VW plans to build 155mph Golf

Volkswagen has unveiled its fastest ever Golf, the 155mph R32. Wolfsburg's latest 240 bhp 3.2 V6 scorcher is officially a concept car but sources say the hot hatch could start production early next year.

Volkswagen are planning significant numbers of the R32, set to grace VW dealers at around £23,000.

The Mirror (UK) - December 7, 2001

sent in by Pete Frost

VW Golf vrooms to top of company car list

The hot-hatch kid has grown up and taken his favourite car to work with him. The Volkswagen Golf GTi has topped the league of the most popular company cars, replacing traditional favourites such as the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra.

Boy racers who fell in love with the sporty hatchback when they passed their driving test have stayed faithful, even as they have matured and moved into successful jobs which give them vehicles as a perk.

The Golf, of which the most popular model is the GTi, powered ahead of previous favourites such as Ford and Vauxhall to become the top company car, according to research by Lex, the British leasing firm.

Of the 25,000 cars purchased by the company in 2001, the Golf proved to be the car of choice with both fleet managers and business drivers.

Lex claimed the reason for its popularity was the car's versatility.

With a broad range of trims and varying engine types, the Golf can meet the needs of a wide variety of company car policies.

Steve Jones, pricing manager at Lex, said: ''The Mark 4 Golf is certainly very grown-up in size and stature and offers an extensive range of petrol and diesel engines that can suit a wide variety of motoring needs.

''The Golf is still seen by many drivers as the hatchback they want to drive and the GTi in particular is still seen as having a long sporting pedigree, even if it is no longer the fastest car in its sector.

''Offering a diesel GTi is also a clever marketing ploy in that the younger driving enthusiasts who have been forced to opt for a diesel can still say they drive a GTi.''

Another German car, the BMW 3 series, came in at number two, but Ford's hold on the company car market had not slipped completely, with the Focus and Mondeo at number three and four in the top 10.

Another Volkswagen, the Passat, was at number five, closely followed by Vauxhall's Vectra and Astra models.

Mainstream manufacturers such as Ford and Vauxhall may be losing their dominance in the fleet sector, but they are still ranked highly by companies, indicating they are unlikely to be replaced completely by the more aspirational brands.

Mr Jones said: ''The traditional fleet brands still form the mainstay of our car purchases, but because drivers are being given a bigger list of cars to choose from, then cars such as the Golf and BMW 3-series will become more popular.''

A spokeswoman for Volkswagen said that the Golf was popular with companies because it was a car that kept ''everybody happy''.

''The drivers like them because they are icon cars and a badge that really makes a statement in the company car park. Managers are pleased their staff want to drive Golfs because they are very economical and low on maintenance costs,'' the spokeswoman added.

Robin Mackonochie, spokesman for the British vehicle rental and leasing association, claimed the Golf's popularity could have grown because of changes to the law which mean that smaller cars will benefit from lower tax.

From April this year, instead of depending on business miles accumulated, tax will be calculated on the amount of carbon emissions produced by the car, giving smaller cars a new advantage over larger models.

Mr Mackonochie added: ''Let's face it, you get as much comfort and enjoyment out of a smaller car nowadays as you do out of a larger one.

''For cars, at least, size is no longer everything.''

Lex predicts that the list of top company cars next year will feature some new brands such as the Citroen Picasso and the Renault Scenic as business drivers opt for mini multi-purpose vehicles.

The Renault Laguna and the new Fiesta were also expected to do well in the fleet market.

Top 10 company cars:

1 VW Golf

2 BMW 3 series

3 Ford Focus

4 Ford Mondeo

5 VW Passat

6 Vauxhall Vectra

7 Vauxhall Astra

8 Audi A4

9 Peugeot 406

10 Toyota Avensis

The Herald (United Kingdom) - January 22, 2002

sent in by Pete Frost