New York Auto Show: 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack: Comments

[William Maley]

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Last year, Volkswagen showed off a prototype of the Golf Alltrack wagon at the New York Auto Show. The German automaker announced that it would be selling this model sometime next year. Staying true to their word, Volkswagen has announced the Alltrack will be arriving at dealers this fall as a 2017 model. Before then, they'll be showing off the production version at New York.

 

Compared to the standard Golf Sportwagen, the Alltrack is about an inch higher and features lower body cladding. Power comes from a turbocharged 1.8L four-cylinder with 170 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque. This will come paired with Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel drive system and the choice of a six-speed dual-clutch automatic or a six-speed manual (available at a later date).

 

The 4Motion system primary works in front-wheel drive to improve fuel economy. But if the system detects wheel slip, it will send up to 50 percent of power to the rear wheels to improve traction. The Alltrack also boasts an off-road mode that varies the settings for the traction control system and provide hill-descent control.

 

“We heard from dealers and customers that they wanted to see a Golf SportWagen with the all-terrain capability that comes from an all-wheel drive system. We are excited to introduce the Golf Alltrack to meet the active lifestyle needs of our customers," said Joerg Sommer, Vice President, Product Marketing and Strategy of Volkswagen of America, Inc.

 

Source: Volkswagen

 

Press Release is on Page 2

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Volkswagen Debuts U.S. Production Version of the 2017 Golf Alltrack

• Adds 4MOTION® all-wheel drive to Golf SportWagen’s on-road acumen
• Body cladding and additional ground clearance give Alltrack a rugged off-road look
• “Off-Road Mode” adds hill descent control and optimizes traction control
• Golf Alltrack offers cargo volume on par with compact SUVs for size and versatility
• Available driver assistance features include: Adaptive Cruise Control, and Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist).
  

 

Herndon, VA — New York, NY — Volkswagen of America, Inc., debuted today the U.S. production version of the all-wheel-drive Golf Alltrack, which goes on sale in the Fall as a 2017 model. The Golf Alltrack is based on the successful Golf SportWagen—Volkswagen SportWagen models have long been a top choice for customers who want a versatile and dependable vehicle that provides a sportier driving experience than compact SUVs.

 

“We heard from dealers and customers that they wanted to see a Golf SportWagen with the all-terrain capability that comes from an all-wheel drive system,” said Joerg Sommer, Vice President, Product Marketing and Strategy of Volkswagen of America, Inc. “We are excited to introduce the Golf Alltrack to meet the active lifestyle needs of our customers."

 

The Golf Alltrack shares its underpinnings with its Golf family siblings, from its MQB architecture to the turbocharged and direct-injection powertrain. The fun-to-drive EA888 1.8-liter, four-cylinder TSI® gasoline unit puts out 170 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque. At launch it will be mated to a six-speed dual-clutch DSG® automatic transmission: a six-speed manual transmission will be available at a later date.

 

While it boasts the on-road manners and fuel economy of a compact wagon, the Alltrack’s defining characteristic is its 4MOTION® all-wheel-drive system. The 4MOTION all-wheel drive system uses the latest generation Haldex-5 coupling, activated via an electro-hydraulic oil pump. In normal driving, the Alltrack acts like a front-wheel-drive car for better fuel economy, but as soon as the system detects wheel slip, up to 50 percent of the drive torque can be shipped to the rear wheels. In addition to the Haldex coupling that acts longitudinally, electronic differential locks (EDL) at the front and rear axles act laterally in concert with the electronic stability control system. The system briefly brakes a wheel that is slipping, enabling uninterrupted and stable transfer of drive power to the wheel on the opposite side. The Golf Alltrack also features nearly an inch higher ground clearance over the SportWagen.

 

From the outside, the Golf Alltrack’s rugged appearance is easy to differentiate from the SportWagen. Cladding for key body pieces, including the unique bumpers, wheel wells and side sills, gives off-road protection and the front fascia incorporates foglights and a unique honeycomb grille. The S and SE trimlines have 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, while the topline SEL trim has 18-inch wheels. Silver detailing, including roof rails, matte mirror caps and diffusor, adds a premium touch.

 

Inside, Alltrack mimics SportWagen in layout, but gets a more upscale feel. Leatherette seating surfaces are standard and Alltrack receives a unique brown leatherette option in addition to aluminum pedal covers, door sills with Alltrack branding and ambient lighting. Standard infotainment features include: a 6.5-inch capacitive color touchscreen with proximity sensor, rearview camera, and VW Car-Net® App-Connect connectivity.

 

A Drive Mode selector includes “Off-Road Mode,” which adds hill descent control and optimizes traction control for off-road terrain. The Off-Road HMI displays compass, steering angle, and altitude when driving off-road. The Alltrack has a spacious trunk that’s in line with those of compact SUVs. With the rear seats up, it boasts 30.4 cu ft of space: when the 60:40 split rear seat is fully folded, that figure rises to 66.5 cu ft of storage. The split folding rear seats are accessed by release levers in the cargo area, maximizing convenience.

 

Like the rest of the Golf line, the Alltrack provides a combination of both passive and active safety systems. It has been engineered to meet or exceed all current crash regulations and features no fewer than six airbags as standard along with a number of electronic safety systems. Alltrack models are equipped with standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC), the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and an Intelligent Crash Response System. Available driver assistance systems include: Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist), Lane Assist, and front and rear Park Distance Control with Park Assist.

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[Drew Dowdell]

It looks okay I guess... and VW really needed it... but with that sort of AWD system, a Legacy or Impreza it is not

[frogger]

Probably going to be end up priced at the high end of Outback pricing..

[G. David Felt]

I know they spent the R&D on this already and it was clearly started before the Diesel implosion, but I question if this was the right auto to have now as VW is hurting for cash and a Subaru this is not. Initially it will sell but I do not think in the numbers they would like.

[Drew Dowdell]

I know they spent the R&D on this already and it was clearly started before the Diesel implosion, but I question if this was the right auto to have now as VW is hurting for cash and a Subaru this is not. Initially it will sell but I do not think in the numbers they would like.

 

They need to make as many variants off their existing platforms as possible.   They won't sell a huge number of them, but they'll make money on it as nearly all of the parts are on the shelf already. 

[G. David Felt]

^ Excellent Point Drew, did not think about the "On the Shelf" parts. So then I can see them doing this to try and bring in cash under the current mess they are in.