VW moves to drop GTi Golf

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

Volkswagen is celebrating being top European marque in New Zealand this year - but it remains cagey about reports that it will expand its vehicle range in 2001.

Apart from acknowledging the appearance of one limited-edition RSi Beetle in March, general manager Dean Sheed wouldn't be drawn on talk that the Golf range will be updated beyond the introduction in January of the sub-$60,000 all-wheel-drive 4MOTION model.

"There will be some more changes to the line-up of Volkswagen vehicles in 2001 but we still have some work to do yet," he said.

It is understood the entry-level four-cylinder 1.6-litre Golf will be dropped and replaced by a 2.0-litre. The 1.8-litre GTi is also expected to be replaced by the VR5, a 2.3-litre five-cylinder engine producing 125kW, or 15kW more power than the present model.

A 1.9-litre turbo-diesel Golf is likely, too, something Sheed did hint at last month. "We haven't had a line-up of diesels but we would be silly if we didn't look at diesels now," he said then.

VW also enters the luxury market for the first time next year with long-wheelbase variants of the Passat, the petrol model using the carmaker's new 220kW W8 engine, or two V4s joined at the hip, and the diesel a new direct-injection system.

The commercial market will be targeted with the Transporter T4 van, a model as adaptable as the ubiquitous Kombi.

In 2002, VW's Colorado off-roader - developed with Porsche - is due. The four-wheel-drive rival to the Range Rover, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz M-Class and Lexus 470 will come with a choice of petrol and diesel engines.

A year or so later, the carmaker's flagship limousine will turn up, powered by the petrol W12 motor, or two V6 engines, or a V10 diesel producing a massive 700Nm of pulling power. It will rival the Japanese Lexus and the best from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The expansion is part of VW's plans to become the dominant European carmaker in New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific.

VW will be only the second European carmaker in New Zealand to break the 1000 sales barrier in the past 10 years.

Peugeot did it in 1990 and again in 1994 with sales of 1065 and 1014 cars. BMW nibbled at it in 1995 with 926 sales. Sheed says VW should sell between 1200 and 1300 cars before the end of next month.

The left-hand-drive-only RSi will be used for VW promotions - but it could ultimately be for sale at the right money. It is one of only 250 made and is powered by a 3.2 litre V6 engine producing 165 kW. It has a top speed of 223 km/h and gets from zero to 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds.