The Volkswagen Tiguan is Europe’s most successful Sports Utility Vehicle and one of the top-selling SUVs in the world. More than six million units have been produced to date. In 2019, the Tiguan was again the most popular model of the brand and entire Volkswagen Group, with around 911,000 units produced. Volkswagen is now showcasing a comprehensive update of the best-selling vehicle as part of its world premiere. Ralf Brandstätter who has today been appointed the new CEO of the Volkswagen brand: “We launched our global SUV strategy with the second-generation Tiguan in 2016. It served as the basis for many successful models worldwide. Volkswagen is now taking the next step by electrifying, digitalising and networking the new Tiguan. This will equip the compact SUV to handle the challenges of the modern era.”

All key technology on board the bestseller is set to take a significant step forward. Volkswagen is electrifying the Tiguan with a new, state-of-the-art plug-in hybrid drive. The SUV will now also be available as a separate Tiguan R model for the very first time. Volkswagen R’s performance experts have developed a new all-wheel drive with selective wheel torque control for the extremely dynamic, top-of-the-range model. The so called “R-Performance Torque Vectoring” enables totally new SUV driving dynamics by distributing the drive power variably between the front and rear axles as well as the left and right rear wheels.

Volkswagen’s use of twin dosing now ensures that the turbo diesel engines (TDI) in the Tiguan are among the cleanest combustion engines in the world. With the new Travel Assist system in the Tiguan, the compact SUV is now capable of assisted driving at speeds up to 210 km/h. The Tiguan also applies the most recent generation of infotainment systems (MIB3) to bring a completely new range of online-based services and functions on board. Also new: the optional 480-watt sound system by audio specialist Harman Kardon.

A new steering wheel generation featuring touch controls is also among the highlights of the new Tiguan. Volkswagen has also digitalised the climate control functions by means of touch sliders and touch buttons. And last, but by no means least, the Tiguan’s new IQ.LIGHT – LED matrix headlights guide drivers through the night with enhanced convenience.

One of the characteristic, new exterior features of the new Tiguan includes the redesigned front end. Klaus Zyciora, Head of Design for the Volkswagen Group and Chief Designer for the Volkswagen brand: “At the front, Volkswagen’s new SUV radiator grille forges a visual link between the Tiguan and models such as the larger Touareg and the Atlas Cross Sport sold in North America. It really lends the new Tiguan a significantly more confident appearance.” The bonnet is more concise in its appearance and the new radiator grille with LED headlights is wider, with the new Volkswagen badge positioned centrally at the front. The eye-catching bumpers have also undergone a makeover. At the rear, the Tiguan lettering is now in a prominent central position below the VW badge.

Like its predecessors, the new Tiguan is versatile. It is a genuine SUV capable of towing loads – a Volkswagen that can handle every motoring situation with aplomb. This is truer than ever, thanks to the new range of drive, assist and infotainment systems on board the Tiguan.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

One becomes two: world premiere of the new Arteon and Arteon Shooting Brake

One model series, two versions! Volkswagen is presenting the new Arteon in a world premiere and is unveiling a second version – the new Arteon Shooting Brake – at the same time. This model is a completely new interpretation of the estate concept. “Volkswagen will launch 34 new models this year. There has never been such an extensive model initiative in the history of the brand,“ says Ralf Brandstätter, Chief Operating Officer und designated CEO of the Volkswagen Pkw brand. “The Arteon Shooting Brake extends our model range in the important midsize-segment. It will set standards in its class with its dynamic design, high functionality and modern technologies.“
Stylish and dynamic. The Arteon has been the Volkswagen Gran Turismo since 2017.Volkswagen is now unveiling a far-reaching update to the model series. The new Arteon and Arteon Shooting Brake are characterised by an expressive and avant-garde design. The distinctive features include in particular the front end with a new continuous light strip, striking chrome bars and new air intakes at the bottom. The radiator grille and the long, wide bonnet are combined as a formal unit and make both Arteon versions stand out as the face in the crowd – also at night thanks to a unique LED light signature at the front and rear.
The two new models – the Arteon and Arteon Shooting Brake – are both characterised by athletic lines. However, they differ significantly from each other from the B-pillars to the rear. Whereas on the fastback model, the roof and window contours are swept down in parallel from the B-pillars and therefore become part of the coupé-shaped rear, the roof and window lines are extended towards the rear on the Shooting Brake and end in the new roof spoiler. At the top, the window line runs parallel to the roof. However, at the bottom the lines move upwards towards the D-pillars, thus making the window area at the rear narrower and more striking. All elements together form the sporty rear profile typical for a Shooting Brake.
Arteon eHybrid. All new technical developments are applied in both body versions. For the first time in the Arteon, this includes a plug-in hybrid drive. With the long purely electric range many Arteon eHybrid02 and Arteon Shooting Brake eHybrid02 drivers will be able to cover their daily driving distances with zero emissions locally. As a fastback version and Shooting Brake, the two Arteon models are among the first of their kind to be available with a plug-in hybrid drive in the luxury mid-sized vehicle segment.
Arteon R – dynamic performance for the business class. The Arteon R will be the flagship in the model series. With this model, Volkswagen is pushing further into the premium performance segment. It is not just the unadulterated output that is fascinating here, but also the way that the vehicles convert their power into propulsion. Thanks to a new progressive technology known as R-Performance Torque Vectoring, the torque is distributed variably both between the axles and also between the rear wheels depending on the driving situation by means of selective wheel torque control. And this creates a new level of driving dynamics in this category.
Plenty of space for driver, occupants and luggage. The Arteon is characterised by a highly functional overall concept. All occupants in the front and rear of both Arteon versions benefit from the modular transverse matrix (MQB). The maximum legroom at the rear is 1,016 mm and is a benchmark value in this class. Thanks to the unique design of its roof section, the Shooting Brake offers more headroom at both the front and rear. As standard, the rear seat backrest can be folded asymmetrically in both models. Behind the Arteon Shooting Brake’s rear seat bench is a luggage compartment capacity of up to 565 litres when loaded up to the rear seat backrest and luggage compartment cover (fastback: 563 litres). Loading the vehicle up to the front seat backrests increases the loading capacity to 1,632 litres (fastback: 1,557 litres). In both cases, the load space has a maximum length of 2,09 mm (up to the front seats).
New assist systems: Travel Assist – assisted driving up to 210 km/h. The range of technical innovations involves powertrains as well as further IQ.DRIVE assist systems. New in this product line: the optional Travel Assist system. The system enables partly automated driving within a speed range from 0 km/h to 210 km/h (within the system limits). Travel Assist makes driving in stop-and-go traffic and through roadworks in particular noticeably more convenient. An integral part of Travel Assist is the ACC with predictive speed control. The adaptive cruise control reacts to speed limits, towns, bends, roundabouts and junctions with corresponding speed adaptation. The Lane Assist lane keeping system that keeps the vehicle in the centre of the lane and Autonomous Emergency Braking Front Assist with Pedestrian Monitoring also form part of the range of Travel Assist functions. The Rear View reversing camera (optional) was further enhanced and now also features among other things a Corner View (which expands the camera image on the infotainment system screen from 90 degrees to a wide angle of 170 degrees) and a special trailer view (of the tow bar from above to facilitate hitching up the trailer).
New cockpit environment in the interior. In the interior, the model series impresses with a newly designed cockpit environment that lends the Arteon an even greater feeling of exclusivity. Operation has been made easier through touch sliders for the automatic air conditioner and a new multifunction steering wheel with touch controls. Also new: the now wireless integration of apps via “App-Connect Wireless” for “Apple CarPlay” and “Android Auto” (Google), and a powerful 700 watt high-end sound system from the audio specialists harman/kardon, which has been customised specifically for the Arteon and Arteon Shooting Brake (both optional). Background lighting that can be adjusted in up to 30 colours is also optionally available to give the new interior an attractive finishing touch. Here, the trims in the dash panel and doors are illuminated – in this way, light becomes the new chrome.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

Volkswagen increases stake in QuantumScape

The Volkswagen Group is increasing its stake in QuantumScape and making an additional investment of up to US$200 million in the US battery specialist. The goal is to drive forward the joint development of solid-state battery technology. In future, solid-state batteries are expected to significantly increase range and shorten charging times further. “We are making technological progress with our partner QuantumScape. The additional investment will effectively strengthen and accelerate our joint development work”, said Thomas Schmall, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Group Components, which has end-to-end responsibility for batteries. The Volkswagen Group and QuantumScape have also been collaborating in a joint venture to enable industrial-level production of solid-state batteries since 2018.

“Volkswagen is taking e-mobility to the mainstream. A strong position in the field of batteries is a decisive factor in this regard”, said Frank Blome, Head of the Battery Cell business, Volkswagen Group Components. “We are securing our global supply base with efficient producers, gradually building up manufacturing capacities and driving the development of cutting-edge solid-state battery technology. Our focus in this context is on long-term strategic partnerships.”

Solid-state batteries are seen as the most promising technology for the next-but-one generation of e-mobility. With the same size of a current battery pack, the solid-state battery could enable electrical ranges at the level of conventional drives. Moreover, charging time could be significantly shortened.
The Volkswagen Group has already been collaborating with QuantumScape since 2012, and is the largest automotive shareholder with its previous investment of over US$100 million. Closing of the new additional investment of up to US$200 million and the associated increase of Volkswagen’s stake in QuantumScape is still subject to various conditions. The two partners formed a joint venture in 2018 to enable industrial-level production of solid-state batteries for Volkswagen. Both partners envisage setting up a pilot plant. The plans are envisaged to be firmed up in the course of this year.

Expanding e-mobility is an important building block on the road to a carbon neutral balance for the company as a whole. This goal is to be achieved by 2050. The Volkswagen Group is therefore fully committed to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.


Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

First preview towards the new Arteon Shooting Brake and the Arteon

The Arteon is Volkswagen’s Gran Turismo – avant-garde, full of energy and efficient. Volkswagen is now giving a first preview towards the new Arteon. Alongside the classic Gran Turismo, a second product line variant will also be available in future as a Shooting Brake. This model is both dynamic and elegant, and impresses with the flexible concept of an estate. Klaus Bischoff, Head of Volkswagen Group Design and Volkswagen brand’s Design department: “With the Arteon Shooting Brake we have created a new balance between speed, power and space.”

Volkswagen will introduce a major update of the model line for the debut of the two Arteon versions. In the vehicle interior, the Arteon will be given a completely new cockpit environment to match the exclusive charisma of these models. Integrated here: the latest modular infotainment matrix (MIB3) systems to ensure the best possible connectivity. From a technological perspective, the drive range has been re-aligned, too.

All engines feature high levels of efficiency as well as low emissions and powerful torque. This maximum efficiency is achieved by innovative, future-oriented engine and emissions technologies. Furthermore intelligent assist systems will also be introduced in this avant-garde model line. One example: thanks to “Travel Assist”, highly assisted driving – within the system limits – will be possible in the new Arteon models for the first time if required. Designed particularly with long-distance journeys in mind, these Volkswagen models will take over steering, acceleration and braking up to speeds of 210 km/h – under the control of the driver.

The world première and detailed information about the Arteon and Arteon Shooting Brake will follow in June.


Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

ŠKODA OCTAVIA and ŠKODA SUPERB voted ‘4×4 of the year’

› Readers of German Auto Bild Allrad magazine vote two ŠKODAs best in their respective categories
› OCTAVIA is best import car and overall winner in the ‘4×4s under €40,000’ category
› SUPERB is chosen as best import 4×4 costing over €40,000
› ŠKODA currently offers four models with all-wheel drive: the OCTAVIA, SUPERB, KAROQ and KODIAQ
Mladá Boleslav, 5 June 2020 – Readers of the German Auto Bild Allrad magazine have awarded two ŠKODA models with ‘4×4 of the year’ titles. In the category of all-wheel drive vehicles under €40,000, the OCTAVIA 4×4 claimed victory for both best import car as well as overall winner. As for all-wheel-drive vehicles costing more than €40,000, the ŠKODA flagship SUPERB 4×4 was voted best import car. The readers of Europe’s bestselling all-wheel-drive car magazine picked the OCTAVIA as their favourite in its category for the fourth time, and the SUPERB for an impressive eleventh time.
Christian Strube, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Technical Development, said, “The fact that the OCTAVIA and SUPERB have been named 4×4s of the year by the knowledgeable Auto Bild Allrad readers is great testament to our brand’s high level of all-wheel-drive expertise: our 4×4s meet all kinds of expectations and demands and, thanks to state-of-the-art and intelligent all-wheel-drive technology, they make driving fun and handling safe in every driving situation. On behalf of my entire team, I would like to thank every reader who voted for our models and thus enabled ŠKODA to come top in two categories.”
In the category of 4×4 passenger cars costing less than €40,000, 13.8 per cent of readers rated the ŠKODA OCTAVIA 4×4 as their favourite. The brand’s bestseller was voted the overall winner as well as best import car. The Czech car manufacturer’s bestseller had already been the readers’ choice in the ‘4×4 of the year’ category in 2014, 2015 and 2019. Having secured 6.59 per cent of the votes, the brand’s top model – the ŠKODA SUPERB 4×4 – is the first-choice import 4×4 over €40,000 this year. This makes 2020 the eleventh year in which the brand’s flagship came first in the readers’ poll.
This year, voting for the ‘4×4s of the year’ took place for the 19th time. Overall, there were 218 models in eleven categories to choose from. Readers had the opportunity to vote online for their favourites from 10 January to 6 March.
The success story of the modern-day all-wheel-drive ŠKODAs began in 1999 with the ŠKODA OCTAVIA COMBI 4×4. Three years later, the Czech carmaker also presented the hatchback version of its bestseller as a 4×4, followed by the second generation of the popular compact model, also available as an all-wheel-drive variant.
In 2019, approximately one in nine ŠKODA OCTAVIAs delivered in Europe were 4×4s. Now in its fourth generation, the model will be once again available in various all-wheel-drive powertrain configurations; the OCTAVIA is also more spacious, connected and emotive than ever before.
ŠKODA first presented the SUPERB hatchback with 4×4 technology in 2008, and the first SUPERB COMBI 4×4 followed one year later. In 2019, every fourth newly registered model on the European market was equipped with all-wheel drive – making up 26 per cent of total sales. Since it was comprehensively revised in 2019, the ŠKODA SUPERB has offered features such as full LED Matrix headlights and an even wider range of innovative assistance systems – making it more attractive and state-of-the-art than ever. Last year also saw the debut of the SUPERB iV, the brand’s first production plug-in hybrid.
All-wheel drive at ŠKODA: now available in four model ranges
ŠKODA developed the first prototypes with more than one driven axle back in the late 1930s. ŠKODA’s modern-day 4×4 success story began in 1999 with the OCTAVIA COMBI 4×4. ŠKODA AUTO has since produced more than one million 4×4s – 157,000 in 2019 alone. Demand for all-wheel drive is so high that the Czech car manufacturer has rigorously expanded its 4×4 portfolio in recent years. Today, this includes the KAROQ, OCTAVIA, KODIAQ and SUPERB model ranges.


Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

Capgemini and Audi launch new Joint Venture: XL2

Capgemini and Audi today announced the launch of their joint venture - XL2. Following regulatory approvals, the company was founded at the end of April. It will provide digital technology and consulting services, namely in the fields of SAP S/4HANA® and cloud services primarily for Audi and the entire Volkswagen Group. XL2 combines an agile start-up culture reinforced by two global industry-leaders. The company's goal is to expand its project business gradually and achieve a powerful workforce within the next five years.

 

XL2 was founded by Audi and Capgemini to support the automotive industry in digital transformation tasks. The joint venture that focuses on consulting and technology services for cloud and SAP S/4HANA® includes industry solutions such as SAP Leonardo®. XL2 is designed to enable end-to-end digital manufacturing, covering all central processes, including production planning, logistics, finance, maintenance, quality and materials management. Projects of the legally independent entity are to be carried out for Audi. The first focus areas are SAP projects for production and master data management, as well as development in the context of cloud-based applications. 

XL2 embodies an agile innovative start-up culture backed by two global brands 

Capgemini and Audi have a long-standing partnership in developing solutions for digital transformation and co-innovation. The new co-owned company strengthens this collaboration and leverages their joint capabilities. The formation of XL2 takes the partnership to a new level and continues the successful collaboration in developing solutions and co-innovations for digital transformation. XL2 will benefit from the combined experience and expertise of the two global leaders. Its independence and agility, combined with the rigor and breadth of the large organizations, aims to address the rapidly changing requirements of digital transformation in the automotive sector.
Frank Loydl, Chief Information Officer at AUDI AG: "XL2’s flexible and scalable way of working and its focus on important key technologies is part of our vision and our needs in further advancing digital transformation. Our long-term relationship with Capgemini and its proven capabilities in the automotive and SAP sectors makes it the right partner.”
The joint venture will have dual leadership: by Géraldine Aubert, previously Vice President of Packaged Based Services at Capgemini, and Felix Spitznagel, previously Director SAP Acceleration Center at Audi. The goal of this agile, innovative company is to build a powerful workforce within the next five years in order to service more projects in the future. The company is now looking to recruit namely SAP consultants, software developers as well as analytics and data engineers, from graduates to established experts. XL2's headquarters are located in Heilbronn in Germany, in close proximity to Audi’s production site in Neckarsulm. The vicinity of the Audi production site is noteworthy and an additional enrichment of the ecosystem. The Audi location in Neckarsulm also offers an ideal testing and application environment for IT solutions in the field of digital production.
Markus Winkler, Global Head of the Automotive Sector at Capgemini said "XL2 is an exciting new brand that stands out from the market combining an agile start-up culture and the experience and capabilities of two industry leaders. Its employees will shape digital transformation in the automotive industry with key state-of-the-art technologies. For that, we are excited to join forces with Audi, a technology leader in its own industry.
For more information on XL2: www.xl2.de

 

 Article source: www.audi-mediacenter.com

Audi launches Mission:Zero environmental program: natural habitats at Audi locations

The United Nations has declared this decade the UN Decade of Biodiversity to raise awareness of the global extinction of species and to promote measures to halt it. Audi is contributing to this effort and is implementing biodiversity projects at all sites. As a member of the Biodiversity in Good Company initiative, the company is committed to preserving biological diversity and has consolidated all activities that contribute to this effort in its Mission:Zero environmental program.

With its Mission:Zero environmental program, Audi is addressing four action areas: decarbonization with a clear focus on sustainable production, economical water use, resource efficiency, and the preservation of biodiversity. The company combines numerous measures in each action area with the aim of making its production as environmentally friendly and carbon-neutral as possible. The natural design of the open spaces at the Audi production facility in Münchsmünster are a lighthouse project for the biodiversity action area. Thanks to its deliberately ecological design, the complex near Ingolstadt offers an especially valuable habitat for many animal and plant species. Audi has converted 17 hectares of its production site in Münchsmünster into natural habitats for plants and animals. More than 110 plant species have developed there so far and around 90 wild bee species have established colonies. 

The project in Münchsmünster received Bavaria’s “Blühender Betrieb” award in 2019. This award is part of the “Blühpakt Bayern” initiative, with which the Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection wants to encourage companies to make their spaces flower- and insect-friendly. This award requires strict criteria to be met for fostering flora and fauna on company sites: at least 20 percent of open spaces must be naturalistic flowering areas, for example. Chemical pesticides and substrates containing peat may not be used. Projects like this are a benchmark for similar efforts at all other Audi locations worldwide. These include green roof areas at the Ingolstadt site, flowering meadows at the Neckarsulm plant, facade greening and bee colonies at the Brussels site, a green belt around the plant in San Jose Chiapa (Mexico) with a nearby reforestation of 100,000 trees, modules such as heaps of sand, insect hotels, a wet biotope and deadwood area at the Neuburg site, and a Pannonian Steppe typical for the region at the site in Győr (Hungary).

The biodiversity project in Münchsmünster is a central project for Audi as part of the nationwide Biodiversity in Good Company initiative, which the company joined in 2015. The initiative brings together companies from a wide array of industries to work together to protect and sustainably deploy worldwide biodiversity. 

“We are celebrating five years of membership in the Biodiversity in Good Company initiative in 2020 and we want to show that we take nature conservation seriously with the projects at our locations,” said Rüdiger Recknagel, Head of Environmental Protection. “The natural areas are a successful example of sustainable corporate management: They are especially valuable ecologically and usually also cheaper to maintain than standard green spaces with high maintenance requirements. What’s more, employees experience a special quality of rest and relaxation during breaks.”

Audi is also committed to preserving biological diversity beyond the confines of the company. The Oak Forest research project was launched in 2008 in the Köschinger Forest near Ingolstadt with around 36,000 English oak trees. The project now comprises more than 100,000 trees in various areas around the Audi sites in Ingolstadt, Neckarsulm, Győr, Brussels and San José Chiapa. The Audi Environmental Foundation was established in 2009 and has taken on the long-term scientific support for this project. The interactions between stand density, biological diversity and CO2-binding potential are being studied under the direction of the Chair of Forest Growth Science at the Technical University of Munich. The Oak Forest project is one of many environmental projects by the Audi Environmental Foundation that aim to preserve biodiversity.

Article source: www.audi-mediacenter.com