The Volkswage car magazine sector is experiencing a shake-up with the departure of an editor and a launch later this month.
Mike Pye is stepping down as editor of IPC’s VW title The Golf, while his former colleagues at sister title VolksWorld have also quit to launch Ultra VW, after becoming disillusioned with the company’s plans for the title.
Citing “personal reasons” for his departure, Pye insisted there was no dispute over editorial despite having no other job to go to.
Related
“It wasn’t over editorial differences, it was over the internal workings of my head,” he said. “I’ve been sitting in an office in Croydon for far too long. I just need to do something different.” Pye said he would probably go freelance.
He joined The Golf as deputy editor two years ago and took over as editor in November 2002. Prior to that he was deputy editor on VolksWorld.
Although his title will have to contend with the new rival, it is thought his departure is unconnected.
Content from our partners
The 100-page monthly from CHPublications promises to be the Volkswagen magazine for the “true enthusiast”.
Keith Seume, founding editor of VolksWorld, is managing editor and Paul Knight, an ex-VolksWorld staff writer, is editor. Knight quit the magazine in June – just months after being named technical editor of the year at IPC’s internal awards.
Seume resigned from his post as a freelance consultant at VolksWorld in April. He has also signed up VolksWorld photographer Mike Key and its US editor Stephan Szantai.
Seume said: “I was getting less satisfied with the way VolksWorld was heading under the ownership of IPC and decided to launch a magazine to get back on track.”
He acknowledged that VolksWorld was “probably making more money than ever”, but said his launch would be targeting grassroots enthusiasts.
“We’re not going to be looking at lifestyle features or clothing which is one area IPC wanted VolksWorld to go in,” he commented.
Ultra VW will cover Volkswagen related features from across the world, from the earliest prototypes to the latest models, including the old Beetle, new Beetle, “trusty” Camper and new Transporter as well as the Volkswagen Porsche 914.
The magazine will also cover events in Europe, the US, Japan and Australia.
Seume said there was room for both titles. “The market is big enough to carry more than one magazine. We are going off in a slightly different direction,” he added.
Ultra VW is due out 26 August.
“
By Ruth Addicott
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
