VW presents the sixth generation of Golf Variant

Some cars take less time to appear than others. The sixth generation of Golf Variant, for example, has emerged little time after the new Golf came up. And here are the first images of the car, which will start its sales this Friday, although first deliveries will only take place in September. Base price is 18,500 euros.



Though the front end of the car has been completely redesigned, in order to follow the new Golf, its back is very familiar. In fact, it is exactly the same, what explains the fact the car has been presented so fast.

There will be three trim levels, Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. There will be four petrol options and two diesel units. As for the petrol options, the new car will count on a 1.4-litre producing 80 bhp (59 kW), a 1.6-litre that generates 102 bhp (75 kW) and two units of the 1.4 TSI pumping out 122 bhp (90 kW) and 160 bhp (118 kW). Diesel powerplants will be a 1.6-litre TDI producing 105 bhp (77 kW) and a 2-litre TDI able to generate 140 bhp (103 kW).









Source: VW

Opel presents the OPC version of its Insignia Sports Tourer

If you are in Europe and have enough budget for that, you may have already fallen in love with Opel Insignia OPC. But the car may lack the cargo space you need. In case it does, now you have no more excuses not to have an Insignia OPC in your parking lot. You just needed a longer name: Sports Tourer.



The station wagon version of this amazing car will undergo the same strict testing process the sedan had to go through, what should not be a problem. Besides the great looks of Insignia, the Sports Tourer also shares the turbocharged 2.8-litre V6 that produces 325 bhp (239 kw) with it. Torque is in the good figures of 435 Nm.

In order to have the best handling, the car also features the Adaptive 4x4 traction system with eletronic limited slip differential and is 1 cm lower than an Insignia SRi. Just like the sedan, it will be offered in six colour options: Arden Blue, Power Red, Carbon Flash Black, Silver Lake, Olympic White and Technical Grey.

Top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h, but the car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.3 s. Recaro front seats and standard 19-inch wheels give a good idea of what the car can do, even though knowing is never like feeling. Good luck to the ones that have that chance! Behave...







Source: Opel

VW Scirocco R is the street legal version of Scirocco GT24

Two VW Scirocco GT24 have won in their category at last year's edition of 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the most important races of the world. The cars have called so much attention VW decided to test if the public would be interested in such a car in street legal version with the Studie R. Apparently, the reaction has been the best one possible, once the final version of the car, called Scirocco R, has been presented for the first time today.



The new car will be presented in parallel with another very important event, the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Five Scirocco R will also compete, in order to present the dynamic capabilities of the car.

Equipped with a 2.0 TSI engine that has been tuned to produce 265 bhp at 6,000 rpm and 350 Nm at 2,500 rpm, the car uses 18-inch alloy wheels with 235/40 R18 tyres and is able to reach a top speed of 250 km/h (eletronically governed). Acceleration times depend on the sort of gearbox you choose. If you prefer to have a six-speed manual, which weighs 1,333 kg, going from 0 to 100 km/h will take you 6.5 s. If you would rather have a DSG transmission, 20 kg heavier (1,353 kg), you will be 0.1 s faster (6.4 s). The six-speed DSG is also a little more frugal in fuel consumption: 12,2 km/l against 12 km/l of the Scirocco R with manual transmission.

Technology not only helps to make the car faster and more environmentally friendly, but also to keep it on track with the electronically controlled limited slip differential called XDS. In other words, it helps the front wheel drive Scirocco drive like a rear wheel drive car by avoiding understeer, according to VW. We would like to evaluate that one day. In fact, we would love to evaluate the entire car, which seems to be one of the finest pieces of engineering VW has produced in a long time.











Source: VW

Volkswagen gives us a glimpse of Polo GTI with Wörthersee 09 concept

At the GTI Meet in Wörthersee, Volkswagen has decided to give us all a glimpse of its future sport version of Polo, which we could name Polo GTI, Polo GT or Polo G40. You choose. The car itself uses a 1.4-litre engine with no turbocharger or any other help. Producing 84 bhp, it is all about looks. So have a look.



We would rather have more substantial info, but this is all, apart from the fact that the car has been lowered (VW does not say how much) and that it uses 18-inch wheels. We will have to wait a little more for the real thing.





Source: VW

Hurtan revives the XK 120 with its Grand Albaycin

Hurtan is a Spanish carmaker that is located in Granada. Just like Gullwing GmbH, which produces a perfect replica of Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, the Gullwing, in Heyda, Germany, it is dedicated to bringing back to modern times the design of classic vehicles such as Jaguar XK 120, but not to reproduce it as Gullwing has proposed to do. The Grand Albaycin is inspired in the classic limping cat, but has an identity of its own. Check it out below:



Hurtan Grand Albaycin is 4.13 m long, 1.30 m tall, 1.68 m wide and has a wheelbase of 2.47 m. The car is a two seater with modern engines. There are two options, both produced by Renault; a 1.6-litre that generates 110 bhp and a 2-litre that produces 182 bhp. The car weight, magically, is the same with any of these engines, and it is quite light: 950 kg. While the 1.6-litre reaches a top speed of 185 km/h (180 km/h with a four-speed automatic transmission), the 2-litre goes up to 210 km/h. The only transmission option is a five-speed manual gearbox. Considering nothing is perfect, this is a front wheel drive car.

Hurtan does not mention prices on its website, but we have no reasons to believe this car is affordable. Prices are above 50,000 euros, but we have found no confirmation on the exact value. Since European customers can also choose to buy a Morgan, Hurtan may have hard times ahead, especially with that sort of traction in a classic-like vehicle.










Source: Hurtan via Eurocarblog

Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, the most expensive car of the world, reaches 9.02 million euros in auction

In May 2008, a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder sold for 7.04 million euros, what made it become the world's most expensive car. Ever. In May 2009, another Ferrari, but this time a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa sold for an even higher price, 9.02 million euros. The title of most expensive car of the world, as you may have already figured out, is now in other hands.



It is no surprise the 250 Testa Rossa has reached this price. It was designed by Carrozzeria Scaglietti and only 22 units of it were ever produced. These cars were used in 19 international races and won 10 of them, what made the unit that was auctioned especially interesting for car collectors all over the world. RM Auctions did not reveal the name or from where the winning biddor was, what is no surprise at all, considering the car's price. Anyway, we are almost sure to hear from it again in this year's edition of Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

The most expensive car of the world has a V12 engine with 2,953 cm³ and six Weber 38 DCN carburettors to produce 300 bhp at 7,200 rpm, conducted by a four speed manual transmission. Although the car could surely accelerate a lot, its four drum brakes were also sure to heat up and lose efficiency as fast as the car could hit 100 km/h. This is certainly what made some of the guys that have driven this machine be considered heroes. Or totally out of their minds...
















Source: RM Auctions