the heavily facelifted Mk8.5 Golf, and should be offered with several other powertrains as well as hybrid. The base engine, for instance, is likely to be a 1.5-litre four-cylinder producing up to 148bhp. A 2.0-litre diesel engine will probably also be available. It remains to be seen whether there will be a hot R version of the new T-Roc. But if there is, it'll be powered by the 328bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine found in the new Golf R, and will get its all-wheel drive system and seven-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox, too. Significantly, the new T-Roc is set to be the last all-new model VW launches with internal-combustion power, as the brand moves towards an all-electric future. Latest Volkswagen T-Roc deals Wheels for your loved ones! Take a look at the best family cars... Find a car with the experts Not bothered by MoT advisories? That may be about to change Not bothered by MoT advisories? That may be about to change The number of MoT failures caused by worn tyres is on the rise, and experts are calling for mandatory follow-ups on advisories Mazda MX-5 goes electric: the iconic roadster's radical future Mazda MX-5 goes electric: the iconic roadster's radical future The next Mazda MX-5 roadster is set to be offered as a pure EV, and our exclusive images preview how it could look Confirmed: New VW Golf GTI will be electric – and it's a 'monster' Confirmed: New VW Golf GTI will be electric – and it's a 'monster' VW is taking the iconic hot hatchback brand into the electric era with the new Golf GTI EV already in development…
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Huge changes coming to Australia's favourite family car
Australia's favourite family SUV is about to be dramatically reinvented. The new-generation Toyota RAV4 has been teased ahead of its global debut on May 21, with sneak peek images showing a drastically different design for the hybrid SUV. Toyota Australia spokespeople have said they won't comment, preferring to hold their cards close to the chest until the official unveiling, but there is still a bit to garner from the initial imagery and leaked shots seen online. While you'll have to squint and use a liberal dose of imagination to envisage what the actual product will look like, it's clear there is a heavy rethink of the form of the boxy crossover, with large panoramic glass roof and black roof trim options evident. Further screen grabs from teaser material showcase a far more macho interior with boxier screen housings, a bigger-looking touchscreen media system – seemingly without the excellent knobbly climate control dials of the current model, instead with a touch-capacitive control bar at the base of the display. This design has become more common in more affordable vehicles, whereby brands move to include software controls for the major components rather than hardware, and it has drawn the ire of reviewers and even car company executives – VW's Head of Design, Andreas Mindt, claiming that on-screen controls are a 'mistake' that 'we won't make again'. While there may still be physical elements to the HVAC system, it's also evident that there will be a shift-by-wire gear selector, akin to what was previously offered in the Prius, rather than the traditional lever in the current model SAME, SAME BUT DIFFERENT A steering wheel similar to the Toyota Prado has been seen in images of the new model, sporting more chunky control stalks and a bigger, more info-rich driver display cluster including live mapping tech. A dashboard image also shows a cut-out for a wide-screen head-up display to be projected onto the windscreen ahead of the steering wheel. It is expected that while the sheet metal and lighting design will be all-new, the architecture of the new RAV4 won't change, and that the powertrain options are expected to be largely going to be similar to what is offered today – though it is likely Toyota will finally add a plug-in hybrid EV version of the RAV4 in Australia when the new-generation model launches. The mainstay of the range is likely to continue to be the existing, efficient, and powerful 2.5-litre petrol-electric HEV unit offered in the RAV4 now, though likely with adjustments to power outputs, refinement and efficiency. For reference, the current 2.5L RAV4 is offered in front-wheel drive with a combined 160kW output (4.7 litres per 100km claimed fuel use) and a 163kW all-wheel-drive (by way of an electric motor at the rear axle), with fuel use of 4.8L/100km. The current-gen RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid model, formerly known as RAV4 Prime, has a claimed EV-only driving range of 75km, but you can expect a larger battery to be fitted to the new-gen model in order for it to keep up with Chinese PHEVs, which offer up to 180km of EV range. In 2024, the Toyota RAV4 was 'more popular than ever' according to the brand's Australian vice president of sales, marketing and franchise operations, Sean Hanley – who has long teased the introduction of a plug-in hybrid RAV4. RAV4 'COULD BE NO. 1' The RAV4 sold in huge numbers after supply finally eased up for our market in 2024, with 58,718 units registered – making it the country's best-selling Toyota, and marking the first time an SUV had held that honour. For almost a decade, the number-one-selling-Toyota mantle had been held by the Toyota HiLux ute. At a press conference earlier in 2025, Mr Hanley stated that 70 per cent of the hybrid vehicle sales in Australia were Toyotas, and that the RAV4's best sales figures may still be yet to come. 'It may be, and I stress, may be, that an SUV could rise to the top of the national sales charts in the next year or two, and just maybe that SUV will be a Toyota RAV4 hybrid,' he said. 'Hybrids and plug-in hybrids are what you'll be talking about in January 2026,' Mr Hanley said. We will cover the unveiling of the Toyota RAV4, so check back to see what it actually looks like on May 21.
NZ Autocar
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
More Volkswagen ID Golf details are emerging
The Volkswagen Golf is gearing up for a bold transformation in its ninth generation due out in 2028. To be known as the ID Golf, the new model will signal a high-tech rebirth for VW's benchmark family hatch. It will blend classic Golf DNA with cutting-edge EV technology. This is Autocar UK's render of the Gen IX Golf, available with a host of powertrains. Unlike previous iterations, the ID Golf will be designed from the ground up as an electric vehicle. But petrol-electric plug-in hybrid variants will continue in parallel for a time. Before then, VW's electric revolution continues with its ID 2X compact SUV, and the production version of the ID 2all hatch. Both utilise the new MEB Entry platform, aiming for affordability. A sporty electric GTI version of the ID 2all is also coming. The GTI version of ID 2all. These new models pave the way for the more advanced ID Golf, which will ride on the all-new SSP platform. This flexible architecture merges elements of VW's MEB and PPE EV systems. Expect the ID Golf to feature styling that will appeal to Golf fans, without being too retro. VW design boss, Andreas Mindt, is aiming for a fresh but faithful take on the Golf's core traits. Expect a sleeker body that retains a clear lineage to past Golfs. Interior improvements will also mark a major shift from the current Mk8.5 version. VW is committing to the return of physical controls for core functions after its foray into haptic touch sliders and steering wheel buttons proved a turn off. This return to tactile usability is part of a broader push under CEO Thomas Schäfer to reinfuse the brand with emotion and trust. Golf IX will feature some of the ID 2all/GTI concept styling features. Rivian-co-developed software architecture is set to underpin the ID Golf. The system is designed for efficiency, adaptability, and over-the-air (OTA) updates. This so-called zonal software platform will reduce the number of processors while improving system integration and responsiveness. It will also enable real-time updates and enhancements even after the vehicle is sold. Even aspects like handling and braking are evidently modifiable over the air. The software's flexibility will also empower performance variants of the ID Golf. GTI and R versions are expected. The GTI will remain front-wheel drive, while the R variant will likely go dual-motor AWD. However, the R will prioritise agility and driving fun over brute force. This is a departure from the heavier GTX-badged ID models. The electric variants of Golf IX will be built where Golf always has for over 50 years. Production of the ID Golf will take place at Wolfsburg, the Golf's birthplace since 1974. To make room for this EV shift, ICE production will move to Mexico in 2027. The current Mk8.5 Golf will continue to be sold alongside the ID Golf, but in Europe and the UK it will be available only as a plug-in hybrid. It too will be phased out in 2035. The ID Golf is not intended to replace the ID 3. Each will target slightly different customer bases. Beyond the ID Golf, VW's EV overhaul will continue with a new SUV expected to succeed the ID 4. Think Tiguan in electric form. A render of the Golf ID earlier this year, also by Autocar UK. The ID Golf then will become a flagship of sorts for a new era, redefining it for a future shaped by electrification, advanced tech, and the rekindling of driver-focused design.
NZ Autocar
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
Volkswagen ID 3 is up for another refresh
Things in the electric sector are changing quickly, especially the tech. That may in part explain why Volkswagen is undertaking another makeover of its original ID model, the ID 3. It was last refreshed in 2023. Why the sudden rethink? It has to hold sway until 2028 when it is due to be replaced by the Gen IX electric Golf. Despite being only five years old, ID 3 is about to undergo its second life cycle rejig. Due for release next year, the new upgrade adopts a bolder fascia, and higher-quality interior trims. The news of the ID 3 update arrives as VW is set to release the smaller ID 2 and its sister model, the Cupra Raval. Both will be built at Seat's Martorell plant in Spain. The facelift ensures that ID 3 is not forgotten on the showroom floor. Evidently the new front end for ID 3 is influenced by the ID 2all and ID GTI concept cars. Volkswagen design chief Andreas Mindt says he wants the company's new EVs to look more inviting rather than cool and clinical. The roof and fifth door of the ID 3 will feature a body colour paint finish to lower the car's visual centre of gravity. This give its a squatter, sportier stance. Inside, the transformation is more significant. New ID 3 will borrow its dashboard design, buttons and switches from the forthcoming ID 2. Touch-sensitive sliders that many dislike will disappear. A new steering wheel and better quality materials for the doors and trim round out the changes. While drivetrain details have yet to be revealed, expect ID 3 to adopt new developments planned for the ID 2. These should improve its overall efficiency.
7NEWS
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Volkswagen kickstarts model onslaught in China with three concepts
At the 2025 Shanghai motor show, Volkwagen unveiled not one but three almost production-ready concept cars: the ID. Aura, ID. Era, and ID. Evo. Not only do these cars preview a production vehicle for each of Volkswagen's three local joint ventures, but according to Andreas Mindt, the Volkswagen brand's head of design, they show the different design languages the brand will be employing for those joint ventures. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The ID. Era is a full-size three-row crossover developed for Volkswagen SAIC partnership, and has a range extended EV drivetrain with a small petrol engine capable of recharging the battery pack when it starts to run low. Volkwagen says the ID. Era is capable of 300km of pure electric driving, and has a further 700km of range when the petrol engine kicks in. Stylistically, the ID. Era is the blockiest of the three concepts, although subtle bulges and scallops on the side surfaces stop it from appearing too monolithic and slabby. All the pillars are blacked out for a floating roof look. Squint and it looks quite similar to a Range Rover Sport, although the Rangie doesn't feature an array of black rectangles wrapping around the bottom of the vehicle. The ID. Evo is a complementary large crossover, but is a pure-electric car to be built by Volkswagen Anhui, the German automaker's only Chinese joint venture where it is the majority shareholder. Built on an 800V electrical platform, it features a zonal electronic architecture, access to a 'wide range of new digital services', and over-the-air updates at 'short intervals'. The Evo's rounder shape, gloss black lower body cladding that lowers the car's visual height, and Alfa-esque alloy wheels, make it a sportier looking proposition than the Era. The ID. Aura will be built by FAW Volkswagen, and is the first concept based on the Compact Main Platform (CMP) that Volkswagen is engineering specifically for the Chinese market with a zonal electrical architecture, and a user interface patterned on smartphone operating systems. Although the car is pitched at the 'price-conscious A-segment', the Aura is also said to have plenty of AI computing power to enable automated driving, and a humanoid assistant to simplify interaction with the infotainment system and vehicle features. Creases above the wheel arches, and a crisp shoulder line lend the Aura a level dynamism that's arguably lacking in the ID. 7 sedan. The ID. Aura, ID. Era, and ID. Evo represent the first salvo in a product onslaught from Volkswagen. Thanks to the rise of locally-developed electric vehicles, Volkswagen lost its sales crown in China to BYD in 2023. Hoping to regain some lost ground, Volkswagen intends to launch 30 new cars in the Chinese market by the end of 2027. Twenty of these will be 'new energy vehicles', or EVs and plug-in hybrids. Tellingly, the German brand isn't aiming to be reclaim the top podium position. Rather, Thomas Schäfer, the Volkswagen brand's CEO, says with its 'In China, For China' strategy it is aiming 'to remain in pole position among foreign automakers in China'.
