2015 New York: The Volkswagen Golf SportWagen Alltrack to hit US shores next year

Today, Volkswagen announced the Golf SportWagen Alltrack will be making its way to America next year as a 2017 model.

The significant difference between the Alltrack and the standard SportWagen, other than the obvious increase in ride height for greater ground clearance, is Volkswagen’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive system. It normally delivers power to the front wheels exclusively, but can redirect 50 percent the torque to the back when traction is limited.

That’s thanks to a Haldex-5 coupling and an electro-hydraulic actuated transfer case.

To make the greatest use out of the all-wheel drive conversion, the Alltrack also rides an inch higher than the standard SportWagen, and features cladding around the wheel arches and lower body – because looking tough is just as important as being tough.

Specifics for what sits under the hood remains a mystery, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see Volkswagen’s ubiquitous 1.8L or 2.0L gas engines under the hood.

For the press release, check it out below.

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VOLKSWAGEN AT THE 2015 NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW

Mar 31, 2015

  • Four Beetle Special Edition concepts introduced: Beetle Convertible Denim, Beetle R-Line, Beetle Convertible Wave, and Beetle Pink Color Edition
  • All-wheel-drive Golf SportWagen Alltrack announced for production in 2016
  • Volkswagen celebrates 60 years of Beetle heritage

New York, New York  — Volkswagen of America, Inc., today announced that it will produce the all-wheel-drive Golf SportWagen Alltrack for the U.S. market beginning in 2016, and showed four unique Beetle and Beetle Convertible models that help to commemorate Volkswagen of America’s 60th anniversary.

Golf SportWagen Alltrack                                                    

Coinciding with the arrival of the all-new Golf SportWagen, currently available in dealer showrooms, Volkswagen is pleased to announce that the all-wheel-drive Alltrack model will go on sale in 2016 as a 2017 model. “We have heard from dealers and customers that they want to see a Golf SportWagen with the all-terrain capability that comes from all-wheel drive,” said Michael Horn, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. “We are delighted to introduce the SportWagen Alltrack in 2016 in the U.S.”

Technical and visual differences between the Golf SportWagen and the Alltrack include a 4MOTION® all-wheel-drive system, nearly an inch higher ground clearance, wheelarch moldings and flared side sills that offer body protection, newly designed bumpers, and an even more upscale interior.

The 4MOTION all-wheel drive system uses the latest generation Haldex-5 coupling, activated via an electro-hydraulic oil pump. In normal driving, the Alltrack acts like a front-wheel-drive car for better fuel economy, but as soon as the system detects wheel slip, up to 50 percent of the drive torque can be shipped to the rear wheels. In addition to the Haldex coupling that acts longitudinally, electronic differential locks (EDL) at the front and rear axles act laterally in concert with the electronic stability control system. The system briefly brakes a wheel that is slipping, enabling uninterrupted and stable transfer of drive power to the wheel on the opposite side.

In combination with the higher ground clearance, this 4MOTION all-wheel drive system helps to give the newest Golf SportWagen the off-road capability and load-carrying capacity of a compact SUV along with the on-road manners and fuel economy of a compact wagon.

About Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc., an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWoA) is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. VWoA’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state -of-the- art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. VWoA sells the Beetle, Beetle Convertible, CC, Eos, e-Golf, Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan and Touareg vehicles through approximately 652 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.

– By: Adam Ismail

All photos copyright © C Squared Photography (Chris Chin) for eGMCarTech