Pulman Volkswagen Blog

Volkswagen News from the Geneva Motorshow

2010-03-03T12:16:00.003Z

With the Geneva Motorshow in full swing at present, Volkswagen is keen to push the latest additions and updates to the range.

Click read more below to find out what models were on display at Geneva!

The New Sharan

Updated with new looks, a new high quality interior, and rear sliding doors for extra accessibility.

The New Amarok

Tested to the limit by supporting the Dakar Rally, soon to be available as part of Volkswagen Commerical Vehicles.

The New CrossPolo (Polo Dune in the UK)

The rugged Polo makes a comeback with a new style.

The New Golf Plus Cross

The Polo's bigger brother, rugged look with extra features.

The New Touareg

The class leading 4x4 updated with a new look, new features, more refinement and more efficient engines. Look out for the hybrid version coming soon!

All these new models will soon be parking up in the Pulman Volkswagen showroom.

Polo GTI Unvealed ahead of Geneva Motorshow

2010-02-17T14:52:00.003Z

Photos have been released of the new Polo GTI ahead of the Geneva motor show. The new Polo GTI will be launched in August at Pulman Volkswagen, but you can get your order in soon for this latest hot hatch!

Click the "read more" link below to see more photos of the new Polo GTI!

The New Polo

Government Extends Scrappage Scheme

2010-02-04T10:10:00.002Z

The UK's scrappage scheme will be extended until the end of March, the government has confirmed.

The government had previously set aside £400 million towards the scheme and it was due to run when all the money had been spent or at the end of February, whichever came first.

However not all the scrappage money will be spent by the end of February. In order to stop it remaining unspent, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has moved the deadline by 30 days, to the end of March 2010.

Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, said: “Against the background of the economic downturn the scrappage scheme has proved a great success, driving UK car sales, protecting jobs and supporting the supply chain for car manufacture at a time when this sector needed it most.

“If you’re considering buying a new car, you should place your order as soon as possible to avoid disappointment, because the budget is strictly limited.”

Golf tops NCAP Safety League

2010-02-03T13:21:00.005Z

The new Golf has topped the Euro NCAP safety tests, nudging two hybrids – Honda’s Insight and Toyota’s Prius – into second and third places.

Euro NCAP tested 33 models in 2009. The new Golf was awarded five stars overall and achieved the highest rating to date for adult occupant protection by scoring a near-perfect 97 per cent.

To achieve the overall rating, each car is put through four crash tests and a component test. It is then assessed by an inspector who considers test results and the safety equipment and features of the car.

Top seven cars tested by Euro NCAP

1. Volkswagen Golf
2. Honda Insight
3. Toyota Prius
4. Hyundai i20
5. Toyota Avensis
5. Volvo XC60
5. Opel/Vauxhall Astra

Visit our website for more information and special offers on the the new Volkswagen Golf.

Volkswagen Touareg wins the Dakar Rally

2010-01-18T11:22:00.003Z

Picture: Getty images

Carlos Sainz has won the 2010 Dakar Rally, driving a heavily modified Volkswagen Touareg. The victory was made all the more by a full winners podium made up of the Touareg teams.

Sainz finished just 2 minutes 12 seconds ahead of 2nd placed Nasser Al-Attiyah after 14 stages of the Dakar rally.

Volkswagen also showcased the new Amarok pickup truck as support vehicles.

The Dakar rally is an endurance test over 17 days and 5500 miles. The event is split into different catergories for cars, trucks, motorbikes and quad bikes.

The route is a loop, beginning and ending in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The course also takes in a large part of Chile, including the brutal Atacama desert.

The 2010 Car of the Year is...

2010-01-15T16:51:00.002Z

The 2010 Car of the Year has been revealed.

The winner is...

The new Volkswagen Polo is Car of the Year 2010

The award comes from a collection of car magazines around the world, including the UK based Autocar. The new Polo beat off stiff competition from the likes of the Ford Fiesta.

Learn more about the New Volkswagen Polo

Snow Day at Pulman

2010-01-06T11:38:00.002Z

Pulman is still open for business, regardless of the snow! Check out our wintery photos below from our Durham site and drop in for a nice hot drink if you're passing by.

Pulman kicks off Partnership

2009-12-17T14:50:00.002Z

Pulman Volkswagen and Newcastle United FC are proud to announce a 3-year partnership. The deal will see Pulman become the clubs exclusive car supplier.

Pulman, with sites across the region, has supplied the club with 10 new Volkswagens including the sleek Passat CC, the sporty Passat R-Line and the class leading Golf.

Paul Adams, Fleet Sales Manager at Pulman Volkswagen said, "We are really excited about the fantastic opportunities the partnership with Newcastle United will bring. We are confident the partnership will deliver great results for both parties, in what we hope will be a really successful season for the club."

Barry Webber Commercial Director at Newcastle United said "We are delighted to have Pulman Volkswagen join our exclusive family of commercial partners with immediate effect and are looking forward to developing a comprehensive marketing programme. The relationship with Pulman Volkswagen offers the Club the very latest cars and an alliance with one of the most respected names in the region in terms of customer service and value for money. Pulman Volkswagen fits perfectly alongside the likes of Adidas, Northern Rock, Coors, Thomas Cook, Collingwood Insurance, MBNA, Seat Exchange and MDS Group Telecom."

The partnership will officially launch at the local derby with Middlesbrough on Sunday 20th December 2009 at St James' Park.

Autocar drive the new Scirocco R

2009-11-04T12:00:00.002Z

Autocar have had first hand experience of the new Scirocco R, check out their review on the official website by clicking the link below.

Autocar Drive the New Scirocco R

VWR Performance Upgrades from Pulman

2009-10-21T11:21:00.003+01:00

Get the most from your Golf GTI or Scirocco GT with a Volkswagen Racing Performance Upgrade package, fitted professionally by Pulman Volkswagen.

Including ECU upgrade, air filter, performance exhaust system and sports springs, the VWR Upgrade Package brings horsepower to 250bhp.

For more information, see our mini site and contact us for details

VWR Performance Upgrades

Coming soon to a cinema near you...

2009-10-06T11:22:00.002+01:00

There are some films that you never want to end or when they do, you just can't wait to see them again. Films that are timeless, just like our new Polo.

Bridget Jones and Love Actually have all the top stars to keep us entertained for years to come, the new Polo has a range of top quality in-car entertainment systems available. Grease and Mamma Mia have a look and feel that won't go out of fashion, the new Polo has style designed in the same fashion as the iconic Golf. Top Gun set the standard for action movies of it's time, the new Polo is setting new standards with more room inside, speed-sensitive power-assisted steering and an electronic stabilisation programme that makes it a pleasure to drive over and over again.

Wouldn't it be great if you could see those films you loved so much the first time round, on the big screen once again for free? We think so, which is why we'd like to invite you and a friend to our Polo's Timeless Film Festival on the 29th October 2009. We have two venues for the events, in Durham the Gala Theatre and in Sunderland Cineworld at Boldon.

All you need to do is vote for the film you would like to see again at www.polofilmfestival.co.uk to receive free tickets for you and a friend. On the night, you'll receive a goody bag AND you'll also get the chance to win a trip to New York to relive some of your favourite movie moments.

Pulman at the Durham Dubs show

2009-09-14T13:41:00.002+01:00

We were flying the Pulman flags at Witton Castle for the annual Durham Dubs show, organised by the club devoted to modified and classic Volkswagens.

Check out some of our photos from the event below, and check out our Pulman Facebook page for the full gallery!

The New Polo is available to order!

2009-08-07T10:44:00.002+01:00

We're proud to announce that the new Volkswagen Polo is available to order at Pulman Durham and Sunderland.

Visit our website for more information on this great new model - The New VW Polo

Pulman Charity Golf Day an annual success

2009-07-08T09:36:00.002+01:00

Pulman recently hosted the hugely successful annual charity golf day at its usual location, Chester le Street Golf Club.

The golf day is a fantastic event that brings together local businesses and raises a great deal of funds for local charities, namely the NSPCC and the Freeman Hospital.

With great prizes on offer and donations from sponsors such as Adidas, the competitors enjoyed every minute and with the completion of the charity auction, the whole event raised £10,000 for the charities above.

The golf day also benefitted from celebrity endorsement with auction items donated by Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen of the England Cricket Team.

Pulman would like to thank all the sponsors of the golf day and hope to raise even more funds for charity next year.

To learn more about the golf day, please visit the Pulman Charity Golf Day website.

To learn more about Pulman please visit the Pulman Volkswagen website.

Volkswagen unveils 265PS Scirocco R

2009-05-20T15:51:00.006+01:00

Volkswagen unveils their long awaited Scirocco R model, taking the fight to the Ford Focus RS. Click "read more" to get the full low down on this new model.

As the Volkswagen squad prepares to take to the grid this Saturday for the Nürburgring 24hrs, a new road car model will hit the track to give spectators the first glimpse of the new Scirocco R.

Designed, engineered and developed by Volkswagen Individual, the new car is not only the most powerful and fastest accelerating Scirocco ever produced but also the most focussed R model yet. At its heart is a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder EA113 engine (as opposed to the EA888 fitted to the conventional Scirocco) in heavily revised form. The block has been reinforced with an entirely new alloy head, uprated pistons, conrods and high pressure injectors. An uprated turbocharger generating 1.2 bar of boost is joined by a new intercooler to cope with the extra heat generated. The result is 265 PS and 258 lbs ft of torque – a rise of 65 PS and 51 lbs ft over the Scirocco’s current 2.0-litre TSI engine.

Drive is channelled through the front wheels via a six-speed manual or DSG gearbox. Ensuring greater grip in all conditions, especially on tight corners, is XDS (first seen on the new Golf GTI) an electronic cross-axle traction control system. As with the rest of the Scirocco range, the Scirocco R is fitted with Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC). This allows the driver to select from normal, comfort or sport modes to define the desired suspension, steering and accelerator response settings for the conditions and journey. The braking system has also been uprated with larger discs and callipers, the latter finished in gloss black.

The mechanical changes to the Scirocco R are joined by a purposeful new look. The new front bumper, featuring a set of LED running lights, is dominated by a trio of deep airdams while the Xenon lights, fitted as standard, frame a new gloss black grille element set into which is a single ‘R’ badge. Further back, the mirrors are capped in gloss black while the rubbing strips which run down either side of the standard Scirocco have been removed to be replaced by a set of body-coloured side skirts.

The rear of the Scirocco R features smoked rear light lenses and a new, rear spoiler along with a prominent diffuser finished in gloss black mounted between a pair of new oval tailpipes. The Scirocco badge and engine designation are both deleted in favour of the Volkswagen badge and a single ‘R’ logo. Completing the changes are a set of 18-inch five-spoke wheels with 19-inch versions available as an option.

The uprated look continues inside the Scirocco R. The main contact points are new sports seats complete with ‘R’ logos are joined by a gloss black finish on the centre console, vents and door cards replacing the silver highlights found on the standard car. A new three-spoke, flat-bottomed steering wheel finished in black leather with contrasting white stitching sits in front of new white backlit dials complete with blue needles unique to the ‘R’ models. As standard the Scirocco R will be fitted with a touchscreen CD stereo, 2Zone climate control, six airbags and Electronic Stabilisation Programme.

Pulman Supporting the Bridle Path Charity Golf Day

2009-05-11T14:11:00.002+01:00

A charity golf day successfully raised over £4,000 for an Action for Children VIP Christmas party which will see local youngsters enjoy a festive day to remember.

Pulman Volkswagen supported the event which saw forty teams of golfers tee off last week at Whickham Golf Club.

The Volkswagen retailer offered a range of raffle prizes such as a car for the hole in one competition to help encourage donations.

The charitable group, the Sir John Elliot Lodge, Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB) has supported Action of Children for the past 22 years by raising money for the Newcastle family project Children’s Christmas Fund. It continually calls upon local businesses to help supports its fund raising events.

Over 50 children from the Newcastle family project of Action for Children will benefit from the money raised.

The youngsters will enjoy a VIP day at a pantomime followed by an exclusive party at the Bridle Path public house in Whickham. Each child will receive a Christmas present from Santa and Birdle Path Christmas fairy.

The charity cheque was presented to the Birdle Path Christmas fairy, also known as Adelle Munro, by the Pulman Volkswagen team.

Thanking everyone Adelle said: “We are very grateful to everyone and delighted to accept the cheque on behalf of the Sir John Elliot Lodge charity group.

“The money raised will enable us to continue the Children’s Christmas party events into 2010. We very much appreciate the kind donations and support of all the golfers and local businesses who have helped to make this possible.”

The children’s Christmas parties have been taking place for the past 21 years and rely entirely on donations raised by the Sir John Elliot Lodge (RAOB) group which has been supporting Action for Children since 1987.

Mike Pulman of Pulman Volkswagen added: “We are very happy to support such a worthwhile charity group; they should be commended for their continual fund raising events. Unfortunately none hit a hole in one but there is always next time.”

Pictured are Michael Lines and Simon Sumner presenting a sponsorship cheque to Adelle Munro.

The new Government Scheme

2009-04-22T13:41:00.003+01:00

What does the new Scrappage scheme mean for you?

You save £2000 when you trade in a car over 10-years old.
Pulman will dispose of your old car in an environmentally friendly way.
An improvement in road safety, with new cars including many new safety features as standard.
Lower road tax costs with new cars having lower CO2 emissions.
Reduce your fuel costs. New cars are more efficient and have a much higher MPG (miles per gallon) than older vehicles.
Peace of mind thanks to a full warranty on all new cars.
A fantastic service from Pulman throughout the ownership of your new Volkswagen.

So how does the scheme work?

Older vehicles are seen as inefficient and costly to keep running. New vehicles benefit from advanced technology which makes them easier to service and run, and also much more friendly to the environment. New vehicles can also help with your fuel costs as they have a much more reliable and higher figure of MPG.

The scheme will start in May 2009 and will run until March 2010 or earlier if the government deem this so.

To qualify for the scheme:

Car owners must have owned their car for at least 1 year
Proof of ownership is required.
The car must have been taxed by the owner over 12 months ago.
Pulman must ensure cars are collected for recycling within 24 hours.
Vehicles must be scrapped in an environmentally friendly manner.

Durham: 0191 383 7525

Sunderland: 0191 548 0235

Manufacturing Happy Students

2009-03-27T11:05:00.002Z

Pulman Skoda welcomed sixth form students from St.John’s School, Bishop Auckland to its state of the art premises on Thursday 26th March.

As part of their BTEC business studies course, the pupils have been researching Skoda and the marketing behind the brand. Sharon Clarke from the school approached Pulman Skoda to talk about their experiences in marketing the brand and the recent successful launch of Pulman Skoda.

Chris Slater Communications Manager said “We were delighted to assist the students, having been a marketing student myself I was delighted to be given the opportunity present our experiences with the Skoda brand”. Andrew Jenkins, Pulman’s in house website designer, was on hand to present the importance of the online marketing the company undertakes.

Sharon said “Its fantastic to be able to bring the students into a retail environment and see the marketing in action, the students took a great deal from the presentation which will now help them complete their assignments.”

Pulman Skoda based on Abbey Road, Durham became an authorised Skoda repairer on 1st February this year.
For more information visit www.pulmanskoda.co.uk or call our Skoda priority line on 0191 383 7500.

Hard work paves the way to a special award

2009-03-26T12:01:00.003Z

Pulman Volkswagen’s Keith Ramshaw has received a prestigious award for the second year running after achieving record levels of customer satisfaction.

The sales manager, along with his team of eight sales people, achieved the accolade following continued positive feedback from customers.

Throughout 2008, Keith, who led by example, consistently ensured his team provided a personal, friendly and knowledgeable service for customers.

An accumulation of mystery shopper scores, customer satisfaction reports and assements helped secure the award.

Keith said: “I’m thrilled to have been given this award, but couldn’t have done it without the hard work from all members of the sales team. “Our team’s ethic is to make sure every customer is given the correct information to enable them to make an informed purchase while achieving our company goal of delivering a fantastic customer experience.”

Keith, who lives in Durham, has worked for Pulman for the past 10 years. Promoted to the role of sales manager in 2007, his commitment and determination has resulted in him winning the award for two consecutive years.

Michael Lines, brand manager at Pulman, said: “Keith thoroughly deserves this acknowledgment as he continually strives to deliver total customer satisfaction. His team’s positive attitude has inspired everyone at Pulman.”

The Pulman team is now working towards making it a hat trick and winning the 2009 regional title.

Pulman Volkswagen reporting from the Geneva Motorshow

2009-03-10T16:26:00.003Z

Our very own Michael Lines was on hand to report back with photos from the Geneva motorshow, and especially from the huge Volkswagen stand showing off some of the latest models!

The start of the show appeared to be the new Polo, unveiled for the first time. Using styling cues directly from the new Golf, the new Polo gives a much higher feeling of quality and with the new technology crammed into the latest BlueMotion variant, returns just 87 g/km of CO2!

Also displayed was the fantastic new Golf GTI coming soon to our showroom.

The new Golf Plus also made an appearence, again taking inspiration from the new Golf design.

Check out our exclusive photos from the event and stay tuned to our blog and our website for more information on the latest arrivals to the Volkswagen range.

Click the "read more" link below to see our photos.

Pulman Volkswagen

New Golf BlueMotion unveiled at Geneva Motorshow - 99g/km CO2

2009-03-06T13:21:00.001Z

The BlueMotion version of the new Golf boasts significantly better fuel consumption and emissions figures than its predecessor, despite matching its performance. The new car, which made its debut in Geneva, is the first Golf BlueMotion to feature Stop-Start technology.

The automatic Stop-Start system operates through the clutch pedal. When coming to a halt at traffic lights, for example, the driver depresses the clutch and selects neutral. When the clutch is released the engine shuts down and a ‘Stop-Start’ symbol illuminates on the multifunction display. To move away the driver simply depresses the clutch again to select first gear and the engine automatically restarts. The system can be deactivated.

Regenerative braking is another feature of the Golf BlueMotion. It helps to use energy that would otherwise be lost during braking. In deceleration and braking phases, the alternator’s voltage is boosted and used for bulk recharging of the car’s battery. Thanks to alternator control, it is possible to lower alternator voltage, for example during acceleration or driving at a constant speed. It is even possible to switch off the alternator entirely which reduces engine load and improves fuel consumption.

All Golf BlueMotion models have a standard Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and comply with Euro V emissions legislation. Other aspects of the BlueMotion package include longer gear ratios (for third, fourth and fifth), very low rolling resistance tyres and aerodynamic refinements.

Pulman Sponsored Picarsso CycloCross Team Ranks 4th

2009-01-27T08:46:00.002Z

Pulman Volkswagen is proud to sponsor the Picarsso Racing Team in the British Cyclo-Cross championship. Out of a field of 261 participants, the Picarsso/Pulman Race Team, headed up by Stuart Wearmouth, achieved a ranking of 4th overall for the 2008-2009 season.

Cyclo-Cross is a demanding off-road cycling event using modified road racing bikes, and takes place in the autumn and winter months. The tracks are usually around a mile in length and the competitors have to complete several laps, sometimes having to dismount their bikes to clear man-made obstacles.

The racing is very exciting with around 100 riders competing in most events.

We wish Stuart and the Picarsso/Pulman Race Team all the best for the next season.

For more information see the British Cyclo-Cross website and check out our website for a few more photos of the team in action - Pulman/Picarsso Race Team

Volkswagen win the Dakar Rally 2009

2009-01-26T13:19:00.007Z

Volkswagen have made history by achieving first and second place in the Dakar Rally. The first time the rally has been held outside of France & Africa.

Utilising a specially prepared Touareg with at 280ps engine, the teams beat a whole host of other manufacturers to the trophy.

Click the read more link below for the full article.

History was made on several levels when the Volkswagen Factory Driving team won the 2009 Dakar Rally. It was the first time that a diesel-powered vehicle had won the Dakar, the first time VW itself had won the famous endurance race, the very first time the team posted a one-two finish and the first time ever that the Dakar Rally was not held in Europe and Africa. A lot of firsts indeed, but that's not all.
VW drivers Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz are South African and German respectively. Their teammates Mark Miller and Ralph Pitchford are American and South African respectively, making it the first one-two finish for South Africa as well. Miller became the highest finishing American to ever test the Dakar.

"It was just an incredible result for the Volkswagen team this year, with Giniel and Dirk taking the historic first diesel-powered win," said Clark Campbell, Volkswagen of America Motorsport Manager. "All of us here at Volkswagen of America are also especially proud of Mark and Ralph's tremendous finish this year as well."

Team Volkswagen made use of a special Race Touareg 2 TDI which is powered by a five-cylinder diesel turbo motor. It produces 280hp (206kW) and about approximately 440 lbs.ft. of torque. US consumers will get to test their own suburban rallying skills when the standard six-cylinder Touareg TDI appears at US dealers this spring.

Because of geopolitical reasons and a terror threat it was decided last year to move the rally to South America where competitors experienced temperatures ranging from 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celcius) to below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celcius). The race started from the city of Buenos Aires in Argentina, went across to Chile and ended back in Argentina. Teams were subjected to varied terrain that encompassed hard stony ground, very high sand dunes, extreme passages through water and scaling the Andes Mountains.

Pulman Volkswagen - Durham & Sunderland

Volkswagen Unveil BlueSport Concept

2009-01-12T10:42:00.006Z

Volkswagen have officially unveiled their new BlueSport Concept roadster at the Detroit Motor Show. The new concept uses a variety of BlueMotion technologies to improve fuel economy and lower emissions drastically.

Whilst not confirmed for production, the new BlueSport appears very close to a final production model and so could be in our showroom within 3 years.

Read the full Autocar article by clicking the "read more" link below.

Volkswagen has unveiled this mid-engined two-seat roadster concept at this week’s Detroit show. It’s the latest step in the firm’s long-running flirtation with a Lotus Elise rival.
Powered by a transversely mounted 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine, the VW Concept BlueSport is a sports car designed with current emissions and budget-sensitive times firmly in mind.
With a kerb weight of less than 1200kg, the roadster has been conceived to appeal to keen drivers. It’s capable of cracking 62mph from rest in 6.6sec and hitting 140mph flat out.
And yet, thanks to its advanced diesel powertrain and modest weight, the car should also be capable of around 50mpg on the combined cycle and better than 60mpg while touring.
Exhaust emissions should be modest and clean too, with VW’s Blue TDI technology bringing CO2 emissions down to just 113g/km. It should keep NOx and particulates emissions low too.
At just under four metres in length, the VW BlueSport Roadster is a little longer than Lotus’s Elise, but within centimetres of the British roadster’s width and height. Its diesel engine provides 178bhp and 258lb ft of torque.
The VW BlueSport Roadster is fitted with a six-speed DSG gearbox and both auto stop-start and brake energy regeneration, which will also be fitted to the BlueMotion version of the latest Golf. Lightweight construction and aluminium panels contribute to the BlueSport’s low kerb weight.
As is still the norm for roadsters at the affordable end of the market, the BlueSport has a manually operated cloth roof that stows behind the seats.
VW claims that, with 112 litres of storage space in its nose and another 70 in the rear, the car can swallow a weekend’s worth of luggage. Boosting its touring credentials is a 50-litre fuel tank, which gives the car a range of more than 700 miles.
The BlueSport is VW’s third roadster concept since 2003 (see panel, right). Insiders suggest that the car has “a very strong chance” of appearing in VW showrooms within three years, as it is a more mainstream proposal than its predecessors.
“The feeling within the company towards this car is very good,” one source said, “and the platform and materials are production-feasible too.”
Expect VW’s Elise rival to have a price tag of less than £25,000, powered by a choice of 2.0 TDI diesel or 1.4-litre TSI petrol power. And don’t be surprised if other VW Group brands spin off their own versions.

The new Volkswagen BlueSport with Pulman Volkswagen

Save on list price with Pulman

2008-12-17T17:19:00.003Z

Save on list price with Pulman Volkswagen with some fantastic credit crunch busting special offers!

View our website for more information on these great deals where you can save up to £3,320 on list price!

Low Prices on New Volkswagen

www.pulmanvolkswagen.co.uk