VW NEWS

["George & Deanna Achorn" <coolidge@tidalwave.net>]

VW GTI A4 Chassis - English Spec, there are two GTIs available initially in
Britain. The GTI has the 20V 1.8 4cyl and the GTI plus has the 1.8T. It was
featured in the Frankfurt Auto Show and it looks as if theGTI will come
with the awesome VW only BBS RX 2piece 16 inch rims from the 20th
Anniversary GTI. Let's hope the US gets those rims too. A 190hp 2.9L VR6
Golf Syncro model will be joining the product line at a later date. A VR5
version of the Golf will also be available called oddly the V5 (I wonder
why, personally I think the VR5 sounds more like a true VW engine from a
marketing standpoint). Looks like the only future VR6s will be in all wheel
drive form only.

VW SUV - VW is teaming up with Porsche to develope an SUV by 2001. There
will be entry level project in the SEAT and Skoda lines. These SUVs will be
built in co-production with Nissan as competition for the RAV4, CR-V and
Landrover Freelander. VW's SUV will be more upmarket aimed towards the
Mercedes Benz M-class SUV. Porsche will build a version codenamed E1. 
	Porsche has been looking for a partner since the team up with Merc fell
apart. It considered Audi, but it appears Audi will do a raised version of
the soon to be released A6 Avant Quattro. 
	Both are monocoque construction and use subframe mounted suspension.
Porsche's will get it's own interiorand exterior and will be powered by a
400bhp 40V engine developed from 2 VR5s. 
	VWs will be powered by a 280 bhp VR8 (also to be fitted in the new rival
to the E-class). The entry level VW SUV will be powered by a 190 bhp 2.8L
VR6 or a 150bhp V6 TDI diesel (the first environmentally friendly SUV).
	The smaller version's Skoda, SEAT and Nissan versions (replacing the
Nissan Terrano) will come in 5-door and 3-door convertible models.

Skoda Octavia Avant-shown at the Frankfurt show, it seems to have some cool
16" rims that look an aweful lot like OZ Super Turismos. They'd be cool
wheels to pick up from used parts to put on a 5-lugger VW.


That is All. Later-G

To Be Released Dates:
VW Lupino (Super Mini) late '98 (Europe only)
VW Polo Wagon late '98 (Europe only)
SEAT Cordoba wagon Jan 98 (Europe Only)
VW Beetle early '99
Audi S3 (210 bhp Quattro) July '98 (Europe only)
Skoda Octavia Feb '98 (Europe only)
VW Golf (late '97)
VW Passat Wagon (Oct. '98)
Audi TT/TTS 1999
Porsche Boxster S (250bhp) mid '98
Porsche 996 (new 911) Nov '97
VW Coupe (A4 chassis) 1999
Aud A6 Avant 4X4 late '99
Audi S6 Quattro	early '99
VW WR12 V12 (MB S-class Rival) 2001
VW V8 Passat Plus (MB E-class Rival) 1999