People's Car - Volkswagen Golf 6 (2008-2012)

    The Volkswagen Golf Mk6 (or VW Typ 5K) is the successor to the Mk5, and was unveiled at the Paris Auto Show in October 2008. Volkswagen released pictures and information on 6 August 2008, prior to the official unveiling. The vehicle was released to the European market in the winter of 2008. Major investments have been made in production efficiency, with a claimed productivity improvement at launch of nearly 20% in comparison with the previous model, and further gains planned for the next twelve months.

Jetta 6 sedans went on sale mid 2010 in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, followed by the rest of the world in 2011.

Volkswagen Golf Mk6 

Design

Like its predecessor, the Mk6 Golf is based on the Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform. Effectively it is a reskin of the Mk.5 rather than a completely all-new design, it was developed with engineering improvements to shorten the previous model's excessive assembly time, and answered criticisms of that model's cheapened interior quality compared to that of the 1997 Mk.4.

Volkswagen Golf Mk6 - 5(five) dors

Improvements in equipment level on the domestic market Golfs include, for the first time in a Golf, the inclusion of air conditioning as standard.

Golf Cabriolet

The new Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet was presented at the 2011 Geneva International Motor Show, Volkswagen calls the new model "a new chapter of a global success story". The four-seater has a soft top with an electro-hydraulic drive that opens the Golf's top in 9.5 seconds. The top can also be opened or closed during driving at speeds of up to 30 km/h (19 mph). After a nine years without a convertible Golf, This will be the first Cabriolet model under the Golf family since 2002.

Volkswagen Golf Mk6 - Cabrio

The new VW Golf Cabriolet's styling follows that of its hard-top three-door counterpart, but it differs somewhat with a new rear section, lower profile roof line and more swept-back angle of its front windscreen frame. Bi-xenon headlights are an option. Unlike the regular Golf, the Cabriolet has LED rear lights, which are only available for the R and GTI versions of the hardtop. Safety features include the automatically deploying roll-over bar, front airbags, side head/thorax airbags, knee airbag for the driver and ESP.

Volkswagen Golf Mk6 - Cabriolet

There are six turbocharged direct-injection engines whose power outputs range from 77 kW (105 PS; 103 hp) to 155 kW (211 PS; 208 hp). Four of the petrol engines (TSI) and one diesel (TDI) are available with the DSG dual-clutch gearbox; while three of the engines are available with energy-saving BlueMotion Technology.

In February 2012, Volkswagen announced that it would build a Cabriolet version of the GTI, powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.

Golf GTI "Wörthersee 09" (2009)

It is a concept car based on Golf GTI. 2.0-liter TSI engine is rated 211 PS (155 kW; 208 hp) with top speed of 238 km/h (148 mph) and 0–100 km/h acceleration of 6.9s.

Volkswagen Golf Mk6 - Led Tail Lights

It includes Firespark Metallic red body with GTI stripes, high-gloss black 19-inch alloy spoke wheels, smoked LED taillight, lowered sport chassis, new sport exhaust. Interior includes aluminum tread plates, brushed aluminum trim and glossy black painted frames around the air vents, red borders floor mats, sport seats with outer black nappa and side flash red nappa with light "Berry White" leather piping.

Volkswagen Golf Mk6 - GTI

The vehicle was unveiled at GTI Meet at Wörthersee.

Volkswagen Golf Mk6 GTI - Interior

Golf R

There was much speculation about this vehicle, with uncertainly surrounding its name. Golf R20 was the most common name used prior to the Frankfurt Motor Show.[10] Once finally unveiled by Volkswagen at the Frankfurt IAA, on 15 September 2009, it was confirmed the R32 replacement would simply be called the Golf R.

Volkswagen Golf Mk6 - R

The Golf R is powered by a 2.0-litre FSI turbocharged engine that produces 271 PS (199 kW; 267 bhp) and 350 N·m (260 lb·ft) of torque. VW claims the car can get from 0–100 km/h in 5.5 seconds for DSG equipped models, or 5.7 seconds for cars fitted with a manual gearbox.

Volkswagen Golf Mk6 - R (back)

The Golf R features these main upgrades over the standard FSI EA113 engine:

Lower compression forged pistons

Strengthened connecting rods

Enlarged wrist pins

Stronger piston rings

Upgraded bearings

Reinforced engine block

Upgraded camshafts (longer duration)

Upgraded injectors (+13% flow)

Larger K04 turbo producing 1.2 bar of boost (+3 PSI over K03 equipped GTI)

Larger intercooler (+30%)

Relocated bypass valve

Volkswagen Golf Mk6 - R (side)

The Golf R employs a familiar, but revised (4th generation) Haldex 4motion all-wheel drive system.

The Golf R has many similar styling traits to its Scirocco R sibling and is the first Golf to have LED rear tail lights factory fitted.

In Australia, Japan and South Africa the Golf R engine is detuned to suit hotter climate conditions. It is detuned from 199 kW (271 PS; 267 bhp) to 188 kW (256 PS; 252 bhp) and 350 N·m (260 lb·ft) to 330 N·m (240 lb·ft).

Volkswagen Golf Mk6 - Interior

On 9 December 2010, Volkswagen announced that the Golf R will be available in the United States beginning 2012. Both two- and four-door versions will be offered, although the DSG transmission will not be an option. Pricing, exact product naming, and options have not yet been announced.[12] US Golf R version features a slightly detuned engine producing 256 hp (191 kW) and 243 lb·ft (329 N·m). The North American version also shipped with incandescent tail lights, identical to the ones found on the GTI, instead of the LED tail lights used in the rest of the world.

Volkswagen Golf Mk6 - R (black)

On 14 December 2010, Volkswagen of Canada announced that the Golf R will be available in Canada beginning in "early" 2012. Only a four-door version with six-speed manual transmission will be offered. Four colours of the GTI will be available plus the R-exclusive "Rising Blue". All options are pre-selected including navigation, sun roof, leather interior, and "Kessy keyless entry".

The base price in the US is $33,900.

Motorsport

In auto racing, APR Motorsport has led two MKVI VW GTI's to victory in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Street Tuner (ST) class.

Volkswagen Golf Mk6 - GTI - ABT Special Editon

To commemorate the 35th Anniversary of the Golf GTI, Volkswagen Motorsport enters the 2011 24 Hours Nürburgring with the “Golf24”. This Golf is equipped with a 2,500 cc five-cylinder turbo engine with 324 kW (440 PS) and 540 Nm, permanent 4WD and a sequential six-speed gearbox.[23] In the third VLN race of 2011, the Golf24 finished sixth overall, with its best lap only nine seconds slower than the fastest race lap, which was clocked by a Ferrari 458.

                                  Volkswagen Golf Mk6 - GTI - ABT Special Editon (fron)

For the 24 Hours, the team hopes for rain, and jokingly considered to wet the track by aerial firefighting. Eventually, though, neither of the three Golf24's finished the race, with one of them suffering a pit-entry accident and another blowing a gearbox. When the gearbox of the remaining Golf24 started overheating, VW decided to retire it to find out the cause of the gearbox trouble.

Awards

• 2009 World Car of the Year 
• 2009 Euro NCAP Safest Car of the Year 
• 2009 Best Performance Car under $60,000 (GTI) (Australia)
• 2009 Yellow Angel (Germany)
• 2009 Auto Motor and Sport Readers’ Best Car (Germany)
• 2009 Wheels Car of the Year (Australia)
• 2009 What Car? - Best Small Family Car (Great Britain)
• 2009 International Engine of the Year (1.4 TSI) 
• 2009 Green Engine of the Year (1.4 TSI) 
• 2009-10 Japan's Import Car of the Year
• 2010 Continental Irish Car of the Year - Best Family Car.
• 2010 Automobile Magazine - Car of the Year (GTI)
• 2010 Canadian Car of the Year
• 2010 What Car? - Best Small Family Car (Great Britain)
• 2010 South African Car of the Year 
• 2010 Fleet News - Company Car of the Year
• 2010 World Green Car (BlueMotion) 
• Kelley Blue Book included the VW Golf TDI (clean diesel) among its Top 10 Green Cars for 2010.
• 2010 Top Gear Magazine - Hot Hatch of the year (Golf R)
• 2011 What Car? - Best Small Family Car (Great Britain)
• 2012 What Car? - Best Small Family Car (Great Britain)