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2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack Release Date, Price and Specs - Roadshow
In "What's taken so long, everyone?" news, Volkswagen is stepping up to take on Subaru's venerable Outback with this 2017 Golf Alltrack. Set for debut at this week's New York Auto Show, VW's new model sticks closely to this simple-but-effective formula established by the Japanese automaker:
Affordable, Utility-Rich Wagon + Ground Clearance + All-Wheel Drive + Off-Road-Look Frosting = Profits
It's amazing that in these SUV-crazy times, it's taken so long for the industry to offer a credible rival to the Outback's lifted wagon hegemony here in North America. Oh, luxury marques have riffed on the same formula -- including Volkswagen Group's own Audi A4-based Allroad -- but mainstream brands have inexplicably shied away from taking on Subaru directly. That changes with this VW.
Based heavily on the Golf SportWagen, the Alltrack rides atop the company's MQB modular architecture and is powered by VW's well-regarded 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine, tuned here for 170 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque. Haldex-based 4Motion all-wheel drive is standard, meaning up to 50 percent of available torque can be shuttled to the rear axles when slippage is detected, but under normal conditions, the Alltrack behaves like a traditional front-wheel-drive car.
In "What's taken so long, everyone?" news, Volkswagen is stepping up to take on Subaru's venerable Outback with this 2017 Golf Alltrack. Set for debut at this week's New York Auto Show, VW's new model sticks closely to this simple-but-effective formula established by the Japanese automaker:
Affordable, Utility-Rich Wagon + Ground Clearance + All-Wheel Drive + Off-Road-Look Frosting = Profits
It's amazing that in these SUV-crazy times, it's taken so long for the industry to offer a credible rival to the Outback's lifted wagon hegemony here in North America. Oh, luxury marques have riffed on the same formula -- including Volkswagen Group's own Audi A4-based Allroad -- but mainstream brands have inexplicably shied away from taking on Subaru directly. That changes with this VW.
Based heavily on the Golf SportWagen, the Alltrack rides atop the company's MQB modular architecture and is powered by VW's well-regarded 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine, tuned here for 170 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque. Haldex-based 4Motion all-wheel drive is standard, meaning up to 50 percent of available torque can be shuttled to the rear axles when slippage is detected, but under normal conditions, the Alltrack behaves like a traditional front-wheel-drive car.