Volkswagen’s second attempt at the Golf Plus was uncovered at the Bologna Motor Show inn Italy. Based on the latest MkVI Golf, it gets unique front and rear lights as well as a new bumper at the back and roof rails, to complete the mini MPV look.

There are more changes compared to the standard model inside, with the Golf Plus featureing new upholstery materials and details with brushed chrome surrounds. Engines are still to be confirmed but thanks to VW’s vast list of options in that department, expect a range of petrol and diesel powered lumps linked to either five or six-speed manuals or a six or seven-speed DSG gearbox.

A petrol engine that’s a sure bet is the 1.4-litre, 120bhp TSI which will return up to 44.8mpg while providing a top speed of 200kph.

When it goes on sale next year, one of the options on the Golf Plus will be VW’s Park Assist, which is a system that operates the steering automatically during reverse parallel parking.

Tags: News by Mido
No Comments »

After hundreds of spy photos of the new Porsche saloon, we are finally able to see how the production version of the new Porsche can reach Mercedes, Maserati and BMW level. The Panamera is definitely Porsche from front to rear, but its profile tells a squat, slightly fat, behind. Porsche undoubtedly thought about rear passenger comfort and a golf bag-swallowing boot, hence the inept, taller look to the rear three quarter section. But there is no denying the fact that the Panamera follows the decade old 911 design philosophy and carries with it a certain amount of that coupe character.

Conceived and designed as a four-door grand tourer, the Panamera combines sporting driving dynamics and a practical interior, together with top comfort expected of all cars in this new segment of super four doors, which includes the Mercedes CLS, the Maserati Quattroporte and in the future, the CS concept based BMW GT.

Porsche’s contender in the four door coupe class does away with the conventional radiator grille and instead has air intakes like the ones found on the rest of the company’s range. Its shoulders provide the dynamic sweep of he coupe-like roof-line, and endow the interior with space.

Porsche plans to give every occupant the experience allowing rear passengers to sit in firmly contoured individual seats, instead of benches. That also means you can’t get five people in the back. Porsche even says that all passengers are able to cram their luggage into the boot. You won’t find any flat-sixes in the front though, as Porsche has developed V-engines with six and eight cylinders delivering power in the range of 300bhp and 500bhp. There is, obviously, going to be a turbocharged version and power will be delivered to the road through either a six-speed manual or the Porsche seven-speed double clutch gearbox (PDK, or Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetribe if you are feeling adventurous). [Read more →]

Tags: Previews by Mido
No Comments »