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Next VW GTI to get 10-speed dual-clutch gearbox

Following on Volkswagen's official announcement that it was working on a ten-speed, dual-clutch transmission, Auto Express has it on "good authority" that the new transmission will end up in the next GTI, GTD and Golf R. The brand's current seven-speed will be retained for lesser eight-generation Golfs. While the new gearbox won't be limited to just the higher-end Golf range, the new hatchback, expected in 2017, will be the first to get it, Auto Express reports. The new DSG is the same size as the Volkswagen Group's seven-speed dual-clutch, and will easily fit into VAG's MQB platform, so we should expect it to filter into the rest of the Group's vehicles, much like the seven-speed 'box has. The ten-speed is likely to see applications beyond even the small cars of the MQB platform. The gearbox can handle 405 pound-feet of torque, according to AE, making its application in larger offerings such as the gas-powered MLB cars and crossovers a likelihood. Beyond the new gearbox, Volkswagen is also toying with mild-hybrid tech for the standard Golf and better batteries for the e-Golf. As we said, expect the new Golf to arrive in European markets in 2017, with the current Euro-market Golf getting updated next year. As for the US, we wouldn't be surprised if VW followed the trail blazed by the Mark 7, with a North American arrival for the eight-gem Golf slated for a year or so after sales in Europe begin.

Piech and Winterkorn still at odds about VW leadership plan

Volkswagen Group Chairman Ferdinand Piech (above, right) and CEO Martin Winterkorn (above, left) will be meeting in the coming days to discuss who the next leader of the Volkswagen Group will be. This, of course, comes after a report last Friday in Der Spiegel where Piech said he didn't want Winterkorn to be the automaker's next chairman. Oh, to be a fly on the wall of that conference room. As Automotive News reports, Winterkorn had been widely viewed as the probable replacement for the 77-year-old Piech, until last week, when the current chairman said he was keeping the CEO "at a distance," in the German paper. While Winterkorn confirmed to German media on Monday that he still had a job, analysts aren't sure what Piech's comments will mean for the 67-year-old CEO's future, with some indicating he may end up being a "lame duck" leader. According to AN, Piech doesn't think that Winterkorn has the vision to lead the sprawling Volkswagen Group empire, even though the current CEO has the support of a number of other VAG stakeholders. "Piech knows what he is doing and will assume that he can get the supervisory board to implement his decisions," former BMW executive turned analyst Helmut Becker told German media, AN reports. Winterkorn has just over 18 months left on his contract, while Piech's term has another two years left on it, meaning it will still be some time before we find out how the Volkswagen Group's leadership issues play out.

Move over Nissan Leaf, VW E-Golf is the new sales champ in Europe

Western European sales of the Volkswagen e-Golf electric vehicle got just extra charged up, and not just with electricity. For the first two months of the year, the VW EV overtook longstanding EV leader Nissan Leaf in terms of sales on the Continent, Aid Newsletter says. In fact, the e-Golf's 2,150 units sold in Western Europe through February was 400 more than what the Leaf managed. Norway was the key country here. With lots of EV incentives, the Leaf (not to mention the Tesla Model S) have always sold well there, but Volkswagen, through a big advertising push, moved more than three times as many e-Golfs in Norway as Nissan did the Leaf. It's sure a far cry from the US, where the Leaf remains the best-selling electric vehicle. Through February, Nissan moved 2,268 Leaf vehicles in the US, compared to 311 e-Golfs sold here. March sales didn't do much to change the balance, with 195 e-Golfs sold versus 1,817 Leafs. The e-Golf, which retails for about $36,000 in the States, gets an EPA-rated 116 miles per gallon equivalent, barely edging out the Leaf's 114 MPGe rating. The e-Golf can also go 83 miles on a single charge. Our review of the e-Golf is available here. Featured Gallery 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf: Review View 29 Photos News Source: Aid Newsletter Green Volkswagen ev sales e-golf