cars news 10: U.S.-Spec 2017 Volkswagen Golf AllTrack Detailed Before New York Debut

Volkswagen will debut the 2017 Golf Alltrack at the 2016 New York auto show. The lifted wagon will come standard with the automaker’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system and a ground clearance of 6.3 inches thanks to 0.8 inches of extra ride height. The Golf Alltrack is based on the Golf SportWagen and will go on sale this fall. Volkswagen originally showed the Golf Alltrack as a thinly disguised concept at the 2015 New York auto show.

“We heard from dealers and customers that they wanted to see a Golf SportWagen with the all-terrain capability that comes from an all-wheel drive system,” said Joerg Sommer, vice president of product marketing and strategy at Volkswagen of America. “We are excited to introduce the Golf Alltrack to meet the active lifestyle needs of our customers.”

Under the hood will be a 1.8-liter turbo-four shared with the Golf TSI and Golf SportWagen, producing 170 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque. Transmission choices include Volkswagen’s six-speed DSG twin-clutch automatic gearbox or a six-speed manual, which will be available at a later date. The car’s all-wheel drive system stays in front-wheel drive mode to maximize fuel economy and can send 50 percent of the drive torque to the rear wheels for better traction when it detects wheel slip.

Key design elements that distinguish the Golf Alltrack from the standard Golf SportWagen include unique bumpers, body cladding, wheel wells and side sills, and a honeycomb grille. S and SE models comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels while the range-topping SEL grades come with 18-inch alloy wheels, matte mirror caps, and silver roof rails. Inside, leatherette upholstery is standard and the Golf Alltrack also receives a unique brown leatherette option. Like the Golf SportWagen, the Golf Alltrack has 30.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the split-folding rear seats and 66.5 cubic feet behind the front seats.

Volkswagen’s new infotainment system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen comes standard along with a rearview camera and VW CAR-Net App-Connect connectivity, giving owners the ability to link their phone with car via Android Auto, CarPlay, and MirrorLink. The Golf Alltrack’s drive mode selector includes an Off-road mode, which adds hill descent control and optimizes the car’s traction control system for unpaved roads. The car’s HMI system also displays a compass and steering angle, and altitude when driving off-road. The Golf Alltrack will also be available with a full suite of active safety features including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, autonomous forward emergency braking, lane assist, and front and rear park distance control with park assist.

Source: Volkswagen