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Volkswagen’s latest version of the CC four-door coupe, just launched in South Africa, enters the SA market armed with a whole raft of European accolades to its credit.
In three years the CC’s unique styling has impressed experts by winning the IF Product Design Award (IFIndustrie Forum Hannover) and the ‘red dot Design Award’ (Design Centre of Nordrhein Westphalia), while in Australia it's been credited with an Australian International Design Award.
View VW CC image gallery.
With VW hoping to corner sales of 30 to 50 of the luxury coupes a month in SA, the good-looking CC is unashamedly the company’s new flagship while perceiving BMW’s new 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Volvo S60 and the Lexus iS250 as its main competitors.
KEEPING HIGH COMPANY
There are three model variants of the CC available for our market on offer right now – two petrol derivatives (a two-litre TSi (155kW) and a 3.6 V6 4Motion DSG (220kW) and a 125Kw turbodiesel, a two-litre TDi with Bluemotion Technology and DSG. Prices certainly seem competitive and range from R373 800 thrrough R395 950 to R469 405.
Hein Schafer, product manager for VWSA, reckons: “The CC’s redesign – which incidentally stands for Comfort Coupe – can be seen from the back to the front of the vehicle and represents a precise and ideal styling and now falls in line with VW’s instantly recognisable design DNA, such as the chromed radiator grille with its three cross-fins.
"Also to be found are a new front bumper and bi-xenon headlights.”
Right across this revised range, which I drove up in Gauteng, the CC certainly lived up to expectations as a luxury coupe. Perfectly suited to carrying four adults and kiddies when needed, largely due to the ease of ingress, I did feel that a large percentage of potential buyers may well turn out to be the hoped-for business executive types – and I’m sure VW would be perfectly happy with that arrangement!
GOTTA LOVE DSG
Slightly surprised, I discovered that there is but a single gearbox across the range: the dual-clutch gearbox (DSG). Love it or hate it, this box certainly offers maximum economy coupled with seamless gear shifting. While it has the potential to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, it’s interesting to note, compared to an auto with torque-converter clutch, VW claims a fuel-saving potential of anything up to 20% – depending on your choice of engine.
This brings me around nicely to shed more light on the engines in the CC range.
As mentioned earlier there are two petrol options, one of which uses a 2.0 TSI engine capable of an impressive 155kW (from 5300rpm). Turbocharged, it offers good torque and fuel consumption outputs. This four-cylinder unit, which can deliver 280Nm of torque (1700-5200rpm), and according to VW consumes only 7.3 litres of fuel per 100 km – that’s equivalent to 182g/km CO2 – yet it can propel the car to a top speed of 242km/h.
Expect a traffic light grand prix sprint time of 100km/h in 7.3 seconds… down at the coast, anyway.
Arguably the flagship CC with its more powerful petrol engine is a 3.6-litre six-cylinder non-turbo engine that offers 220kW (at 6600rpm). It develops maximum torque of 350Nm (2400 to 5300rpm) and accelerates to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds. Its combined fuel consumption is 9.3 litres/100 km (215g/km CO2), and its top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h. This model has 4Motion – permanent all-wheel drive, incidentally.
CHOOSE A WINNER
For me, the two-litre turbodiesel is the one to go for if you're considering a vehicle of this type (VW also reckons it's most likely to be the volume seller), with its common-rail diesel mill that pushes out 125kW and has a strong 350Nm of torque available from 1750rpm.
It's equipped with Bluemotion Technology with stop/start technology, but this particular CC is certainly no slouch and can accelerate to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds, while a top speed of 220 km/h is possible. VW claims fuel consumption figures of just 5.5 litres/100 km (144 g/km CO2). The on-board computer carefully scrutinised while driving the car that day certainly came very close to those suggested factory figures.
Luxury features are certainly plentiful – as one would expect on a car of this calibre - and include: a six-CD changer (300W “VW Sound” audio system), a multifunction, leather-wrapped steering-wheel, 17" alloy rims with self-sealing mobility tyres, front sport seats, aircon, auto-hold function, hill-start assistant, daytime running lights with ‘leaving home’ and ‘coming home’ functions, ESP electronic stabilisation programme, bi-xenon headlights, cornering lights, headlight washers, diode tail lights, fatigue detection system, tyre-pressure monitor and six airbags.
An interesting feature makes its debut in South Africa on this CC, too. The boot lid can be opened automatically – assuming you have the keyfob in your pocket, that is. Armed with loads of shopping while approaching the vehicle, you simply wave your foot under the car in the boot area and hey presto it opens. Try not to fall over while doing this.
LOADS OF LUXURY
Cool, but THIS is even cooler: if you accidentally leave the key fob on the boot floor and slam the lid, before you have time to say "Oh s...!" the lid will pop up again, recognising that you’d rather want it put in the ignition switch.
Naturally, and VW hopes you also consider from the extensive options list of factory-fitted extras, such as an powered sun roof, towball, satnav, Bluetooth, rearview camera or perhaps the 12-way adjustable front seats for your delectation.
The ride is superb – perhaps a little on the firm side for some – but generally a perfect contrast that should suit most people. Blind spots are non-existent – not easy to achieve in a coupe – while the plethora of switches and levers found in the CC are all easy to understand. In short the CC is a great place to be …
PRICES
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 five-year or 100 000km AutoMotion maintenance plan, three-year or 120 000km warranty and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. Servicing at 15 00km intervals.
In three years the CC’s unique styling has impressed experts by winning the IF Product Design Award (IFIndustrie Forum Hannover) and the ‘red dot Design Award’ (Design Centre of Nordrhein Westphalia), while in Australia it's been credited with an Australian International Design Award.
View VW CC image gallery.
With VW hoping to corner sales of 30 to 50 of the luxury coupes a month in SA, the good-looking CC is unashamedly the company’s new flagship while perceiving BMW’s new 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Volvo S60 and the Lexus iS250 as its main competitors.
KEEPING HIGH COMPANY
There are three model variants of the CC available for our market on offer right now – two petrol derivatives (a two-litre TSi (155kW) and a 3.6 V6 4Motion DSG (220kW) and a 125Kw turbodiesel, a two-litre TDi with Bluemotion Technology and DSG. Prices certainly seem competitive and range from R373 800 thrrough R395 950 to R469 405.
Hein Schafer, product manager for VWSA, reckons: “The CC’s redesign – which incidentally stands for Comfort Coupe – can be seen from the back to the front of the vehicle and represents a precise and ideal styling and now falls in line with VW’s instantly recognisable design DNA, such as the chromed radiator grille with its three cross-fins.
"Also to be found are a new front bumper and bi-xenon headlights.”
Right across this revised range, which I drove up in Gauteng, the CC certainly lived up to expectations as a luxury coupe. Perfectly suited to carrying four adults and kiddies when needed, largely due to the ease of ingress, I did feel that a large percentage of potential buyers may well turn out to be the hoped-for business executive types – and I’m sure VW would be perfectly happy with that arrangement!
GOTTA LOVE DSG
Slightly surprised, I discovered that there is but a single gearbox across the range: the dual-clutch gearbox (DSG). Love it or hate it, this box certainly offers maximum economy coupled with seamless gear shifting. While it has the potential to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, it’s interesting to note, compared to an auto with torque-converter clutch, VW claims a fuel-saving potential of anything up to 20% – depending on your choice of engine.
This brings me around nicely to shed more light on the engines in the CC range.
As mentioned earlier there are two petrol options, one of which uses a 2.0 TSI engine capable of an impressive 155kW (from 5300rpm). Turbocharged, it offers good torque and fuel consumption outputs. This four-cylinder unit, which can deliver 280Nm of torque (1700-5200rpm), and according to VW consumes only 7.3 litres of fuel per 100 km – that’s equivalent to 182g/km CO2 – yet it can propel the car to a top speed of 242km/h.
Expect a traffic light grand prix sprint time of 100km/h in 7.3 seconds… down at the coast, anyway.
Arguably the flagship CC with its more powerful petrol engine is a 3.6-litre six-cylinder non-turbo engine that offers 220kW (at 6600rpm). It develops maximum torque of 350Nm (2400 to 5300rpm) and accelerates to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds. Its combined fuel consumption is 9.3 litres/100 km (215g/km CO2), and its top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h. This model has 4Motion – permanent all-wheel drive, incidentally.
CHOOSE A WINNER
For me, the two-litre turbodiesel is the one to go for if you're considering a vehicle of this type (VW also reckons it's most likely to be the volume seller), with its common-rail diesel mill that pushes out 125kW and has a strong 350Nm of torque available from 1750rpm.
It's equipped with Bluemotion Technology with stop/start technology, but this particular CC is certainly no slouch and can accelerate to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds, while a top speed of 220 km/h is possible. VW claims fuel consumption figures of just 5.5 litres/100 km (144 g/km CO2). The on-board computer carefully scrutinised while driving the car that day certainly came very close to those suggested factory figures.
Luxury features are certainly plentiful – as one would expect on a car of this calibre - and include: a six-CD changer (300W “VW Sound” audio system), a multifunction, leather-wrapped steering-wheel, 17" alloy rims with self-sealing mobility tyres, front sport seats, aircon, auto-hold function, hill-start assistant, daytime running lights with ‘leaving home’ and ‘coming home’ functions, ESP electronic stabilisation programme, bi-xenon headlights, cornering lights, headlight washers, diode tail lights, fatigue detection system, tyre-pressure monitor and six airbags.
An interesting feature makes its debut in South Africa on this CC, too. The boot lid can be opened automatically – assuming you have the keyfob in your pocket, that is. Armed with loads of shopping while approaching the vehicle, you simply wave your foot under the car in the boot area and hey presto it opens. Try not to fall over while doing this.
LOADS OF LUXURY
Cool, but THIS is even cooler: if you accidentally leave the key fob on the boot floor and slam the lid, before you have time to say "Oh s...!" the lid will pop up again, recognising that you’d rather want it put in the ignition switch.
Naturally, and VW hopes you also consider from the extensive options list of factory-fitted extras, such as an powered sun roof, towball, satnav, Bluetooth, rearview camera or perhaps the 12-way adjustable front seats for your delectation.
The ride is superb – perhaps a little on the firm side for some – but generally a perfect contrast that should suit most people. Blind spots are non-existent – not easy to achieve in a coupe – while the plethora of switches and levers found in the CC are all easy to understand. In short the CC is a great place to be …
PRICES
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 five-year or 100 000km AutoMotion maintenance plan, three-year or 120 000km warranty and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. Servicing at 15 00km intervals.
