Volkwagen are calling it ‘The Chase’! In an interesting change of marketing strategies and scenery, German auto-maker Volkswagen attempts to connect with the local customer base of the Middle East in the most ‘local’ way possible. And they have done that by pitting one of the world’s fastest birds – the peregrine falcon – against one of their fastest and most exciting hot hatches – possibly of all time – the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport.
As you all know, falconry is a big part of the Emirati culture and one very expensive sport. It has been estimated that falcons, particularly the peregrine falcon can dive at incredible speeds, exceeding that of 300 km/h…and that makes it an icon of performance and an interesting adversary. In a thrilling encounter involving land and sky, aptly named ‘The Chase’, they have pitted one from the breed against most powerful GTI in the region, the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport.
With acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in just 5.9 seconds, the Clubsport’s turbocharged 265 hp – which is 45 hp more than the current Golf GTI – direct-injection 2.0-litre engine revs hard and helps the anonymous driver, get through a remote section of tarmac through the arid desert roads. Many may not know, but the Clubsport engine is paired with a boost function allowing an increase in power to over 290 hp for a short time too! And Volkswagen would definitely like for us to mention that even with debilitating front-wheel drive, the Dynamic Chassis Control effortlessly helps it achieve incredible cornering speeds as it does in the video. And we can certainly vouch for that having spent time behind the wheel of one previously!
In the end, there is no winner! Both are speed kings in their own right! But we applaud Volkswagen in getting the local community involved, in some form of the other – it is the way forward. Check out the video below and let us know your thoughts!
This is not the first time an automotive brand has tried to capture the attention of local customer base using a connection with falconry. A couple of weeks ago, Bentley Motors launched an Bentley Falconry Accessories pack for the Bentayga SUV. You can click on this link to read more on that article.
The headline “Falcon Chases Rabbit” must have also left you wondering! For those who didn’t know the Golf was known as the Rabbit in many markets including the US.
