Skip to main content

VW Launch Golf Alltrack, Position it Against Outback

As these words are written, Volkswagen is in the midst of feeding and lodging countless journalists (among whom I number) for the launch of the 2017 Golf Alltrack. There will be a full test drive later, but for now here are the important details.

The Golf Alltrack is an extremely important car for Volkswagen of America, or so says Hinrich Woebcken, who heads it. The rugged new (to us) station wagon is part of a push to get more family cars and four-wheel-drive cars into VW showrooms to drive sales by convincing the market that the company as a full line manufacturer, not just a maker of compacts.

2017_golf_alltrack_6346

The Alltrack is basically a Golf SportWagen that has been raised 0.6 inches and “ruggedized,” to borrow a phrase from Megan Garbis, Golf product manager.

Three trims are offered (S, SE, and SEL) that start at roughly $26,000 to $32,000 and will hit showrooms next month. All come standard with 4Motion all-wheel-drive and the S and SE trims will be offered with a six speed manual transmission(!), but they won’t be available until early 2017.

2017_golf_alltrack_6326

When the Alltrack only has two pedals, though, it’ll be fitted with a six speed DSG dual clutch auto, the first time that particular ‘box has been bolted to the 1.8L TSI (170hp, 199lb-ft of torque).

Although VW will argue that the Altrack is a unique snowflake, it’s being positioned against the Subaru Outback, even though it’s technically an SUV. The Alltrack is a little shorter than the Outback, in both roof height and clearance, but it still comes with a skid plate, plastic cladding on the wheel arches, and an off road driving mode.

I’ll come back with more about the Alltrack, including a full review, after I’ve driven the thing, which I’m on my way out the door to do. Meanwhile, you can read all the facts and figures in VW’s press release, here.

2017_golf_alltrack_6355

The post VW Launch Golf Alltrack, Position it Against Outback appeared first on VWVortex.



from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2cT4Wah
via IFTTT
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Saying Goodbye to the CC V6

For all its size and its global reach, Volkswagen is still, in many ways, a deeply human company. There was, for instance, the Bugatti Veyron an ego project if ever there was one. Then the purchase of Ducati, a move most called folly. And then there was the Phaeton, the Volkswagen that most folks can’t afford. Not only were these moves all strange, I’m sure that they made VW’s accountants furious. None of them made good business sense, but they were all deeply interesting and they all are evidence of the heart that beats at the center of VW. Among these follies is the CC, a car that everyone agrees is rakishly handsome, but that no one really wanted to buy. The car couldn’t last, but the world is brighter for its having been in it. With the approach debut of the Arteon, it seems like a good time to look back on its sadly departing predecessor. The version I drove, because I live in Canada, is a V6 Wolfsburg Edition, which apparently isn’t available in the States. Nor is the V6, not as...
Post a Comment
Read more

T-Prime Makes World Premiere at Beijing

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] The SUV segment is one of the fastest growing segments in the world and Volkswagen is showing the world how to do it. With the new T-Prime Concept GTE that was revealed today, the company is showing off all of the technology you can look for in its coming models. The T-Prime is a full-size hybrid SUV that can go up to 31 miles on a charge and gets 87 mpg. The hybrid power station is good for 375 hp and 516 lb/ft of torque and puts the power down with 4MOTION all wheel drive. It’ll get you up to 60 in six seconds. The concept’s real party piece, though, is its interior, which features exclusively touch, gesture, and voice controls. Everything from the infotainment, to the display, and even the gears are controlled by touch-screen. The T-Prime Concept GTE is bigger than the Touareg, and design elements are likely to find their way into all of their SUVs, of which there will be many. Volkswagen is also announcing that they expect to make an S...
Post a Comment
Read more

Audi Teases the e-tron’s Headlights Ahead of LA Reveal

Audi will unveil its new electric car, the e-tron GT, in just a few short days, but until then, it will do what manufacturers can’t help but do and will tease it mercilessly. The latest teaser images first appeared on Germany’s Bild , and feature some of the EV’s lighting. While the taillights look reasonably familiar, albeit on an interesting, angular surface, the headlights feature a heretofore unseen light shape. The X-shape (or maybe an R-shape, from the right angle) in the middle of the e-tron GT’s headlights set it apart from the rest of the lineup, even the e-tron SUV (whose lights look R8-ish with their angular check-shaped top line.) #Sneak Peek: the #Audi #etron GT concept – stay tuned for the big #world #premiere on November 28. pic.twitter.com/NIg0z6bIwR — AUDI AG (@Audi_Press) November 25, 2018 The long and low sedan will be based on the same platform as the Porsche Taycan, which is said to hit 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds and whose batteries will all be stowed...
Post a Comment
Read more