The New Volkswagen Golf Plus BlueMotion

Volkswagen has revealed pricing and details of its latest BlueMotion model, the Volkswagen Golf Plus. The new model offers all the practicality and comfort of the new standard Volkswagen Golf Plus which went on sale in May 2009, but with even greater economy and lower carbon dioxide emissions. Prices start at £17,570 RRP 'on the road' for the Volkswagen Golf Plus BlueMotion S, rising to £18,920 for the SE; that's just £325 more than the equivalent standard Volkswagen Golf Plus S and SE models.

Using the latest 1.6-litre common rail TDI 105 PS engine combined with a number of BlueMotion modifications, the Volkswagen Golf Plus BlueMotion is capable of returning 65.7 mpg on the combined cycle while emitting just 114 g/km of CO2. By comparison, the previous generation Volkswagen Golf Plus BlueMotion with a 1.9-litre TDI engine and 105 PS returned 58.9 mpg while producing 127 g/km; that's an 11 per cent improvement in economy and a ten per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

The new Volkswagen Golf Plus BlueMotion's CO2 emissions figure of 114 g/km allows it to break the 121 g/km threshold, saving fleet drivers up to £1,000 in Benefit in Kind tax over a three year period. The car's economy statistics mean, in real terms, that a Volkswagen Golf Plus BlueMotion owner could take a trip from London to the Lake District, enjoy 200 miles-worth of day trips while there, and return to London before having to refuel. Put another way, a buyer covering under 8,000 miles a year - which is typical of more than a half of Volkswagen Golf Plus customers - need only fill up with fuel once every five weeks.

This frugality is thanks to a number of BlueMotion modifications including revised gear ratios in third, fourth and fifth, the addition of low rolling resistance tyres, a Start/Stop function and regenerative braking. The Start/Stop system allows the engine to shut down completely when the car is at a standstill before automatically restarting as soon as the clutch is depressed, ready to engage first gear and move off. Regenerative braking helps to utilise energy that would otherwise be lost during braking, so that in deceleration and braking phases the alternator's voltage is boosted and used for bulk recharging of the car's battery.

The Volkswagen Golf Plus BlueMotion is available in two trim levels, S and SE, and its standard features are the same as on these standard models. Owners therefore benefit from ABS with ESP, six airbags, air conditioning, a CD player and multi-function computer - with the addition of gearchange recommendation on BlueMotion for maximum economy. SE adds Park Assist to ease parallel parking manoeuvres, cruise control and alloy wheels. All Volkswagen Golf Plus diesel models have a standard Diesel Particulate Filter.

The new model is available to order now with the first cars arriving in October 2009.