Dr Ulrich Hackenberg Q+A

What can you tell us about the new VW Golf, due later this year?

It’s on an all-new platform, but you will see it first on the Audi A3 before the new Golf. The proportions will be different because the platform is a different shape, so the wheelbase is longer and wider, and the roof is lower as well. It will be an evolutionary design, as always with the Golf, but you will see a significant step between the current car and the new one. The interior will look sportier with better quality materials, and there will be some surprises too.

Do you have plans to sell the up! in emerging markets such as India, or is it too expensive?

If we localise production of the up! then it won’t be too expensive, but we need to change the car a bit. It will have to be a five-seater, have a bigger fuel tank and have better ground clearance to deal with the poor roads. We have a factory in Pune, India, that currently builds the Polo and Vento with a capacity of 125,000. We need to invest and expand that significantly.

What’s the latest news on the BlueSport Roadster project?

This is still not an official project, but we are working on it and I am fighting for it. I think it’s precisely the model we need to give the brand a sportier and more premium image. The problem is that I want it, the media want it, but there aren’t enough customers out there. With all the recent investment, it’s a project that’s been pushed down the pile. We would need to sell 50,000 to 60,000 units a year to make it viable and the problem is that the small roadster market is relatively small. We need a partner like Porsche on the project, but in reality Porsche’s pricing structure is wildly different from ours.

If it was to make production would the engine be in the front to save money?

Actually, the concept was mid-engined and that was a development of the MQB platform from the Golf. So a mid-engined model is possible from that platform. I think it would need to use this layout to have the emotional connection with customers.

The VW Jetta Hybrid has worse economy than the Jetta TDI – when can we expect the next-generation of plug-in hybrids?

The Jetta Hybrid has worse overall fuel economy than the diesel, but it’s more economical around town, where you can use the electric only power. The next step is of course, plug-in hybrids which we will sell globally, even in emerging markets. You will get a better idea of what we have in mind for plug-ins very soon.

What about full electric vehicles?

We have the E-up! and the electric Golf coming next year. The electric Golf is important because the technology can be slotted into any model on the same platform – so an electric A3, Octavia or Leon would be simple. The problem at the moment is the limited range, so it’s difficult to convince customers to make the sacrifice.

What is the purpose of the E-Bugster concept?

With this car we are preparing customers for the new Beetle Cabriolet. The sporty looks and electric powertrain are to make it eye-catching and exciting. It’s a trailer for the future of the Beetle.

So can we expect an electric Beetle in the near future?

The Beetle is on the same platform as the Passat and the Jetta, not the Golf’s MQB platform, which is why we had to put the batteries in the back seats and not under the floor. So there are no plans for an electric Beetle at the moment. The Beetle R, on the other hand, is under serious development. You’ll see this soon.

What other versions of the up! will go on sale?

I’m currently driving around in the up! GT. This is the sporty model with a three-cylinder turbo engine producing around 110bhp. It’s very quick and handy. You’ll see this soon. There’s also the five-door version later this year, the cross-up! in 2013 and the CNG up! with emissions of 79g/km.

What about engines? Will the downsizing trend continue?

The three-cylinder engine in the up! is a nice engine. This could be lifted up to larger cars. In fact the reason I chose a front-engine layout for the up! was so its engines would be interchangeable with models like the Polo and Golf, so this is a possibility. That three-cylinder engine is perfect for pairing with an electric motor too, because it’s compact and leaves space under the bonnet. So a three-cylinder Polo with e-drive is something else we’re considering.

What about the 313mpg XL1 concept, is that bound for production?

No, not that exact car, but I never invest in engine technology if I don’t think it has a production possibility. That combination of a two-cylinder diesel engine and an electric motor could make it into the up! for example.