The 2014 Volkswagen GTI Loses Some Weight And Adds Some Power

More power and less weight is always the best combination when a new model debuts, am I right? 

Volkswagen today dropped some new details on the 2014 Volkswagen GTI that will bow at the Geneva Motor Show. The latest version of the hopped-up Golf, which rides on an all-new platform, weighs in at 2,978 pounds -- a nice little drop from the old Mk6 car.

Even better, it has more power and quite a bit more torque. Again featuring a 2.0-liter turbo four, the new GTI will have 220 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Horsepower jumps up to 230 if you opt for the new GTI Performance model.

That's a nice little increase from the old GTI, which had 200 horsepower and 208 lb-ft of torque. Volkswagen claims the new GTI will do the zero to 60 mph dash in roughly 6.4 seconds. 

These are all the specs from the European model, which goes on sale in May. We'll have to see if the U.S. version will be different at all. The outgoing GTI was always a compelling car to drive, even if it was down on power compared to some of its hot hatch competitors. This boost could put the car on more equal footing with the Ford Focus STs and Mazdaspeed3s of the world. What do you guys think?

Photos credit VW 

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New VW Touareg sheds 200kg

Following in the Polo's footsteps, Volkswagen has revealed that the next version of their Touareg will shed as much as 208kg in the base model and offer up to 20% improvements in economy.

The weight saving amounts to as much as 10% removed from the kerb weight of the previous Touareg, and coupled with improved aerodynamics and updated engines, including a new hybrid motor, the new Touareg promises to be one of the most efficient large SUVs on the market.

According to Volkswagen's press release (available on ABG), the new Touareg also offers more space, more equipment (including stop/start technology) and more off-road biased options packages. Visually, the new car shares Volkswagen's family face first seen on the Scirocco, and it works well with the slightly more chiselled body, making the car look much smaller and more dynamic.

Of course, the weight savings on the Touareg will be reflected in the upcoming Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne, which share the same platform. Perhaps Volkswagen's step onto the treadmill will encourage other manufactures to do the same with their larger vehicles - the biggest gains can be found from improving the efficiency of the biggest vehicles.

(Image: Volkswagen)