VW to take on Big Guns

Creation of a hyper' range will give Volkswagen a kick start in executive market as it plans to snare upmarket buyers

"It's a car, not a label", pleads VWs UK advertising. This coy inversion of the Golfs true position in the British market is repeated for real across Europe, where VWs ability to mass produce cars that are still viewed as a cut above is a matter of envy for rivals such, as Renault and Ford.

But that's not enough for Volkswagen boss Ferdinand Piech, who has approved an extremely ambitious strategy to further close the gap with BMW and Mercedes with the creation of hyper hatchbacks. VW will push the engineering envelope in its core market segments to create, among others, an eight-cylinder Golf and a five cylinder Polo.

VW wants to further distance its volume products from the competition. The flagship vehicle of this strategy will be a 300 bhp 4.0 litre W8 engined Golf. 'The installation process, the way the W8 must be angled in the engine bay, end the crash performance ore critical issues, but I'm confident that we can package the eight cylinder without having to redesign the entire front end, one senior RAD manager told us. A prototype already exists, helped by the fact that the next Golf (and Polo) will grow by half a size.

The all new W8 powered Passat

The next generation Polo will be offered with a 170 bhp 2.3 litre V5, and it could even accommodate four-wheel drive and a 225 bhp 3.2 litre V6 if VW's marketing specialists really want it. Hyper specification will also apply, to safety items (with up to eight airbags as standard), as well as advanced hardware including 4wd and transmissions such as direct shift automated manuals and dual clutch automatics with zero power loss during upshifts.

The W8 Engine

The W8 is also earmarked for the next Bora. Which gets a clearer visual differentiation in the shape of bespoke front and rear ends, as well as a longer wheelbase for more rear legroom. It is destined to fill the gap between Golf Mk5 and the next Passat, which will also grow half a size.

Although the new Passat switches from longitudinally to transversely mounted drivetrain, it will retail the W8 and get a much mare powerful diesel as an alternative flagship engine. Hyper diesels will also be part of this plan. The Mk5 Golf, Bora end Passat will be fitted with a brawny five-cylinder pump jet TDi. It delivers 185 bhp in 2.5 litre form and a massive 218 bhp in 3.0 litre guises.

Move over Lupo - this mini VW is to be made in China

The Polo will be available with, the 150 bhp 1.9 litre, four cylinder TDi And the Lupo?, The Lupo will die a quiet death in 2005, when its successor is to be merged with the new entry level bargain basement Volkswagen made in China.

Meanwhile at the other end of his is thinking, Piech is thinking in the long term. VW knows it will not make money on the first generation D1 executive saloon that's due to start production in Dresden this year. Even the second model due in 2010 or thereabouts may be a loss maker. The group has been here before; the A8 isn't a money-spinner. The prime mission of the- cars is to firmly anchor the VW name in a segment currently owned by Mercedes, BMW and Jaguar. VW would, the theory goes, be a credible (more youthful) alternative to these older rivals.

4WD 4x4 - VWs rugged American off roader

Alongside the D1 is the adventurous Colorado SUV (twinned with the Porsche Cayenne, which certainly won't hurt) as well as the W12 coupe and roadster. Designed with help from Giugiora, these mid engined high performance twin -seaters were originally ditched in late 1998 for being way over budget. Although the styling has been modified, the engineering concept remains largely unchanged. Powered by the 420 bhp 6.0 litre W12, these cars could reach showrooms as early as 2002.

VW gets serious - the W12 sports car

But long term, the two prongs of VW strategy come together. VW's strategists think that the extraordinary hyper Golf and Polo will establish VW as the premium automotive brand in the minds of the 25 - 35 age group. By the time these buyers are old, or senior, enough to enter the executive car market, VW will own the age group. Indeed, the life span of the 2004 W8 Golf 4MOTION should dovetail neatly with the introduction of second generation versions of the D1 and Colorado.

From CAR December 2000

all Volkswagen Group communications and photos reproduced with permission of Volkswagen UK