Showing posts with label Cabriolet. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Volkswagen statement on Takata recall (Australia)

Up!

Admin February 28, 2018 0

The Australian Government will require a mandatory recall of certain vehicles with frontal Takata airbag inflators to be carried out by 31 December 2020.

This will entail a staged recall of affected Volkswagen vehicles over the next three years.
Volkswagen will contact owners to let them know when they should visit a dealer to have their Takata airbag inflator replaced.

No Volkswagen vehicle is fitted with an airbag from the alpha population.
No new or current model Volkswagen variant is affected.

At this time the recall applies to 106,804 Volkswagen vehicles.

These are:

Mark 6 Golf (2009-13) 35,817 examples
Mark 6 Golf Cabriolet (2012-15) 2,256
B7 Passat (2011-15) 17,741
B6 Passat (2010) 2,509
A5 Polo (2010-14) 5730
A4 Polo (2007-09) 3952
CC (2009-16) 4461
Eos (2010-14) 3112
Up (2013-14) 2296

A total of 28,930 Volkswagen vans will be recalled. None are currently produced.
These comprise the now replaced Crafter (10,685 from 2006-17) and 18,245 Transporter / Multivan made between 2008-15.

Volkswagen confirms T-Roc Cabriolet as firms first SUV Cabriolet

Volkswagen

Admin February 23, 2018 0

Volkswagen brand's first SUV cabriolet: Supervisory Board confirms cabriolet version of T-Roc

SUV cabriolet to be produced at Osnabrück from 2020
Volkswagen to invest €80 million in production
Cabriolet success story at Osnabrück is continued
New model safeguards capacity utilization and employment

Green light for a new cabriolet based on the T-Roc: within the framework of its major model offensive, the Volkswagen brand is launching its first convertible SUV. The new model is to be produced from the first half of 2020. At its meeting held today, the Volkswagen Group Supervisory Board confirmed the investment of more than €80 million in the Osnabrück plant which is required for this purpose. With this decision, the brand will be continuing the cabriolet success story of the Osnabrück team and safeguarding employment at the plant.

Dr. Herbert Diess, CEO of the Volkswagen brand, says: "Volkswagen is evolving into an SUV brand. The T-Roc is already setting new standards in the compact SUV segment. With the cabriolet based on the T-Roc, we will be adding a highly emotional model to the range. I am especially pleased to note that we can count on the Osnabrück team's decades of experience with convertibles. The Osnabrück plant now has bright prospects for the future."

SUVs are currently making a key contribution to the growth of the Volkswagen Group's core brand. With 720,000 Tiguan vehicles delivered, this car is among the 10 best-selling models in the world and the top three SUV's. By 2020, the brand intends to expand its SUV range throughout the world to 20 models. By then, about 40 percent of the vehicles sold by Volkswagen are to be SUV's. With the new cabriolet based on the T-Roc, Volkswagen will further reinforce its presence in the compact SUV segment, one of the fastest-growing segments in global automobile markets.

The investment of more than €80 million in the production of the new cabriolet will allow the comprehensive modernization of production technology, assembly and logistics at the Osnabrück plant. Following the run-up phase, a production volume of up to 20,000 vehicles per year is planned.

With the new cabriolet based on the T-Roc, Volkswagen is bringing this body style into the currently particularly strong growing SUV segment. This model continues Volkswagen's cabriolet tradition, which dates back almost 70 years. The original version of the T-Roc was successfully launched on European markets at the end of 2017. To date, more than 40,000 orders have been taken for the model.

Volkswagen Osnabr GmbH currently has about 2,300 employees. In 2017, the plant assembled more than 76,000 units on three production lines. Currently, Volkswagen Osnabrück assembles the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Porsche Cayman. In addition, the plant is responsible for part of the painting work needed for the ŠKODA Fabia. Since Volkswagen Osnabrück GmbH was founded in 2011, more than 280,000 vehicles have rolled off the assembly lines.

Dream Machine: The 2018 Audi A5 Cabriolet 2.0T quattro S tronic

Cabriolet

Admin February 09, 2018 0

The 2018 Audi A5 Cabriolet.

I was raised to believe that flashy and quality simply did not go together. Things must have changed, because the 2018 Audi A5 Cabriolet is flashy personified and the quality is tremendous.

2018 Audi A5 Cabriolet.

The aesthetic, emotional impact of this car is huge. It is lithe and sleek and awe-and-envy inspiring.

It is art, and yet it is machinery. And the machinery works so very well.

The name in the headline of this review is long---A5 Cabriolet 2.0T quattro S tronic---but it tells a lot. It's the midsize Audi, a cousin to the A4 sedan, it has Audi's two-liter turbocharged four cylinder engine (252 horsepower), it is all-wheel drive and it has Audi's S tronic seven-speed automatic transmission, a dual-clutch transmission that allows for fully manual shifting through the steering wheel-mounted paddles and which shifts from one gear to the next in two-tenths of a second with no interruption to power flow. One clutch controls the odd-numbered gears, the other clutch controls the even-numbered gears.

In standard, no-option form, the 2018 Audi A5 Cabriolet 2.0T quattro S tronic costs $49,600. That price is a bargain, your brain says as you continue to stare at the beauty of the car itself. And your brain continues to say that as you peruse the list of standard equipment at that price:

18-inch, ten-spoke wheels
All-season tires
Energy recuperation system with start/stop
Space-saving spare tire
Audi Drive Select
Audi sound system
Xenon Plus headlamps
Acoustic convertible top
Auto-dimming interior mirror with compass
Driver information system with seven-inch color display
HomeLink garage door opener
Heated power exterior mirrors
Leather seating surfaces
LED interior lighting
Bluetooth mobile phone prep with audio streaming
Rain and light sensor
Split-folding rear seatback
Three-zone automatic climate control with digital rear display
USB Audi music interface with smartphone interface
Voice control with seatbelt microphones
Three-spoke multifunction steering wheel with shift paddles
Ten-way power adjustable front seats with four-way driver lumbar adjustment
Six airbags
Anti-lock braking with Brake Assist
Audi Pre-Sense Basic and City
Electronic Stabilization Control with Sport Mode
Electronic vehicle immobilization
LED daytime running lights
LED taillights with dynamic turn signals
Rearview camera
Tire pressure monitoring

2018 Audi A5 Cabriolet interior.

And while the optional equipment on our test vehicle altered the pricing by close to $15,000, there's not much we would want to live without, having experienced it:

Florett Silver Metallic paint with a black soft top ($575)
The Prestige Package, featuring heated, auto-dimming, power-folding exterior mirrors with memory, an alarm system with motion sensors, SiriusXM All Access, Audi Enhanced Key, full LED headlights, Audi Side Assist with pre-sense rear, Leatherette-covered center console and door armrests, a Bang & Olufsen sound system with 3D Sound, Parking System Plus with top-view camera system, a full-color head-up display, LED interior lighting plus package, Audi Virtual Cockpit, Audi MMI Navigation with MMI Touch, Audi Connect CARE Prime and Plus ($7,600)
The Luxury Package, featuring ventilated front sport seats with four-way power lumbar, a heated steering wheel and neck-level heating ($2,100)
The Driver Assistance Package, with adaptive cruise control and Audi Active Lane Assist, high-beam assistant and traffic sign recognition ($1,800)
19-inch Design line wheel package and sport suspension ($1,050)
Adaptive damping suspension ($1,000)
High-gloss dark brown walnut wood inlays ($350)

With $975 destination charge, the as-tested price came to $65,050. EPA fuel economy estimate 24 city/34 highway.

At a time when excellent cars abound and said excellence is said to have made things boring, it is a joy to drive a car that is excellent and quickens the pulse. And that is the Audi A5 Cabriolet.

The new Mercedes-Maybach S 650 Cabriolet: The ultimate in open-air exclusivity

s-class

Admin November 30, 2016 0

Another premiere unveiled on the stage of this year's LAAS was the all new Mercedes-Maybach S 650 Cabriolet. Set to run on a limited series of just 300 units (of which 75 are reserved for the United States), the ultra-luxury open-top four-seater is powered by the M279 12-cylinder engine known from the AMG 65, producing a staggering 630 hp, which is 100 hp more than the V12 units installed on the S-Class and S-Class Pullman derivatives.

The S 650 Cabriolet is distinguished by the chrome-finished radiator grille and front air inlets, the Maybach logos on the front wings, the Maybach lettering inserted in the twin-blade grille (like on an AMG model), the newly designed 20-inch Maybach forged alloy wheels with bichromatic finish and, inside, by the multiple Maybach branding (on the steering wheel and center console), leather-stitched logos and the "1 of 300" lettering on the center console. The third Mercedes-Maybach model to date is being offered in three exclusive combinations of exterior and interior customization as follows: Zircon Red exterior paint with a Porcelain / Black interior, Zircon Red exterior paint with a Porcelain / Black interior and designo Diamond White exterior paint with a Porcelain / Yacht Blue interior.

Each of the 300 Maybach S-Class Cabriolets customers will receive a standard fabric cover, a genuine certificate signed by Dr. Dieter Zetsche and a Nappa leather-covered key fob with the Maybach logo and the "1 of 300" badge. At a prohibitive 300,000 euros, the net price tag for the Mercedes-Maybach S 650 Cabriolet could not be more exclusive than that.

For more specific details on the Maybach S 650 Cabriolet, please check out the official press release posted below. Enjoy!

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Stuttgart, Germany - The first cabriolet from the Mercedes‑Maybach brand is celebrating its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show and is all set to hit markets in the spring of 2017 – limited to 300 examples and with a net price tag of 300,000 euros. The high-end appointments in the interior make up part of the vehicle's special characteristics. Unique features include nine additional colour concepts for the interior, the trim – optionally refined with "flowing lines" – plus the hand-finished craftsmanship of the leather seats with perforations in a waterfall-style look. The drive system requirements are catered for by the 6.0‑litre V12 engine with an output of 463 kW (630 hp).

A glimpse into the future of the luxury brand was provided by the Vision Mercedes‑Maybach 6, which celebrated its European premiere at the Paris Motor Show just a few weeks ago. This is now being followed by the Mercedes-Maybach S 650 Cabriolet, a series production model which, with its ultimate open-air exclusivity, embodies modern luxury and represents the design philosophy of Sensual Purity: it is both hot and cool at the same time. Worldwide just 300 examples of this open-top four-seater model will be produced.

The Mercedes-Maybach S 650 is based on the open-top S‑Class and has adopted the latter's classic aesthetic proportions, among other features, with highlights which include the dynamic silhouette with coupé-like soft top and the sidewall dropping line which slopes down towards the rear. Exclusive Mercedes-Maybach features include a new front bumper with upgraded lower section and also numerous chrome highlights to visibly enhance the special aspirations of luxury. The Maybach emblem is discreetly but elegantly featured on the vehicle's wing. Other special elements on the exterior include the high-quality 20‑inch Maybach forged wheels in a powerful design and a bichromatic finish. On opening the doors, the Maybach logo is projected onto the floor by means of entrance lighting.

Interior theme: "Everything flows"

In the interior, the fully leather-trimmed Mercedes-Maybach S 650 Cabriolet brings some of the visionary ideas of the Concept S‑Class Coupé show car (IAA 2013) to series production. These include the dynamic "flowing lines" in the seats. This waterfall-like seat upholstery layout is achieved with the aid of progressive perforations. An eye for detail is also demonstrated in the outer diamond quilting on the seat side bolsters and the Budapest piping.

The unique trim elements are commissioned individually for each vehicle based on the colour and grain. In addition to trim on the instrument panel and door panelling, the Mercedes-Maybach S 650 Cabriolet exclusively boasts a trim element on top of the soft top compartment with inlaid Maybach logo. As an option, the look can be refined with "flowing lines".

The flowing lines are generated by a combination of precision machining and traditional craftsmanship. As part of this, the substrate beneath the fine wood veneer of the three-dimensional trim element is exposed in a special process using a fine milling cutter (with a diameter of 0.8 mm). The individually milled lines follow the shape of the trim, thus reinforcing the three-dimensional effect.

Exclusive to the Mercedes-Maybach S 650 Cabriolet are trim elements in designo nut brown magnolia – either with flowing lines or in a high-gloss finish. Nine additional interior colour concepts – from pastel yellow/black to porcelain/saddle brown – provide for further individualisation.

Mercedes-Maybach logos are located on the front side of the seats (embroidered), on the back of the head restraints (embossed) and also inlaid in the stowage cover of the centre console. Other details include deep-pile floor mats, chrome-plated "1 of 300" lettering on the cup holder, and the steering wheel which features Maybach lettering on the lower bezel.

All of the optional extras of the S‑Class Cabriolet come as standard on the Mercedes-Maybach, including AIRCAP, AIRSCARF and Swarovski headlamps.

Elegant items of luggage: colour-coordinated to match the interior variant

The Mercedes-Maybach S 650 Cabriolet is equipped as standard with an exclusive travel luggage set from MAYBACH – ICONS OF LUXURY. "THE AFFINITY" set comprises two large travel bags as well as two lifestyle bags made of original vehicle leather. In terms of form and colour – which are coordinated with the interior variant selected by the customer – the bag set is tailored to match the Cabriolet. The bags can be securely attached to each other with straps to enable optimum use of the space in the boot. The polished chrome-plated "1 of 300" lettering serves to highlight the level of exclusivity.

Just like the vehicles from Mercedes-Maybach, the elegant items of luggage from the licence partner MAYBACH – ICONS OF LUXURY GmbH meet high standards in terms of design, materials and the German art of manufacturing.

Supplied as standard: exclusive fabric cover and certificate

The scope of delivery of each Mercedes-Maybach Cabriolet includes a car cover made of high-quality fabric in the soft top colour, with diamond quilting and embroidered Maybach emblem and lettering on the bonnet.

In addition, each Mercedes-Maybach Cabriolet is delivered with a special welcome pack. This comprises a key ring made of the nappa leather used in the vehicle and in the interior colour, with Maybach emblem and "1 of 300" lettering, as well as a certificate signed by Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

The powertrain: a fitting biturbo V12

The luxury cabriolet's superior drive system relies on the 6.0-litre biturbo V12 engine with an output of 463 kW (630 hp). Power transmission to the rear axle comes courtesy of the 7G‑TRONIC, while the AIRMATIC suspension with steplessly variable damping control ensures a special driving sensation.

Technical data at a glance:

Mercedes-Maybach: innovative strength fused with exclusivity

Mercedes-Maybach stands for the ultimate in exclusivity and individuality for status-oriented customers. The current vehicles include the Mercedes-Maybach S 500 and S 600 models, launched in February 2015, which blend the innovative strength of the Mercedes-Benz S‑Class with the exclusivity of Maybach. A special protection version, the Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Guard, is the world's first passenger car to meet the highest ballistic protection level for civilian vehicles, VR10. The latest models are the Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Pullman (introduced at the start of 2016) and the Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Pullman Guard (first deliveries scheduled for the second half of 2017), both with a vis‑à -vis seating layout.

Fuel consumption combined: 12,0 l/100 km; Combined CO2 emissions: 272 g/km