More diesels and Phaeton too!

With the new generation Passat now on sale (see CarPoint's launch review here), Volkswagen has fulfilled its promise to offer a diesel engine option in every segment of the market in which it competes. But there are still more TDIs and petrol-engined VWs to come.

Next up will be a new diesel-engined variant of the Touareg SUV. The new offering will use an upgraded version of the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel that will also power the forthcoming Audi Q7. This new model is expected to replace the unloved five-cylinder Touareg R5 TDI.

In its Q7 guise, the engine generates a maximum output of 171kW and 500Nm of torque. It is due to go on sale here about August, ahead of a facelifted Touareg which arrives in March next year.

In about October, Volkswagen will also replace the 103kW/320Nm entry-level 2.0-litre diesel engine in the just-launched Passat sedan and wagon with a new, higher output 125kW350Nm 2.0-litre TDI engine.

The increased power and torque come courtesy of a piezo pump high-pressure jet-injection system but along with the extra grunt will come a price increase of $2000 with the entry-level diesel expected to be priced the same as the 2.0-litre turbo petrol model at $44,990.

While diesel sales are growing, Volkswagen has not forgotten the petrol market either and before the two diesels arrive, the company will add a new top of the range Golf R32 to the line-up.

Powered by a direct-injection 184kW/320Nm 3.2-litre V6, the all-wheel drive R32 will be available as both a three-door and five-door hatch.

Unlike the previous generation hot hatch that was a limited edition, the new R32 will be a permanent member of the lineup with prices expected to start about $65,000 when it goes on sale in July.

For those who can't quite stretch to that price and for the hundreds who have ordered the $40,000 2.0-litre turbo Golf GTI there’s also good news. After months of delays, Volkswagen Australia has finally confirmed that the 800 GTIs on order have gone into production with deliveries expected to start in June.

Local VW managing director, Jutta Dierks, says that production rates are now back to normal and if a customer was to order a GTI today, it would still make July production which means that they could be driving their car by September.

A further Golf-based variant will also be on offer about March next year when the folding hardtop EOS coupe-convertible arrives here priced around $45,000. The car that essentially fills the hole left by the last generation Golf Cabrio is due to be launched in Europe next month.

Also due on sale in Australia mid-2007 will be the flagship of Volkswagen’s European range, the Phaeton.

The large sedan has been under consideration since it was first launched in Europe about four years ago and with a facelift due VW now seems ready to commit to an Australian launch. This flies in the face of the company’s experience with the long wheelbase limo in the USA where it was launched and then withdrawn after less than impressive sales.

The car is offered in Europe with V6, V8 and W12 petrol engines and a V10 turbodiesel. VW would be unlikely to offer the V6 in Australia but the others are all up for grabs. The big sedan is expected to be priced from around $120,000.