Latest news with #VWSA
IOL News
6 days ago
- Automotive
- IOL News
Volkswagen SA's locally produced entry-level SUV now a step closer: here's what to expect
The new Volkswagen Tera, to be marketed with a different name locally, will be positioned below the T-Cross. Image: Supplied Volkswagen South Africa is gearing up to build a brand new entry-level SUV at its production plant in Kariega, Eastern Cape. The new model is now a step closer to reality following a recent plant upgrade that saw the facility halt production of its existing Polo and Polo Vivo models for four weeks. VWSA said 60% of the preparation work for the new SUV product had taken place during the December 2024 shutdown period, while the most recent shutdown, from April 14 to May 12, saw the remaining 40% of upgrades being implemented. This included the programming of robots in the paint shop, completing all installations in the Body Shop, and modifying conveyors in the Final Assembly area. This means the production of the new 'AO SUV Entry' project, as it's called, has now entered the commissioning phase, with remaining work set to take place in order to prevent any further production disruptions. VWSA said it was working closely with their colleagues in Volkswagen of Brazil to develop, build and launch this new model. It is believed that the AO SUV Entry product will be closely based on the Brazilian-developed Volkswagen Tera, albeit with a few modifications for the African market. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading The Tera was designed and developed in Brazil, but will be adapted for the SA market. Image: Supplied It is also set to receive a new name for our market, which reportedly will be determined through a public vote. The new entry SUV is closely related to the current Polo, formed around Volkswagen's MQB-AO platform, but featuring unique body panels and interior components. South African specifications will be announced closer to launch, but for what it's worth, the Brazilian model is offered with a choice of normally aspirated and turbocharged 1.0 TSI petrol engines, culminating in the 85kW version also seen in the Polo. plied The interior bears some resemblance to the latest Tiguan and T-Cross models. Image: Supplied It is likely, however, that SA's entry-level models will be powered by the current 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre MPI normally aspirated engines, as they are locally produced. It's too early to speculate on pricing, but VWSA has previously stated that it will slot beneath the T-Cross, which currently starts at R399,900.
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Next Volkswagen Golf GTI will be a 'monster' - here's when to expect it
The next Golf GTI is currently under development as an all-electric model. Image: Supplied It's a well-known fact that the next-generation Volkswagen Golf GTI will be all-electric, but now the company's Chief Executive has shed some additional light on the upcoming performance hatch. In an interview with Auto Express, Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer confirmed that an all-new, battery-powered Golf would launch around the end of this decade, based on the company's new SSP scalable architecture. The current, eighth-generation Golf will continue until then, receiving further updates. The CEO is promising big things for the next-generation performance hatch. 'At the end of the decade we will bring an electric Golf (GTI), and that will be a monster car,' Schäfer told Auto Express. 'I'm very happy with the progress. It's cool. You can make it exciting, it has to be exciting, it has to be authentic. If we bring a GTI, it has to be a (true) GTI.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading The new GTI will retain its front-wheel drive layout, the UK publication stated, while a new R version is also in the works, with power going to all four wheels as per the current version. But long before these two hot Golfs hit the market, Volkswagen will launch the production version of its ID. GTI Concept 01, which will form part of the ID.2 family. This Polo-sized hatch is expected to hit the market in 2026. Outputs for the next-generation Golf GTI have yet to be confirmed, but given the fun factor being promised, the GTI will surely need to usurp the current ID.3 GTX, which is good for 240kW. Piped-in sound and numerous chassis innovations will no doubt form part of the package, but the specifics are still under wraps. 'Can you make an electric Golf exciting? Absolutely,' Schäfer said of the next GTI, of which development is already well underway. Meanwhile South Africans are still waiting to get their hands on the latest Golf '8.5' GTI. In 2024, VWSA stated that fuel quality concerns were holding back the launch of this more powerful new model. But CarMag recently reported that 'favourable results' from the company's latest batch of fuel tests have put the vehicle back on the radar, for possible introduction later in 2025. As a reminder, the facelifted GTI now produces 195kW and 370Nm, up from the current model's 180kW, with the 0-100km/h time now listed at 5.9 seconds. IOL
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Fully-loaded Volkswagen Golf 8. 5 TSI nearly the price of a GTI
Volkswagen Golf TSI GTI In R-Line guise, the 1.4 TSI doesn't look radically different from the GTI. Image: Supplied South Africans can finally buy an 'ordinary' Volkswagen Golf once again, following the release last week of the 1.4-litre TSI models. When VWSA introduced the Golf 8 back in 2021, the local division opted to only introduce the 'performance' models, starting with the GTI and then the R. But with the facelifted Golf 8.5 GTI being delayed due to South Africa's poor fuel quality, VWSA has opted to reintroduce the Golf 1.4 TSI models in order to keep the nameplate from falling away completely in Mzansi. Priced from R580,900 to R688,100, before options, many social media users are questioning whether it really has a significant enough price advantage over the current Golf 8 GTI. The GTI performance model is still listed for sale on VWSA's website, with a starting price of R853,400. We configured a fully loaded Golf 8.5 1.4 TSI R-Line Plus on the local configurator and it came to R801,400, once all the tasty options had been added. No new Golf 8.5 GTI for now, but South Africans can have a TSI again. No new Golf 8.5 GTI for now, but South Africans can have a TSI again. Image: Supplied These extras include a panoramic sunroof (R19,000), driver assistance features package (R27,500), 'Discover' infotainment and navigation system (R25,500), Harman Kardon sound system (R14,500), panoramic sunroof (R19,000), Head-up Display (R12,000) and electrically folding towbar (R14,000). That's over and above the already-generous list of features fitted as standard to the R688,100 Golf R-Line Plus, which includes Matrix LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels and Vienna leather seats, with heating, cooling and electrical adjustment upfront. The fully loaded 1.4 TSI is barely R50,000 cheaper than the base GTI, albeit with a lot more features. The standard GTI has a similar list of features to the standard R-Line Plus, including the Vienna leather seats, but it doesn't come with the Matrix LED headlights, or even park assist for that matter. Load up the Golf 8 GTI with every conceivable optional feature and you are looking at a bill of R976,800. Ouch! But which is better then - a loaded up Golf 8.5 GTI or a standard Golf 8 GTI? It really depends on what you're looking for in a car. If having the latest design and decadent specification levels is at the top of your priority list, and you're happy with average but acceptable performance, there is a good argument for buying a fully-specced 1.4 TSI. It is technically a newer car than the GTI as it benefits from the Golf '8.5' facelift, which brought numerous exterior and interior design changes as well as an enhanced infotainment system and new features. Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading The GTI is an older model, and might not be on sale for much longer in its current guise, but if you are the kind of person who enjoys driving then there is really no question to be asked here. The GTI is powered by a 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine that produces 180kW and 370Nm, while the TSI makes do with the familiar 1.4 turbopetrol that produces 110kW and 250Nm. The GTI sprints from 0-100km/h in an impressive 6.4 seconds, according to claims, while the 1.4 TSI does the deed in a still-respectable 8.5 seconds. But it's not just about straight line speed. To allow the kind of sharp handling that performance hatch buyers expect, the GTI also has a meticulously engineered sports chassis package. This includes Adaptive Chassis Control, with adjustable shocks, as well as an electronic limited-slip differential and Progressive steering. If you are a petrol-head of any kind, then the Golf GTI is undoubtedly worth the extra R50,000 over the fully-loaded TSI. But given that it is a relatively dated model, it might be worth looking for a good example on the second hand market. Or you could wait for the new Golf 8.5 GTI, which now has 195kW, but this facelifted model has yet to be officially confirmed for South Africa, due to the aforementioned fuel issues. IOL
The Citizen
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
PODCAST: Golf 8.5 is good enough to justify lofty price tag
Eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission has made a huge difference to the 1.4 TSI engine. After only offering GTI and R derivatives since the Golf 8's arrival in 2021, Volkswagen South African (VWSA) has reverted to only non-performance derivatives for the newly-launched Golf 8.5. South Africa's poor fuel quality does not allow VWSA to bring in the performance models at the moment, leading to the decision that some other derivative is better than no derivative at all. But what been a hot topic of debate is the Golf 8.5's starting price of R580 900. This top model comes in at R680 100, with the Golf 8 GTI still on sale for R853 400. Golf 8.5 makes a Pitstop In this week's episode of The Citizen Motoring's Pitstop podcast we look at what the Golf 8.5 offers for that price. Road test editor Mark Jones experienced the hatchback on a recent launch drive and comes to the conclusion that he'll fork out that money with a smile. The Golf 8.5 is offered in four models derivatives; the Life, Life Plus, R-Line and R-Line Plus. They are all powered by the tried and trusted 1.4 TSI turbo petrol engine that produces 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque. What does give the mill a new leash on life is the eight-speed Tiptronic transmission replacing the DSG box from before. According to Jones this is a supersmooth combination. ALSO READ: VW Golf 8.5 has come a long way in almost half a century Great fuel economy VW claims the Golf 8.5 will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 216km/h. VW says it will only sip 6.3 litres of petrol per 100km. Standard specification on the entry-level Life derivatives includes 16 inch alloy wheels, 10.3 inch infotainment system, 10 colour ambient lighting dashboard and 10 inch integrated digital cockpit. The top-of-the-range R-Line Plus comes with IQ Matrix LED headlights with illuminated VW front logo, heated and cooling front seats, auto high beam, Vienna leather seats with R-Line logo in front, paddles in brushed stainless steel and 18 inch alloy wheels.
IOL News
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Is the fully-loaded Volkswagen Golf 8.5 TSI worth the price of a GTI?
Volkswagen Golf TSI GTI In R-Line guise, the 1.4 TSI doesn't look radically different from the GTI. Image: Supplied South Africans can finally buy an 'ordinary' Volkswagen Golf once again, following the release last week of the 1.4-litre TSI models. When VWSA introduced the Golf 8 back in 2021, the local division opted to only introduce the 'performance' models, starting with the GTI and then the R. But with the facelifted Golf 8.5 GTI being delayed due to South Africa's poor fuel quality, VWSA has opted to reintroduce the Golf 1.4 TSI models in order to keep the nameplate from falling away completely in Mzansi. Priced from R580,900 to R688,100, before options, many social media users are questioning whether it really has a significant enough price advantage over the current Golf 8 GTI. The GTI performance model is still listed for sale on VWSA's website, with a starting price of R853,400. We configured a fully loaded Golf 8.5 1.4 TSI R-Line Plus on the local configurator and it came to R801,400, once all the tasty options had been added. No new Golf 8.5 GTI for now, but South Africans can have a TSI again. No new Golf 8.5 GTI for now, but South Africans can have a TSI again. Image: Supplied These extras include a panoramic sunroof (R19,000), driver assistance features package (R27,500), 'Discover' infotainment and navigation system (R25,500), Harman Kardon sound system (R14,500), panoramic sunroof (R19,000), Head-up Display (R12,000) and electrically folding towbar (R14,000). That's over and above the already-generous list of features fitted as standard to the R688,100 Golf R-Line Plus, which includes Matrix LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels and Vienna leather seats, with heating, cooling and electrical adjustment upfront. The fully loaded 1.4 TSI is barely R50,000 cheaper than the base GTI, albeit with a lot more features. The standard GTI has a similar list of features to the standard R-Line Plus, including the Vienna leather seats, but it doesn't come with the Matrix LED headlights, or even park assist for that matter. Load up the Golf 8 GTI with every conceivable optional feature and you are looking at a bill of R976,800. Ouch! But which is better then - a loaded up Golf 8.5 GTI or a standard Golf 8 GTI? It really depends on what you're looking for in a car. If having the latest design and decadent specification levels is at the top of your priority list, and you're happy with average but acceptable performance, there is a good argument for buying a fully-specced 1.4 TSI. It is technically a newer car than the GTI as it benefits from the Golf '8.5' facelift, which brought numerous exterior and interior design changes as well as an enhanced infotainment system and new features. Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI Image: Supplied
