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Volkswagen UK is adding DAB radios as standard to all its 2013 passenger cars, including the Polo, in readiness for the switch to digital radio broadcasting. Offering drivers a clear and crackle-free sound, a larger range of stations is also available, along with specialist genres. All Volkswagen DAB systems will also pick up AM and FM frequencies, as well as play MP3-compatible and regular CDs, while every model in the range comes with an aux-in socket to connect iPods and other MP3 players. The 2013 model-year Polo S now comes with six speakers connected to a standard RCD 310 audio unit to make the most of the higher quality digital audio, and this basic specification is equalled or bettered up through the range of Volkswagen cars.

Upgrade options include the MDI multi-device interface, which allows easy connection of iPods or USB sticks, which can then be controlled via the car’s audio system; Bluetooth connection of compatible telephones and music playback; Dynaudio speakers and amplifiers; higher-power audio systems with colour touchscreen controls and an SD memory card slot; and touchscreen satellite navigation systems, including with built-in HD memory. The only previous DAB unit available for the Polo was the RCD 510 touchscreen radio system, costing £300 as an optional upgrade. All 2013 model-year VW passenger cars can be ordered from your local Volkswagen Retailer from now.

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With the first cars soon to arrive in the UK, Volkswagen is showcasing four more new versions of its award-winning Up city car at the Geneva motor show next week. The design studies follow on from the six concepts at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show, and show which direction the car could be heading next. First up (!) is the ‘Swiss Up’ (we’re still refraining from using Volkswagen’s silly up! spelling) which features unique Swiss flag-inspired red and white paintwork, white dashboard wih red air vent bezels, and a leather and across the back of each seat for (and we kid you not), a Swiss Army Knife.

The Pure White and Malibu Blue ‘Winter Up’ is based on the ‘Cross Up’ concept from last autumn and, is, according to Volkswagen, ‘all set for the ski slopes’ with its roof-mounted snowboards, raised ride height and underbody protection. The ‘X Up’ is also Cross Up-based, but features a roof box with in-built searchlights and a non-subtle Burnt Orange exterior paint finish. Finally, the ‘Cargo Up’ is a modern incarnation of the popular Polo Van of the 1980s. With body-coloured rear windows, a 1400-litre (426kg) payload and a half-plexiglass rear bulkhead behind the front seats, it’s ready for some load-bay action. With prototypes of the 108bhp GT Up also getting rave reviews in the motoring press, it seems to be all about Volkswagen’s ‘cleverly compact’ stylish city car at the moment.

Adding to its awards haul, this week the Up was crowned the ‘Best City Car’ by CarBuyer, while BlueMotion Technology also now makes its way into the Up range, as VW has announced environmentally-friendly features, at least in Europe. Both existing 1.0-litre engines can now be specified with a Stop/Start system, battery generation, which, with a lowered ride height, contribute to lower 96 and 98g/km CO2 emissions from the 59 and 74bhp engines respectively. Costing €400 extra, the package arrives with the advent of a panoramic sunroof at €880 and a ‘leatherette’ pack for €760.

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Following last year’s concept at the Wörthersee GTI Treffen, it was inevitable that Volkswagen would chop the top of the Golf GTI and create the Golf GTI Cabriolet, the full details of which have now officially been released. Making its debut at the Geneva motor show next week, the latest addition to the GTI family is the most powerful open-top Golf that Volkswagen has ever produced. Practicality, long a GTI trump card, stays, and the addition of an electrically-powered folding fabric roof opens up the sporty Golf’s four occupants to the open-air experience.

Visually, the Golf GTI Cabriolet looks the same as the tin top, with honeycomb grilles, red grille trim, a smattering of ‘GTI’ badges, side sill extensions, smoked LED tail lights, double exhaust pipes, and those distinctive 17-inch ‘Monza’ alloy wheels. The black, fully-insulated and powered fabric roof can be retracted in 9.5 seconds up to speeds of 18mph, and underneath lies the standard Golf GTI cabin. That means tartan ‘Jacara’ cloth upholstery, GTI multifunction steering wheel, stainless steel pedal caps and gloss black inlays on the door caps and dashboard.

The GTI Cabriolet shares its engine with its revered hatchback sibling, too. The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 208bhp, gets the car to 62mph in 7.3 seconds (0.4 seconds down on the metal-roofed car), while top speed is 147mph. Ratios can be changed via a six-speed manual gearbox or seven-speed DSG. Maximum torque is 206lb ft (280Nm), available from 1700-5300rpm, while the standard Golf GTI’s XDS transverse differential and EDS electronic differential lock help transfer the power to the road through the front wheels.

Safety is as the standard Golf Cabriolet. The open-top Golf GTI comes with automatically deploying rollover protection, front and side head/thorax airbags and a driver’s knee airbag as standard, all of which helps it to achieve a five-star (96 per cent) rating for adult occupancy in Euro NCAP crash tests. UK buyers will have to wait until the second half of 2012 for the Golf GTI Cabriolet, when prices and final specification details will be announced, but with a basic three-door Golf GTI costing £25,320, expect the GTI Cabriolet to start upwards of £27,000.

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Leaking early, the new Volkswagen 2012 Super Bowl XLVI TV commercial has been released, and builds on the canine theme featured in ‘The Bark Side’ teaser spot, which we previewed earlier in the week. ‘The Dog Strikes Back’ features an overweight pooch called Bolt, who undertakes lots of doggy exercises to get fit so that he can chase the German company’s new Beetle. That’s all very cute, but where does the Star Wars link make itself known? Well, we won’t spoil it here, but there is a galaxy far far away-tinged ending, keeping the running theme from last year’s ‘The Force’ film. An edited 60-second version of this 76-second clip will air during the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday 5 February. Will VW keep the same theme for 2013?

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Buoyed by the 2011 success of its Star Wars-themed ‘The Force’ advert (Adweek’s ‘Commercial of the Year 2011’, 44 million YouTube views, 6.8 billion impressions), Volkswagen is again going intergalactic for its 2012 Super Bowl XLVI TV commercial. Called the ‘Bark Side’, this 64-second teaser previews the full advert which will air on 5 February. Featuring a collective of canines (some ‘dressed’ as notable characters from the series’ titles) barking the ‘Imperial March’ from the film’s soundtrack, it’s looking like it will cause as much of a sensation as last year’s US Darth Vader-themed clip.

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