This popular hatchback will soon get a facelift.
There have been many spy photos and teasers that lead to the unveiling of the new Volkswagen Golf. Our friends at Kolesa.ru have confirmed that the Mk VIII will be revealed in October in Wolfsburg, Germany. This is Europe’s most beloved car and also the model with the highest sales.
We shouldn’t expect any major design changes when we switch to the eighth iteration of the VW Golf. Our spy camouflaged prototypes showed a familiar appearance with a familiar design hidden underneath. The most noticeable change was the shape of the headlights. The wheelbase is likely to be slightly larger, which will allow for more space inside the cabin.
The headlights of some test vehicles were not only visible, but the taillights too. This was a sign of an evolving design. Some of you may remember that VW released some renderings in October 2018 regarding the next generation of interactive led taillights. These might have been part of the new Golf. They look very similar to the prototypes, although the jury is still out. Although it’s not exciting, it’s still a good example of the old saying, “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix.”
As the rear doors are expected to be extended a bit, the slight increase in size will likely reflect the change in length. New mirror caps were also seen on the prototype’s side profile. This could help reduce wind noise and improve comfort. With the drop in demand for this body type in the compact hatchback segment, the three-door Golf will not be returning for the next generation.
Although the renderings don’t allow us to see the new Golf in action, spy spies captured the prototype’s dashboard without any camouflage. The vehicle tested had a dual digital setup, with what appeared to be a touch sensitive bar for climate settings. It was located underneath the infotainment system in the center console. The official interior sketch of VW’s Golf confirmed that the touchscreen would incorporate the majority of functions, which will significantly reduce the number of buttons.
There will be a variety of gasoline and diesel engines, as well as a few plug-in hybrid powertrains. The new Golf TGI can even run on compressed natural gas. The ID.3 will not be renewed for the fully electric e-Golf, but a mild hybrid system that has been recently developed will reduce emissions and fuel consumption.
After the unveiling of the standard Golf in a few months the GTI hot-hatch and all-wheel drive R flagship will officially be revealed sometime in 2020.