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New 2012 Volkswagen CC

Volkswagen CC was introduced into the South African market three years ago. The four-door coupé was a hit right from the start. The Volkswagen CC’s styling also impressed experts and in 2009 alone it was awarded the ‘iF Product Design Award’ (iFIndustrie Forum Hannover), the ‘red dot Design Award’ (Design Centre of Nordrhein Westphalia, Essen) and the Australian ‘Design Award’ (Australian International Design Awards, Sydney).

The new exterior styling – a plus in precision

Standing still is a backward step. For this reason, a team led by Volkswagen chief designer Klaus Bischoff is launching the new CC with completely redesigned front and rear sections. The new stylingis more precise and has adapted Volkswagen ‘design DNA’. As a result, the car has a sophisticated and dynamic overall appearance.

Front end styling

Quite noticeable at the front are the new chrome radiator grille design with three cross fins, the newly designed and standard bi-xenon headlights with static cornering lights and the redesigned bonnet. The Volkswagen CCcan be ordered with optional bi-xenon headlights with 15 LEDs daytime running lights (standard on V6). The LEDs are mounted in the headlight housing.

Compared to the previous model, the front end is defined by the new front bumper, headlights and radiator grille. It exhibits cleaner lines that match Volkswagen ‘design DNA’ styling 1:1. The Volkswagen ‘design DNA’ is marked by characteristics that emphasize horizontal lines and a concise harmony of the headlights and radiator grille. The latter is no longer designed as a separate V framed by elements in body colour; rather it joins with the headlights to form a visually continuous, charismatic band.

The new Volkswagen CC has an extra air intake beneath the body-coloured bumper. ‘Winglets’are integrated on the sides of this intake with the fog lights.

Although the frameless doors of the CC were not modified,the car’s side profile has a new look. Several factors are at work here: in front, the more powerful design of the bonnet – in interplay with the new bumper design – sharpens the car’s side profile. Meanwhile, the much more distinctively sculpted side sills between the wheel-housings stand out. They make a visual connection between the front and rear bumpers and sharpen the lower contour of the car’s silhouette. At the rear, the bumper now shows greater volume and styling clarity. This generates a very special dynamic coupé-like styling of the C-pillars and the very long swept-back rear window.

Rear end styling

Just as at the front, designers also completely redesigned the styling of the rear end. This involved modifying the wrap-around chrome strip. The entire rear section now shows more straight line surfaces and a greater emphasis of horizontal lines. Also fitting with this image is the new styling of the rear lights; at their lower ends, the lights now finish with a horizontal sweep. The new rear lights have LED lighting elements that offer improved economy and long life. The distinctive look of these lights makes the CC unmistakable from the rear especially at night. Also illuminated with LEDs are the number plate and the direction indicators integrated in the door mirror housings.

Dimensions

The new Volkswagen CC is 4,802 mm long and has width of 1,855 mm (without mirrors); its wheelbaseis 2,711 mm. The height of the four-door coupé is a low sports car like at 1,417 mm.

New interior – more sophisticated and comfortable

Lots of space

In parallel to the exterior, the comfortable yet sporty interior of the Volkswagen CC was also redesigned. In front, the car always comes with ergonomic sport seats designed for long trips. In the rear, it has a continuous bench seat that comfortably seat three adults. The distance between what is known as the H-point (vertex of backrest/seat surface) of the front seats and that of the rear seats is 847 mm. A practical consequence of this value is ample legroom for rear passengers. There is also plentyof elbow room: the CC is 1,461 mm wide in front and 1,496 mm in the rear. The interior height is significantly larger than the exterior styling might suggest: in front the height is 949 mm (955 mm with panoramic sunroof), and in the rear itis 922 mm.

High level of travel comfort

Those who drive a lot will especially enjoy the new sport seats (front) with optional active climate control (standard on V6 FSI). In this case, the driver’s seat is equipped with a massage function. When seat climate control is activated, several fans pump cooling air through small channels in the foam seat cushion. The driver and front passenger can control the seat ventilation over three levels using a switch on the outerseat upholstery. The sport seats can be ordered with either manual seat adjustment or an electric 12-way system. Always standard are new front head restraints with X-adjustment. These head restraints are not only height-adjustable but they can be pulled forward as well.

New controls and display elements

The interior itself has a character that is as dynamic as it is elegant. The dashboard has integrated two storage compartments above the centre console. Also new is the Climatronic control panel.

Extended ambience pack

The interior of the Volkswagen CC has an especially elegant look at night. Lighting strips are integrated into the fine wood or metallic accentsin the doors. Its brightness can be continuously varied by the interior lighting control. The intensity of footwell illumination can be adjusted independently via the menu of the multifunction display.

New systems and technologies

New window system improves soundproofing

Fatigue detection offered as standard feature

The Volkswagen CC is positioned as the Volkswagen South Africa’s flagship sedan. With redesigned, front and rear, its styling now crosses over to the premium segment. This is also clearly true of its significantly enhanced standard features that include bi-xenon headlights, LED rear lights and fatigue detection.

Acoustics – even better soundproofing

Volkswagen achieved noise reductions of several dB by implementing numerous individual measures in the body design area and in the windscreen glass structure. Acoustics have been optimised by adding sound-absorbing materials in the front, side and rear areas. Engineers have further improved soundproofing by adding highly effective underbody trim, wheel-well shells made of a material for noise damping and improved gearbox mounts. Additional insulating materials are also used in the dashboard. The windscreen is also equipped with an additional acoustic film layer.

Assistance systems – greater safety and comfort

Over the past decade, a revolution has been taking place in the areas of passive and active safety. New methods for computing body structures,effective restraint systems and active technologies such as the ESP electronic stabilisation programme and countersteering support have resulted in increasingly safer cars. Electronic assistance systems are often able to improve occupant protection within the car as well as the protection of others in traffic.

The following assistance systems are new to the Volkswagen CC:

Fatigue detection

This system, which is standard, detects waning driver concentration and warns the driver with an acoustic signal lasting five seconds. A visual message also appears in the instrument cluster recommending that the driver takes a break from driving. If the driver does not take a break within the next 15 minutes, the warning is repeated.

Right at the beginning of each car trip, the system analyses the driver’s characteristic steering behaviour. The fatigue detection system then continually evaluates signals such as steering angle. If monitored parameters indicate a deviation from the steering behaviour recorded at the beginning of the trip, then visual and acoustic warnings are produced. Independent of this monitoring, whenever the system is activated it recommends a driving break to the driver afterfour hours of continuous driving.

Main beam control: Light Assist.

Light Assist which offers automatic main beam control is available as an option across the range. This main beam assistant is a camera-based system that analyses the light sources that occur in traffic at night and it outputs a dipped beam or main beam command when there is an approaching vehicle. The main beam is automatically activated or deactivated from speeds of 60 km/h.

Park Assist, Generation II

In contrast to first generation systems, which only supported parking parallel to the carriageway, the latest parking assistant also assists in perpendicular parking – i.e. at right angles to the driving lane. The optional Park Assist system is activated at speeds up to 40 km/h by pressing a button on the centre console. The driver indicates the side of the street for parking by activating the direction indicator for that side. As soon as Park Assist detects a sufficiently large parking space– utilising its ultrasonic sensors – assisted parking can begin: the driver engages reverse gear and then only needs to accelerate and brake. The car handles the steering. The driver is assisted by acoustic and visual cues on the multifunction display.While parking, Park Assist reduces vehicle speed to 7 km/h. For the first time, this system can also actively brake the car if a collision is about to occur. The driver however remains responsible for braking, since the new braking function of Park Assist cannot prevent an accident.

Detailed solutions – new technologies simplify everyday driving

Along with the large innovations, there are always many ‘small’ solutions that as a whole make up the progress in a model changeover.In the new Volkswagen CC, there is a whole series of optional detailed solutions that simultaneously optimise convenience or safety as this simplifying everyday driving:

Easy Open

If the new Volkswagen CC is equipped with Keyless Access (automatic locking and starting system), a specific foot motion behind the vehicle is all it takes to open access to the boot. The human-machine interface here is a proximity sensor in the bumper area, which recognises a kick-like leg motion. The boot only opens for someone carrying the proper remote key for the CC.

Swivelling towbar

Another innovation in the Volkswagen CC is its swivelling towbar. It is electrically unlatched by pressing a button integrated in the right inner-side trim of the boot. This releases the towbar from its rest position, and then it is easy to swing it into its operating position with a press of the foot.

Remote unlatching of the rear backrest

No less practical is the new remote unlatching of the rear backrest. Levers located under the rear shelf make it easy to unlatch the left and/or right section of the ¹/³ to ²/³split backrest.

XDS transverse differential lock

The XDS electronic transverse differential lock improves traction when driving through the curvy roads. It comes as standard in the 2.0 TDI (125kW), 2.0 TSI (155kW) and 3.6 FSI (220kW) 4Motion.

Technically, XDS is a functional extension of the electronic differential lock (EDS) that is integrated in the ESP system. As soon as the electronics detect that the driven front wheel on the inside of the curve unloads too much in fast driving, the ESP hydraulics builds up brake pressure specifically at this wheel to restore optimal traction. In this way, XDS acts as a transverse differential lock that compensates for understeering in fast driving through curves. XDS makes driving behaviour noticeably more precise and neutral and the car’s handling feels more like that of a vehicle with all-wheel drive instead of front-wheel drive. As a result, XDS improves driving stability and driving fun because it reduces understeer.

New standard and optional features

Rear lights, licence plate illumination and side indicators in LED technology

RCD 510 6-CD changer sound system and multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel are standard

Volkswagen CC comes standard with a number of convenience, comfort and safety features. They are 17-inch alloy wheels with self-sealing mobility tyres, front sport seats, chrome surrounds on switches and air vents, air conditioning, ‘Auto-hold’ function, hill start assistant, daytime running lights with ‘Leaving home’ and ‘Coming home’ functions, automatic bootlid opening from the interior, ESP electronic stabilisation programme, bi-xenon headlights, static cornering lights, headlight washing system, LED rear lights, LED licence plate illumination, fatigue detection system, tyre pressure monitor, RCD 510 Radio/6-CD Changer with 300W “VW Sound” system and six airbags.

Optional features on the premium class level

The following features are offered as options in the new Volkswagen CC:

·        Electric panoramic sunroof

·        Keyless entry with sensor controlled luggage compartment (standard on V6 FSI)

·        Electric sunscreen rear window

·        Towbar

·        DynAudio Sound System

·        Satellite Navigation System

·        Mobile Device Interface Media-In with iPod/IPhone adapter cable

·        Bluetooth cellphone preparation

·        Bluetooth premium package including voice control, remote sim access profile

·        High beam control light control

·        Rear Assist Rearview camera

·        Front seat with electric 12-way adjustment and lumbar support including massage function

Engines, transmissions and all-wheel drive

Two petrol and one diesel engines offer a power range from 125kW to 220kW

125kW TDI consumes just 5.5 litres of fuel per 100 km

The Volkswagen CC will be powered by innovative petrol and diesel direct-injection engines. The 125kW 2.0 TDI is equipped with BlueMotion Technology with a Stop/Start system and a battery regeneration mode (which recovers braking energy).

The two petrol engines in the new Volkswagen are 2.0 TSI with 155kW of power and a naturally aspirated 3.6 FSI V6 that develop an impressive 220kW of power.

All engines are only offered with a dual clutch gearbox (DSG) as standard.

Diesel Engine

2.0 TDI with 125kW

The common rail diesel of the Volkswagen CC outputs 125kW and has a strong 350 newton metres of torque that is available from 1,750 rpm. It is equipped with BlueMotion Technology with Stop/Start system and battery regeneration. It accelerates to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds and attains a top speed of 220 km/h. Its combined fuel consumption is just 5.5 l/100 km (144 g/km CO₂).

Petrol Engines

2.0 TSI with 155kW

The Volkswagen CC is powered by a 2.0 TSI engine with 155kW (from 5,300 rpm). It has a turbocharger and also shines with good torque and fuel consumption values. This four cylinder engine, which can deliver 280 newton metres of torque (1,700 to 5,200 rpm), consumes just7.3 litres of fuel per 100 km (equivalent to 182 g/km CO₂), yet it can propel the car to a top speed of 242 km/h. With this engine, the Volkswagen CC completes the sprint to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds.

3.6 FSI V6 with 220kW

The most powerful petrol engine for the VolkswagenCC is a 3.6-litre six-cylinder naturally aspirated engine with 220kW (at 6,600 rpm). It develops a maximum torque of 350 newton metres (2,400 to 5,300 rpm) and accelerates to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds. Its combined fuel consumption is 9.3 l/100 km (215 g/km CO₂), and its topspeed is electronically limited to 250 km/h. The Volkswagen CC V6 4MOTION is offered with permanent all-wheel drive.

6-speed DSG

All engines of the new Volkswagen CC are paired with a dual clutch gearbox (DSG).The DSG transmission is characterised by maximum economy and seamless gear shifting. DSG has the potential to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Compared to an automatic with torque-converter clutch, this advantage may amount to up to 20 per cent depending on the specific engine.

4MOTION all-wheel drive

The Volkswagen CC V6 is equipped with 4MOTION permanent all-wheel drive as standard. Normally, the front axle is driven here too; the rear axle only gets 10 per cent of propulsive power. This saves on fuel. Only when necessary, the rear axle is brought into play,step by step. This is done by an electro-hydraulic all-wheel drive clutch. An advantage of electronic control is that no speed differences are needed between the front and rear axles to activate the all-wheel drive clutch,since pressure is built up by an electric pump.

Running Gear

Volkswagen CC offers impressive long range ride comfort

XDS transverse differential lock across the range

There are very few comfortable long range vehicles that also offer a high level of sporty performance. The new Volkswagen CC is one of those vehicles that excel at combining dynamic performance with comfort. The four-link rear suspension, which is acoustically decoupled from the body by a sub-frame, the MacPherson type front suspension that is designed with aluminium components, and the electro-mechanical servo steering all help to ensure that comfort and performance come together.

The running gear technology is enhanced by the standard ESP and trailer stabilisation if the Volkswagen CC is fitted with an optional towbar. Trailer stabilisation offers functionality that goes beyond familiar ESP functions. It contributes to early detection of trailer swaying and eliminates it by specific interventions of the braking system and engine. Driving characteristics have also been enhanced by the XDS transverse differential lock that is new in the Volkswagen CC (standard for versions with 125kW and 155kW). It significantly improves traction, especially when driving through tight curves.

MacPherson front suspension

The front running gear of the VolkswagenCC is based on the MacPherson principle with lower A-arms and struts.This running gear is extremely lightweight and so it offers numerous benefits. In addition, the axle is built to be lightweight. The rigid and crash-optimised chassis sub-frame is 3.5 kg lighter compared to a conventional steel plate design. Also very light in weight are the forged aluminium transverse links (only V6). Here, the weight advantage compared to steel plate is a total of 1.5 kg.

Lightweight construction methods are especially beneficial when they are applied to unsprung masses. For this reason, the pivot bearings and transverse links are also made of aluminium. The total weight advantage here compared to steel plate is 3.2 kg. In total, the various lightweight construction methods applied to the front running gear yield a weight advantage of 13.3 kg. The result is greater comfort, dynamic performance and better fuel economy.

Four-link rear suspension

The four-link rear suspension of the Volkswagen CC is also lightweight and offers a maximum of driving comfort and driving stability. The special layout of the links enables separate tuning of longitudinal and transverse dynamics. This functional separation guarantees optimal dynamic performance and vehicle safety on the one hand, while offering very impressive ride comfort on the other.

The rear running gear consists of an isolated sub-frame, to which the upright is joined in an upward transverse direction − via the spring suspension arm, track rod and transverse link. Longitudinal links handle wheel location in the longitudinal direction.

At the rear axle, weight optimised tube stabilisers are also used. A key aspect contributing to the excellent comfort of the Volkswagen CC is the fact that the rear suspension is isolated by sub-frames. This isolation is achieved withfour rubber-metal mounts. The rubber mixture of the mounts was selected to ideally fulfil special dynamic requirements during driving. The result is an improvement in both acoustics and ride comfort, bringing the CC to the level of the premium class.

Prices (VAT and Emissions tax included)

2.0 TDI DSG (125kW)                                     R373 800

2.0 TSI DSG (155kW)                                     R395 950

3.6 V6 FSI 4Motion DSG (220kW)                  R469 405

The new Volkswagen CC comes standard with a 5 year/100 000km AutoMotion Maintenance Plan, 3 year/120 000km warranty and a 12 year anti-corrosion warranty. Service Interval is at 15 000km.