the best new car 2012: December 2011

The Volkswagen Golf is a compact car manufactured by Volkswagen since 1974 and marketed worldwide across six generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates - as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada (Mk1 and Mk5), and as the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico (Mk1).

The front-wheel drive Golf was Volkswagen's first successful replacement for the air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle. Historically, it is Volkswagen's best-selling model and the world's third best-selling model, with more than 25 million built by 2007.
Most production of the Golf was initially in the 3-door hatchback style. Other variants include a 5-door hatchback, estate/wagon (Variant, from 1993), convertible (Cabriolet and Cabrio, 1979–2002), and a Golf-derived notchback saloon/sedan, variously called Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Vento or Volkswagen Bora (from 1979). The cars have filled many market segments, from basic personal cars, to high-performance hot hatches.

Now let’s focus on the new Volkswagen Golf 6.

Volkswagen based the latest Golf Mk6 on the existing PQ35 platform from the Golf Mk5. This vehicle was debuted at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.

The Mk6 Golf was designed by Volkswagen's chief designer Walter de'Silva, with design cues inspired from the previous generations of the Golf, particularly the Mk1 and the Mk4. The design is said to be more aerodynamic, helping fuel efficiency, and is quieter than its predecessor. Following criticism of the downgraded interior trim quality of the Mk5 Golf in comparison to the Mk4, Volkswagen opted to overhaul the interior to match the quality with the Mk4 Golf, while maintaining the same user friendliness from the Mk5. The car will also be cheaper to build than its predecessor; Volkswagen claims that it will be able to pass on these savings to the customer as a result.

Volkswagen means "people's car" in German.

So is it the Golf still the best selling model, the people’s car?

The new Golf is quieter, better built and simply nicer to drive than before. You'll fit your whole family in here and the whole deal is as classless as it comes.

It is a very good German quality car.

The Panamera is highly effective in mixing a sportscar with a luxury saloon. But what's with that look? It's kind of strange.

So it's a Porsche... It's a bad Porsche.

The first Panamera we saw was in Moscow. We were there for a test drive of the new Dacia in winter conditions and we saw on the streets the new Porsche Panamera. This happened an year ago.

So what's with that look?

This is a Porsche 911 stretched to maximum. It has four seats. Not a very comfortable car.

Is it luxurious? Let's not forget, luxury is something that Porsche can do. It may only have sports cars and an ignomious SUV in its back catalogue, but these days they're all finished to a standard that makes high-end limos look a bit shoddy in places.

The engine is a Porsche, so it gets 10/10 for technical design.

Two versions of Porsche's 4.8-litre V8 - normally aspirated with 400bhp and a turbo with 500bhp - and a 3.6-litre V6 diesel. The non-turbo V8 is so effortlessly and undramatically quick that you may as well just drive it straight to the cop shop and hand yourself in. The power in the Turbo is gigantic - at any revs. If any passenger is boring you, just press the accelerator and they'll quickly be silenced.

But bad, bad, bad for exterior design. Only a 4/10. Ugly car.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Sunday, December 11, 2011