2016 VW e-GOLF

Volkswagen of America, Inc., is pleased to announce that the 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf, was named Best Compact today in the 2016 AAA Green Car Guide, a comprehensive report published annually by the largest member of the AAA federation – the Automobile Club of Southern California and its Automotive Research Center.

“Our team is very proud to be named to the top of AAA’s list,” said Joerg Sommer, Vice President of Product Marketing for Volkswagen of America. “This award is a testament to the many strengths of the e-Golf—cutting-edge technology, versatility, efficiency and value along with the fun to drive element that is so characteristic of the Volkswagen brand.”

The VW e-Golf SEL Premium is just like the petro models but has the advantage of the electric motor to power the popular Golf in City or highway driving.

AAA tests cars on the basis of 13 categories, including: emissions, fuel economy, crashworthiness, braking, acceleration, handling, cargo-carrying capacity, ride quality, interior noise, ease of entry and exit, maneuverability, roominess, and visibility. Scores of 0 to 10 points in each category are totaled to determine the top vehicles. The guide summarizes vehicle specifications, test scores, data and observations and lists its strengths and weaknesses. 

The 2016 e-Golf is based on the award-winning Golf architecture, which redefined the hatchback category with enough space for five adults and more cargo space than any midsize sedan. The e-Golf is powered by a synchronous permanent-magnet alternating current (AC) motor, capable of delivering a 199 lb-ft of torque along with 115 horsepower, all the while not using a single drop of fuel and producing zero tailpipe emissions. The EPA-estimated range for the e-Golf is 83 miles and the combined EPA-estimated 116 MPGe puts e-Golf at the top of the 2016 compact EV class.

Available in select states, two trim levels of e-Golf are offered for model year 2016. A value-oriented e-Golf SE lowers the price of entry to e-mobility with a starting price of $28,995 and $199/month lease offer. It comes equipped with a 3.6 kW onboard charger, but can be upgraded to the 7.2 kW onboard charger with the DC Fast Charging Package ($1,675). The e-Golf SEL Premium has a 7.2 kW onboard charger as standard equipment, enabling the EV’s battery to be recharged in less than four hours using the available 240-volt wall box. Using the SAE standard DC fast-charging infrastructure (available at select stations), the battery can be charged to up to 80 percent in approximately 30 minutes.

The 2016 e-Golf features a suite of new connectivity features that includes USB connectivity and VW Car-Net® App-Connect technology. For 2016, Volkswagen kicks technology into high gear. Connectivity features, via the new MIB II infotainment system with VW Car-Net® App-Connect, are added to nearly every model. Volkswagen Group of America is one of the first in the industry to support all three available connected car systems: Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto™, and MirrorLink®, allowing owners to access select apps from their smartphones directly through the vehicle head unit. In addition to smartphone connectivity, the new infotainment system serves as a foundation for the next generation of Volkswagen’s Car-Net connected vehicle services. Available by subscription, the Car-Net umbrella includes security features, remote vehicle access, advanced telematics and enhanced navigation.

The e-Golf offers a high level of standard and optional equipment, including: Keyless access with push-button start; heatable front seats; a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel; V-Tex leatherette seating surfaces; a rearview camera; Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist); Park Distance Control (Park Pilot).

A brand new feature for Volkswagen in 2016 is the Parking Steering Assistant (Park Assist), which identifies parking spots and steers the vehicle into them. Park Assist utilizes Park Distance Control (Park Pilot) as well as a multifunction camera to guide drivers into parallel or perpendicular spaces. The system will be available on Golf, Golf GTI, Golf SportWagen and e-Golf models.

The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System debuted on the 2015 Golf, and builds on the premise that a collision is rarely a single, instantaneous action, but rather a series of events that follow the initial impact—the most significant of which can cause additional collisions. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking system helps address this by applying the brakes when a primary collision is detected by the airbag sensors, thus helping reduce residual kinetic energy and, in turn, the chance of additional damage.

Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist), which helps warn drivers if they begin to stray from their lane and actively countersteers if the driver does not react, is available on CC, Golf, Golf GTI, Golf SportWagen and Golf R.

At this years Consumer Electronics Show we saw even more connectivity in VW Concept cars. The e-Golf Touch was a winner and all the advanced systems will be in production in the future.

Here is what VW has stated about just some of the concept(s) features:

 The two ground-breaking, zero-emissions vehicles: the BUDD-e concept and the e-Golf Touch. BUDD-e is a concept vehicle that will take CES attendees on a quick time-hop to the year 2019. In contrast, the e-Golf Touch, with its next-generation infotainment system, shows that technologies showcased at CES 2015 are close to production.

Additionally, Volkswagen will introduce numerous electronic innovations at CES 2016, to debut in the very near future. These developments illustrate how cars are currently undergoing immense transformations via electronics. New innovations control drive functions, allow driver assistance features to react faster, and increase connectivity by bringing the Internet into the car. Other technologies will transform instruments, displays and controls allowing for a new level of functionality. 

Interactive Human Machine Interface (HMI) functions make new communication channels between humans and cars possible—and natural. Devices such as smartphones, tablets, smart watches and cameras have become omnipresent in our everyday lives, and are being integrated into the car in new ways. This fusion is accelerated by more powerful computers and increasingly intelligent software, resulting in evolutionary leaps that are destined to transform the automobile.

Bringing gesture control to mass production cars

The Golf R Touch concept car that was shown at CES 2015 was the first production-based Volkswagen to feature a gesture control system. With the introduction of the e-Golf Touch, Volkswagen presents a more advanced generation of the Modular Infotainment Toolkit (MIB) and for the first time, an early series-production preview of this new intuitive control technology. The e-Golf Touch features the latest version of MIB with a 9.2-inch high-resolution display (1280 x 640 pixels). All functions and displays are embedded in a sophisticated, clear glass surface.

Facing the driver are four touch-sensitive buttons (Menu, Home, Car, App) and a push-rotary switch. The system’s 8.2-inch wide and 4.1-inch high home screen consists of a large main area as well as two configurable tiles on the right of the home screen. Each tile area, sized 1.7 inches high and 2.4 inches wide, can be assigned any of ten different functions. They can include Media (including cover art) or phone (including photo caller ID). It is also possible to drag the main area out to fill the entire home screen, displaying the full navigation map or smartphone integration platforms such as MirrorLink™, Android Auto™ or Apple CarPlay®, through Volkswagen’s Car-Net® App-Connect interface.

The e-Golf Touch also marks the debut of Volkswagen’s latest generation voice control technology. This system offers significantly improved controls, as voice commands are displayed on the screen to accompany the request. This new version of the voice control system will be launched in the early summer of 2016 in Europe.

Volkswagen will also be the first manufacturer to present a new “Keyword Activation” voice recognition function in the e-Golf Touch. This feature allows the driver to start voice recognition simply by saying “Hello Volkswagen”, or similar, to the system. This eliminates the need for physical activation.

Wireless Charging

In the context of electric cars, we typically think of inductive charging as related to the car’s battery. But in the case of the e-Golf Touch, this process refers to smartphones and similar devices, as Volkswagen has integrated an inductive charging system into the mobile phone tray, under the infotainment system. For the first time on a Volkswagen model, it is also possible to wirelessly charge smartphones in the back seats, via the rear armrests. The e-Golf Touch is equipped with a new USB Type C port, permitting high-speed USB data transfer while simultaneously charging the phone. This feature drastically reduces the time it takes to recharge.

Electronic Voice Amplification

The electronic voice amplification used in the e-Golf Touch improves in-car acoustics, making it easier for the driver and front-seat passenger to talk to back-seat passengers. The system uses the hands-free microphone in conjunction with the rear speakers. The volume of the electronic voice amplification is also automatically adjusted to suit the speed of the vehicle. If the music volume is very high, the volume of the electronic voice amplification is reduced.

Next-generation connectivity

The range of functionality for the Exit Screen will increase considerably with this new infotainment system. For the first time, the exit screen will offer personalized, simplified access (one touch) to functions relevant to the real world, in real time. This makes it possible, for example, to program the auxiliary heating system within a matter of seconds, as the infotainment system displays the predefined settings for a predetermined length of time. Volkswagen will offer the Exit screen functionality in all future generations of vehicles. An individually configurable entry screen is also currently under development.

Personalization 2.0: The number of convenience and assistance systems and the associated range of configurability increases with every new vehicle generation. Many of these systems are individually adjusted, and used by different drivers of the same car. Invariably, this means that settings have to be constantly reset. Volkswagen conceived Personalization 2.0 to solve this challenge. This allows individual settings for one driver to be saved in a user account, then saved to the cloud via Volkswagen Car-Net ID.

If that driver then gets into another compatible Volkswagen, they can simply load his or her Car-Net ID settings in the infotainment system, activating them in the new vehicle. This effectively means that drivers will always have their own individual settings with them, which is especially handy for use in rentals, company cars, or even within families. Using the Volkswagen Car-Net ID app also makes it possible to change your settings in your user account and save the updates to the cloud. The app can be used to familiarize users with a new Volkswagen in advance. All user data is protected against unauthorized access by utilizing advanced third-party encryption and can be deleted quickly by accessing the app.

Media Control, Generation 3.0: Volkswagen Media Control is the rear-seat entertainment system of the future. The app allows control of almost all infotainment functions through a tablet device. Simply connect a tablet via the vehicle’s WiFi hotspot, and passengers are able to control various features such as the radio, all media sources (USB, CD, DVD, hard drive, online song search) and factory-installed navigation. This third generation of Media Control will launch this summer in Europe, and adds several additional features, including:

• Video streaming between tablets.
• Remote control of the media that is playing on tablets via the infotainment system. This makes it possible to play a film simultaneously on two separate tablets in the back, which a great feature for traveling with children.
• Audio streaming a playlist via tablet or smartphone to the infotainment system (synchronized audio playback via the vehicle’s speakers). The current playlist can be customized by all in-car users of the app, via compatible devices.

Car-Net® App Connect and WiFi: Volkswagen Car-Net® App Connect is the brand’s advanced smartphone integration platform that allows for seamless integration from your device to the vehicle. When linked to the infotainment system, the Telephone app can be used—via the system’s touchscreen—with a graphic interface that mirrors that of the smartphone being used. Similarly, the voice control which is available on several smartphone operating systems, map or music apps can also be used in the same manner. Through Car-Net® App Connect and the MirrorLink^™, Android Auto^™ and Apple CarPlay® integrated platforms, the system is compatible with most available smartphones currently available. Previously it was necessary to connect the smartphone to the infotainment system via a cable. With Volkswagen’s introduction of the second-generation of Car-Net® App-Connect & WiFi, users can take advantage of wireless smartphone integration.  Once the function has been configured, the smartphone can be left in the user’s handbag or jacket pocket. On longer journeys it is, of course, advisable to put the smartphone in the Volkswagen’s wireless inductive charging cradle to supply it with constant power.

Volkswagen Car-Net® Updates: The various online services offered by Volkswagen Car-Net® include the Guide & Inform, Security & Service, App Connect and e-Remote packages. At CES 2016, Volkswagen is showing a number of new programs and add-on features for Volkswagen Car-Net.

• Car-Net App Features. The e-Remote feature, developed for Volkswagen’s plug-in hybrid and electric cars, will be reconfigured, and will soon be available for other VW models. As part of this process, the app’s functions are being expanded to be integrated into existing Car-Net® app functions. One of the app’s new functions is named Calendar Import. When information about a destination is imported from your smartphone, the data can be transferred to the navigation system’s Frequent Routes menu, if so desired. From there, the data can be integrated directly into the route guidance. Another new extension is Intelligent Route Planning, where the app calculates an optimal route to several selected POIs. The driver can enter several different stores as POIs in a certain order—for example a dry cleaner, jeweler and a supermarket. The Volkswagen Car-Net App will then automatically suggest the best and most efficient route and sends it directly to the infotainment system.

• New app for MirrorLink^™. An extremely useful new program for MirrorLink^™ users is called My Rules. My Rules helps to complete important tasks, through a simple, logical “if this, then that” approach. Examples of this functionality include programing the app with requests like “Take me to the nearest gas station, as soon as my reserve indicator lights up”, “Play the song ‘Summer in the City’ when it is a clear, warm day”, or “message me to remember shopping I need to do this weekend.”

The focus of feature add-ons for Volkswagen includes the service aspect. The new Service assistant can recommend switching to winter tires after experiencing persistently low temperatures. The Charging assistant for electric cars shows charging stations within range and indicates how long it will take to charge. The Accident Note app helps to record all necessary information in case the worst should happen. Parking Position displays where the car is parked on its owner’s smartphone and can display walking directions through Google Street View. The Route Info app suggests charging stations that are along a planned route, and provides information on the applicable road traffic rules when you cross a national border. The Calendar assistant can be used to manage the availability of a shared company car online with your colleagues.

AUDI AND VW ARE BRINGING TO THEIR CUSTOMERS AMAZING INFOTAINMENT AND SAFETY FEATURES.

BRUCE HUBBARD

BONNIE LYNCH

JB   WELKER

BRADLEY HUBBARD

AUTO ADVISOR GROUP