Volkswagen recorded amazing growth across the Middle East in 2013 compared to the previous year and the growth in Qatar has all along been spectacular, Volkswagen Middle East managing director Thomas Milz said yesterday.
He was speaking at the premiere of the German auto major’s flagship model Golf R at the company’s pavilion at Qatar Motor Show, which is being held at Qatar National Convention Centre.
The new compact sports car is powered by a newly designed 280hp TSI engine, which is 25hp stronger while being up to 18% more fuel-efficient than its most recent predecessor. With a six-speed clutch gearbox, the new Golf R completes the classic sprint in 5.0 seconds and can reach a top speed of 250 km/h. Like all three previous Golf R models, the new vehicle also transfers its turbocharged engine power to the road via a permanent all-wheel-drive system.
Providing even more fuel efficiency, the new Golf R includes an extensive package of customised and exclusive features, including specially designed bumpers, side sills and 18-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights with newly designed LED daytime running lights (in dual-U design), dark red LED rear lights and a two-branch exhaust system with four chrome tailpipes.
Volkswagen AG board member Christian Klingler, and WRC champion and Volkswagen brand ambassador Sebastien Ogier, were among the other dignitaries present at the demonstration of the vehicle, which is set to arrive across the region in June this year.
Expressing happiness at the models brought out by Volkswagen in recent years, Ogier explained why the company’s vehicles have always been his favourite. “The quantum of confidence that I get while behind the wheels of a Volkwagen has few parallels,” said the WRC champion.   
The growth of the company in Qatar has been even higher than that recorded across the region, said Milz, who on Wednesday evening attended the opening ceremony of the state-of-the-art showroom of the company’s Qatar distributors - Q-Auto - on Salwa Road.
While observing that Qatar has contributed considerably to the growth of the company’s performance in the Middle East, Milz said despite enormous competition in the regional market, Volkswagen sold more than 11,000 units in the Middle East. Milz also expressed hope that Volkswagen would emerge as the world’s largest auto manufacturer by 2017, going by the progress achieved in the last couple of years.
Volkswagen dealers across the region continue to invest in servicing facilities as part of the brand’s ongoing commitment to service excellence, with a total of five new showrooms expected to open in the ongoing quarter of 2014.