For years, fans at Chelsea have known that "Blue is the colour". So why did it take Volkswagen so long to cotton on? Using existing technology, Volkswagen have developed and launched Bluemotion models just about throughout their range, offering an economical alternative for those who love trees and polar bears. Boosting their green credentials is obviously a win win situation for the German automaker. But why, if this is making use of existing technology, is it not already being implemented on all cars that are produced? Models to have already undergone the Bluemotion treatment include the Polo, Golf, Golf Plus, Jetta, Passat Saloon, Passat Estate and the Touran. Lowering the suspension also improves the aerodynamic efficiency. Formula One has known this for years, but we're only talking millimeters here, we aren't talking about having three eighths of ply protecting our bums from the harsh tarmac. Traffic calming measures may be slightly more uncomfortable to negotiate, but once again, surely this is something that can be implemented across the range. Longer gearing will probably be one of the most noticeable areas where a difference can be detected.
0 - 60 and 0 - 100 times will obviously be affected, but hold on a second, when was the last time you saw a Volkswagen Polo gunning down the Bonneville Salt Flats. These days most cars in cities don't get above ten miles per hour and on the motorway you just need to get up to a cruising speed and stay there. Would it be such a big deal if longer gearing was adopted for all cars? Surely 99% of motorists would be quite happy to arrive 30 seconds later, safe in the knowledge that the penguins will have somewhere to live for the next few years. With little knowledge of vulcanisation, apart from the fact it was invented by Mr. Spock along with the death grip, it's time to look at low rolling resistance tyres. One method of lowering resistance was achieved by hardening the compound of the rubber. Even with limited knowledge, it is an understandable conclusion that grip is reduced when the roads are wet or the tyres are cold. To compensate for this, Silica has now been developed into the rubber compound.
Finally, but no less important. A small light comes on to tell you when you're thrashing the car to death and should really think about engaging the next gear. Now, not wishing to appear deafist, surely as the engine starts screaming and the pistons try to vacate through the cylinder head, there must be a point when most people change gear before their eardrums burst. However this specialist little bit of trickery advises you to change gear at the point where you are achieving maximum fuel efficiency. Hmmmm. A small light? Chances are, this too could be fitted to all vehicles as standard. So, in summary, hats off to Volkswagen for producing a range of cars that DO make a difference. The only question that remains is why they don't use this existing technology across every vehicle in their range? They can now charge us for being greener and cleaner. As said earlier. It's a win win situation for the German manufacturer.
With big front brakes from a Golf R, you can scrub off a surprising amount of speed while maintaining control. The pedal travel is ample, but not excessive, and it acts like a security blanket, giving you more time than you thought you had when the corner comes faster than you were expecting. It鈥檚 good and, of course, it would be. These are familiar ingredients, this is a familiar recipe, so why shouldn鈥檛 it be familiar and delicious? That familiarity does breed a certain lack of spice, though. This doesn鈥檛 have the strange alchemy of a parts bin special. Rather, it has the familiarity of mom鈥檚 meatloaf. I鈥檓 not wholly sure what the missing spice is, though. This, essentially, follows the exact same recipe as the Rabbit Edition GTI, but that somehow feels the slightest bit livelier. It may be down to the way the Jetta looks-appropriate, understated, but not particularly sporty.
