Winds of change

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

Volkswagen usually names its passenger cars after winds or natural phenomena. Passat is German for trade winds. Polo has something to do with Polar winds, just as Jetta has with the jet stream. Vento has its roots in ventilation. Golf has more to do with the Gulf Stream ocean current than the game.

So what will VW call its latest passenger model, codenamed D1 until it is christened next month at the opening of its new "transparent factory", a glass-walled design in Dresden, home of fine china?

Will it be called the Ghilbi, a hot, dry southerly in North Africa? How about the Khamsin, a hot spring wind in Egypt? Or Mistral, the winter wind that blows across France towards the Mediterranean?

The name is important, because the luxury saloon is aimed at the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series and Audi A8, a market a world away from that of the original VW Beetle, the "people's car".

The D1 and its new name will officially be unveiled at the Geneva motor show next March.

Left-hand-drives will go on sale in Europe in June and the first right-hand-drive models are expected to arrive in New Zealand before Christmas.

Base models will be front-wheel-drive; those with more powerful engines will be equipped with VW's 4Motion four-wheel-drive system. The car will come with a new air-suspension system and electronic damper control.

The D1 is packed with high-tech componentry befitting its rivals. It is an executive heavyweight, a tad over 5m long and 1.9m wide, steel-bodied with aluminium doors, boot lid and bonnet.

VW says the doors, made from diecast aluminium and laser-welded, are the stiffest ever made.

The exterior of the car continues the VW design theme set by the Passat. The company says its strong rear end will be instantly recognisable, especially at night with distinct LED tail-light clusters.

VW is paying more pre-launch attention to the "handcrafted feel" of the car's interior. "All the technical equipment available to the driver and passengers remains logical, understandable and intuitive," it says, adding that the interior sets new standards of room for occupants.

It describes the new 4Corner Climatronic air-conditioning system as "absolutely draught-free, supplying indirect flows of air to different sections of the cabin through vents that open and close automatically".

The car will be launched in Europe with the choice of two petrol engines mated to five-speed Tiptronic gearboxes:

* 3.2-litre V6, producing 177kW (241 bhp) and 315Nm of torque.

* 6-litre W12, producing 309kW (420 bhp) and 550 Nm.

VW's all-new turbo-diesel, the 5-litre V10 TDI, will follow soon after. VW says it is the most powerful diesel car engine in the world, developing 230kW (313 bhp) and a massive 750Nm of torque. It will be mated to a new six-speed automatic transmission.

A 4-litre W8 is expected to be the fourth engine and a smaller turbo-diesel the fifth.

New Zealand will get two engines, the 6-litre W12 and 5-litre W10 TDI. Both cars will cost around $200,000, a price reflecting the market in which they will compete, and will be equipped with 4Motion.

The carmaker's "W" family of engines are based on two narrow angle V4, V6 and V8 engines joined by a common crankshaft.

The W12 Coupe gets the 440kW (600 bhp) 12-cylinder powerplant, good for a top speed of 350 km/h and a zero to 100 km/h time of under 3.5 seconds.

But unlike the D1, VW hasn't decided on the concept W12's future. The car is part of VW's product offensive and was on show at Tokyo last week, after weeks of testing at the high-speed Nardo circuit in Italy.

It is 4550mm long, 1920mm wide and 1100mm high, weighs 1200kg and the compact W12 engine - 513mm long, 715mm high, 710mm wide and weighing 239kg - is mounted behind the cabin. This helps to provide a 50:50 weight distribution front and rear.

Power from the engine goes to the rear 19-inch magnesium wheels and 275/40 ZR tyres via a six-speed sequential gearbox. The front 19-inch wheels are shod with 255/35 ZR tyres.

Suspension is double wishbone front and rear, and electronic stability and traction control systems help the Brembo brakes keep the car on the straight and narrow.

The car, finished in orange pearlescent, has two wing doors that open to the front. The centre part of the roof is made of special glass which extends from the windscreen to the end of the engine compartment.

Leather, aluminium and carbon dominate the makeup of the interior. Seats, fittings and door trims have been finished in black/grey suede and a colour-coded leather.

Two round main instrument displays show information such as speed and revs.

The air-conditioning system, navigation, on-board computer and telephone are controlled via a colour display in the centre of the dash.