The Golf, an iconic compact car, is celebrating its 50th birthday with the launch of the latest evolutionary stage of the bestseller in Europe. With more than 37 million units sold worldwide, the Golf has become one of the most successful cars globally since its debut in 1974. To mark this milestone, Volkswagen is introducing pre-sales of the new Golf and Golf Variant models, which feature numerous enhancements and a next-generation infotainment system.
The new Golf and Golf Variant models boast a modified front end with newly designed LED headlights, including the top-of-the-range IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights with an enhanced main beam. Additionally, the IQ.LIGHT 3D LED tail light clusters have received a new design. Inside, a brand new generation of infotainment system with a faster processor and a free-standing touchscreen (12.9 inches) is introduced. The interior also features illuminated touch sliders for temperature and volume control, the latest digital instruments (Digital Cockpit Pro), a multifunction steering wheel, and the IDA voice assistant, which now integrates ChatGPT for a wide range of conversational capabilities.
In terms of variants, the Golf and Golf Variant are initially available in five equipment and four drive system options. These include manual turbocharged petrol engines (TSI) with outputs of 115PS and 150PS, as well as 48 V mild hybrid turbocharged petrol engines (eTSI) with outputs of 115PS and 150PS, equipped with a 7-speed direct shift gearbox (DSG). The special Golf Edition 50 model, based on the Golf Style, offers additional features such as 18-inch alloy wheels, tinted rear windows, an illuminated horizontal radiator grille strip, and Edition 50 logos in the interior. It also includes the new top-of-the-range “Discover” infotainment system, keyless start and locking system, driving profile selection, and more.
The Golf Edition 50 will be available with different drive versions, starting with the Golf Edition 50 1.5 TSI with 150PS and a manual gearbox, priced at 36,820 euros (RM189,891). An optional Plus package is also available, offering additional features such as a panoramic sunroof, IQ.LIGHT matrix LED headlights, and a head-up display.
In a tribute to five decades of the iconic Golf, Volkswagen is set to unveil an upgraded version of its bestseller, promising an array of advancements for customers. The enhanced Golf series boasts a host of features, including a redesigned front end, next-generation infotainment system, and efficiency-focused drive systems.
The new GolfThe new Golf GTEThe new Golf GTIThe new Golf Variant
A standout feature marking this milestone is the illuminated Volkswagen logo, making its debut on the Golf. The LED headlights and reimagined IQ.Light 3D LED tail lights contribute to the refreshed exterior, providing a modern and dynamic appearance. The interior is equally impressive, featuring an intuitive infotainment system with a user-friendly touchscreen (screen diagonal up to 12 inches), along with touch sliders for temperature and volume control, creating an immersive driving experience.
Adding to the allure, the new IDA voice assistant takes centre stage, offering natural language interaction for controlling various in-car functions, accessing online information, and integrating the innovative ChatGPT chatbot, showcased at CES 2024.
The enhanced Golf series introduces new assist systems, such as the upgraded Park Assist Plus, which simplifies parking manoeuvres by detecting suitable spaces and initiating the parking process. Park Assist Pro now allows drivers to guide their cars in and out of parking spaces using their smartphones, adding a new dimension to convenience.
A significant technological addition is the Area View system, providing a comprehensive 360-degree all-around view by merging images from four cameras, enhancing visibility and ease of parking.
Under the hood, Volkswagen is bringing an array of updated drive systems to the Golf. The plug-in hybrid drives now offer increased power and an extended electric range of approximately 100 km. Additionally, these models are equipped with a DC quick-charging function, emphasising Volkswagen’s commitment to efficient and sustainable mobility.
The launch phase will witness a total of nine diverse options, including mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, turbocharged petrol, and turbocharged diesel, catering to various preferences. The Golf GTI, known for its sporty performance, has undergone enhancements for even more power compared to its predecessor.
The new Golf models are expected to be available for order in the coming weeks, allowing customers to experience the evolution of this iconic model. As Volkswagen continues to push the boundaries of innovation, the enhanced Golf series pays homage to its rich history while embracing the future of automotive technology.
Over 120 BMW M cars travelled in a convoy today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of BMW’s performance brand. The convoy had started from Ingress Auto’s BMW Damansara dealership and made its way to LaLaport Bukit Bintang City Centre where the cars filled Gourmet Walk, the roar of their exhausts reverberating along the ‘canyon’ of buildings.
The number of cars was the largest at a gathering of BMW M cars in Malaysia and BMW Group Malaysia MD, Hans de Visser, believes it might also be the largest in Southeast Asia. It was organised by the M Owner Malaysia community with the support of BMW Group Malaysia.
September 16 has long been a special day for Malaysians as it is the day, in 1963, when the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak and Singapore united with the Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia. And this year, on the 59th anniversary of Malaysia Day, BMW Group Malaysia will also have a special event to celebrate the day as it is also the 50th anniversary year of BMW M, its performance division.
At this joint celebration of Malaysia Day and 50 Jahre M (50 Years of M), BMW M owners and enthusiasts will gather on September 16 to create the largest gathering of BMW M performance vehicles in the country.
Over 150 M vehicles This gathering will be made up of over 150 vehicles from five generations of M models which will make their way into the city centre on the morning of September 16. They will gather at 10 am at the Lalaport Bukit Bintang City Centre along Jalan Hang Tuah in Kuala Lumpur.
Open to the public, the event will also feature a special display of some of the oldest BMW M models in the country. These models have been found after a search by BMW Group Malaysia since May this year.
Other activities at the event will include music performances and engagements with the public who can win exclusive merchandise.
About BMW M 50 years ago, in May 1972, a small business unit with 35 employees was created and initially known as BMW Motorsport GmbH. It was only in 1993 that the present name was established, by which time its role was a fundamental part of the BMW Group, broadening its scope to more than just competition cars. It exemplified the engineers’ expertise in combining authentic motorsport functionality with exclusive and sporty aesthetics, while producing its own memorable models.
Over the past 50 years, BMW M has given the motoring world many iconic performance cars – models like the legendary M1, M3, M5 and M635CSi. Although BMW M focused almost exclusively on the producing performance and racing cars, many BMW enthusiasts were also looking for the BMW M power and badging on road cars.
The M5, followed by the M3, were developed for these enthusiasts and quickly became the most iconic BMW M vehicles in the line-up. They not only won numerous championship victories in touring car racing but also performed impressively on the road.
Some of the BMW M models that have become historical icons of the brand.
BMW M has followed market trends and as enthusiasts came to appreciate SUVs, it developed the X5 M and X6 M, the first M models with 4-wheel drive and turbocharged engines. Today, the BMW X family members with M badges include the X3 M Competition and X4 M Competition.
With the iX M60, the brand is also headed into the electric era. For a company like BMW M, which has built up a reputation producing cars with superlative performance means that the same kind of performance cab be expected – even with electric models.
The iX M60 leads BMW M into the electric era.
“At the BMW Group, M remains the most powerful letter in the world, as it represents our high-performance vehicles born out of pure passion for motorsports. This fascination for power, speed and dynamics has put M on the map since 1972. Fifty years on, we are thrilled to be celebrating the legacy of the BMW Motorsport GmbH with a great community of owners and enthusiasts alike. This milestone is not one we could have achieved without their loyal support throughout these years,” said Hans de Visser, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia.
‘CSL’ goes back over 50 years in BMW history, to the days of 1973 E9 3.0 CSL model. It was given the ‘CSL’ (Coupe Sport Leichtbau or Coupe Sport Lightweight) badge and was intended to be a homologation model for BMW to enter the European Touring Car Championship. The designation was not used much and in fact, the new M4 CSL is the third model that has ever had it (the second was the E46 M3 CSL in 2003).
Perhaps BMW has reserved it for very special occasions and there is a special one this year with BMW M GmbH celebrating its 50th birthday. The M4 CSL is a limited edition model which has made use of the company’s long expertise in powertrain and chassis development and also lightweight design.
The 1973 3.0 CSL
Strong focus on weight-saving
Lightweight design was one of the advantages of the 1973 3.0 CSL, allowing it to win championships and this is also a strong feature in the new M4 CSL. The M engineers have brought the M4 CSL’s kerb weight to 1,625 kgs for a power-to-weight ratio of 3 kgs/bhp. Compared to the M4 Competition, its weight is 100 kgs less and with a 40 bhp increase over the M4 Competition Coupe’s 550 bhp. Peak torque of 650 Nm, from 2,750rpm and sustained all the way up to 5,950 rpm.
One of the weight-cutting measures is very visible – no rear seats, so it’s strictly a 2-seater. The front M Carbon full bucket seats are also light (24 kgs than standard seats), and the absence of the rear seats saves 21 kgs. Not visible are chassis changes such as the use of lightweight M Carbon ceramic brakes and special light-alloy wheels, springs and struts which saved 21 kgs.
The use of CFRP in the body deducts 11 kgs; a titanium rear silencer cuts more than 4 kgs, and a further 4 kgs was saved from the kidney grille, rear lights, floor mats and climate control. Sound levels not likely to bother the driver, switching to ultra-lightweight sound insulation (which may be better or worse) saved around 15 kgs.
The CFRP bootlid provides a 6.7 kg weight-saving. Its carbonfibre structure is visible inside through the unpainted clearcoat. It has a pronounced spoiler, referencing a similar feature of the 2003 BMW M3 CSL. The diffuser integrated into the rear apron and the exterior mirror caps are also made from CFRP.
The forged cross-spoke M light-alloy wheels have been designed exclusively for the new car and fitted with tyres size 275/35 ZR19 at the front, 285/30 ZR20 at the rear. The brake system has standard M Carbon ceramic brakes that are around 14.3 kgs lighter than the brakes on the M4 Competition Coupe. The rear silencer is made from titanium which reduces weight by 4.3 kgs compared to a conventional steel equivalent.
Engine output raised
As mentioned earlier, the 3-litre 6-cylinder engine has an extra 40 bhp extracted from it and to get this, the engineers raised boost pressure from 24.7 psi to 30.5 psi. The 8-speed M Steptronic transmission with DriveLogic is said to be upgraded to match the higher power output while there are stiffer engine and transmission mounts.
Like the M4 Competition Coupe, the M4 CSL has double-joint spring strut front axle and 5-link rear axle. Standard equipment includes adaptive M suspension with electronically-controlled dampers, electromechanical M Servotronic steering with variable ratio, and an M-specific version of the integrated braking system.
The suspension also has an 8 mm reduction in ride height (compared with the M4 Competition Coupe), lowering the centre of gravity. Auxiliary springs are fitted at both the front and rear axle and improve road contact in dynamic situations. The anti-roll bars at both axles and their mountings have also been specially engineered for this model.
Advanced lighting technology
BMW Laserlight headlights (which illuminate in yellow rather than white) bring to mind the look of successful GT racing cars. The rear lights use an innovative technology making its debut in a production car. All light functions use LED units, while the covers have intricate light threads woven into them, illuminated using laser technology. The threads run parallel to one another before crossing over at the outer edges to create a stunning interpretation of the hallmark BMW L-shaped rear light contour.
Performance-focussed interior
The interior design is largely the same as the M4 Competition Coupe’s, which means it allows the driver to focus on performance. M-specific displays, ergonomically optimized controls with red accents, the M-specific gear selector and the anthracite-coloured headliner create a racing aura as the driver settles in. This is enhanced by the carbonfibre interior trim strip and ‘CSL’ badging below the head restraints, on the centre console and the rear panel.
The centre console of the new BMW M4 CSL is made entirely from CFRP, the material’s distinctive structure clearly visible around the gear selector and iDrive Controller. The use of carbonfibre more than halves the weight of the centre console, a saving of around 4 kgs. The M Alcantara steering wheel features a red 12 o’clock marker, carbonfibre inlays and CFRP shift paddles.
The BMW Head-Up Display is available as an option and part of the Ultimate Road Pack. It includes M-specific elements such as a colour tachometer, Shift Lights and M View. Provided as standard are M Drive Professional and M Laptimer for drivers to make improvements in their pursuit of the ideal line and faster lap times. For example, dramatic use of oversteer and opposite lock is recorded by the M Drift Analyser, while the laptimer records and show a variety of information on both the instrument cluster and the Head-Up Display. Drivers can also analyze the data in detail with the BMW M Laptimer iPhone app and share it with the online community.
Production will begin in July 2022 and only 1,000 units will be available, each priced from £128,820 (about RM706,000) in the UK market.
This year is a special year for BMW M GmbH, the high-performance and motorsports division of BMW. It was in 50 years ago, in May 1972, that the small business unit with 35 employees was created and initially known as BMW Motorsport GmbH. It was only in 1993 that the present name was established, by which time its role was a fundamental part of the BMW Group, broadening its scope to more than just competition cars. It exemplified the engineers’ expertise in combining authentic motorsport functionality with exclusive and sporty aesthetics, while producing its own memorable models.
Commemorating the golden anniversary of BMW M GmbH which takes place next Tuesday (May 24), BMW Group Malaysia is now searching for the oldest BMW M model in the country, preferably with every model series represented. If you own or know who had of the oldest BMW M in the country, let BMW Malaysia know at this link.
Winners will stand a chance to receive exclusive BMW M merchandise and a feature of their prized vehicle by BMW Group Malaysia. One winner will be selected for every BMW M model series, with special prizes for notable submissions as well. While the celebration takes place next Tuesday, submissions will be accepted up till June 8, 2022.
“At the BMW Group, M remains the most powerful letter in the world, as it represents our high-performance vehicles born out of pure passion for motorsports. This fascination for power, speed and dynamics has put M on the map since 1972. Fifty years on, we are thrilled to be celebrating the legacy of the BMW Motorsport GmbH with a great community of owners and enthusiasts alike. This milestone is not one we could have achieved without their loyal support throughout these years,” said Hans de Visser, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia.
Over the past 50 years, BMW M has given the motoring world many iconic performance cars – models like the legendary M1, M3, M5 and M635CSi. The M1 was the first-ever official M car, making its debut in 1978. Only 456 units were produced with pure racing technology that continues to be admired to this day.
BMW M635 CSi and M1
The M635CSi is one of the most significant models in the history of BMW M. In 1984, the 4-seater continued the concept of high-performance 6-cylinder in-line engines that the M1 had established earlier. But like no other BMW M model before it, it embodied the ultimate symbiosis of luxury and high performance. Dubbing it ‘Sharknose’ and ‘Bayern-Express’, the first ‘Six’ had a production period of over 13 years – from 1976 to 1989 – making it BMW’s longest lasting series.
Although BMW M focused almost exclusively on the construction of performance and racing cars, many BMW enthusiasts were also looking for the BMW M power and badging on road cars. The M5, which premiered in 1985, offered high performance with elegance in its segment.
BMW M3
It was followed by the M3, launched in 1986, which quickly became one of the most iconic BMW M vehicles in the line-up for its numerous championship victories in touring car racing, while also performing impressive on the road.
BMW M has followed market trends and as even enthusiasts came to appreciate SUVs, it developed the X5 M and X6 M, the first M models with 4-wheel drive and turbocharged engines. Today, the BMW X family members with M badges include the X3 M Competition and X4 M Competition.
BMW iX M60
And now, with electrification underway, the company is also responding accordingly with the debut of its first fully electric model in this anniversary year. For a company like BMW M, which has built up a reputation producing cars with superlative performance means that the same kind of performance is expected even with electric models. This is promised with new iX M60, which has a powertrain output of 455 kW/619 ps and up to 1.015 Nm of torque. And while it is claimed to be able to go from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, it will also be able to travel up to 566 kms, factory tests have shown.
Opel, a brand more familiar to older Malaysians, has brought back the iconic Manta as a one-off all-electric special to celebrate the coupe’s 50th anniversary. Called the Manta GSe ElektroMOD, it reflects the growing trend of transforming classic cars like into so-called ‘RestoMods’ with modern components and powertrains.
Change of ‘heart’
The first electric RestoMod by Opel (once a GM subsidiary and now part of the Stellantis Group), the Manta GSe has an electric powertrain with an output of 108 kW (147 ps) and 225 Nm of torque. It uses the original 4-speed gearbox, allowing drivers to manually change gears, or alternatively, engage the fourth gear and drive automatically.
With a 31-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the Manta GSe has a claimed range of around 200 kms, with regenerative braking to improve range. Full recharging with a 9-kW onboard charger can be completed in just under 4 hours.
Design elements from Vauxhall
The Manta GSe also uses some of the latest design elements from Vauxhall, the British brand that is also part of the Stellantis Group. These include the brand’s Vizor-styled front end with Pixel technology allowing it to issue messages, such as ‘I am on a zero e-mission’, followed by the silhouette of a manta ray gliding over the Pixel-Vizor.
The original Manta in 1973
The front end also features LED daylight running lights, while the iconic circular rear lights come with a striking three-dimensional LED design. The yellow paintwork is contrasted by the signature black bonnet, with the wheel arches housing specially designed 17-inch Ronal alloy wheels with 195/40 tyres at the front, and 205/40 tyres at the rear.
Digital tech inside
As expected of a modern RestoMod, the interior features the latest digital technology. The classic round instruments have been replaced by a Pure Panel, with two driver-oriented 12-inch and 10-inch digital displays. The sound system has also been modernised with a new unit that has connectivity which was not available in the 1970s.
The sports seats come with a yellow centre line and have a modern structure for improved comfort and support. The steering wheel has a classic 3-spoke design (no airbag as this is only a showcar) and features a yellow marker in the 12 o’clock position for an added sporty touch.
Surfaces in the cockpit and door panels are matt grey, matching the neo-classic’s other yellow and black coloured elements. The ceiling of the passenger compartment is lined with fine Alcantara and completes the stylish ambience.
