Volkswagen Golf goes for gold with major update

Golf goes for gold

Did you know a Golf does not usually get a facelift?  When model lifecycles were still nearer a decade-long than the quick turnaround of today’s cars, the Volkswagen Golf was created, in the 70s.  The Golf 1 was facelifted (when it changed from smaller to bigger taillights, and added dual headlights), while Golf 2 only changed from skinny add-on to full wrap-around bumpers. 

Golf 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 went facelift-free.  Now, with Mark 7, the market calls for a Golf facelift.  More than just a facelift.  It’s a major update. 

The facelift is the usual new lights and re-formed bumpers – worth noting is xenons being replaced by LED headlights, while LED taillights get animated indicators (LEDs light up sequentially in the direction of turn-signalling). 

The headline is that Golf gets some class-leading big tech upgrades.  Golf goes for gold.

Golf at Autostadt
 
At home in Wolfsburg, Germany, at the Volkswagen Autostadt brand tower, Volkswagen presented a major update of Golf.  The Golf could be considered as the core product in the VW line-up, so a home-based launch seems fitting.

Gesture Control

A world first in this market segment is Gesture Control, which allows the Discover Pro infotainment system to be controlled by hand gestures (hand movements).  You don’t need to touch a screen or a button – you simply swipe to scroll through the menu, and to change radio stations or flip through the playlist in the CoverFlow media library.

Also new to the Golf class is the Active Info Display digital instrument panel.

Media Control

With the “Media Control” app, Volkswagen offers an infotainment interface for tablets and smartphones.  The app can be used to control many of the functions of the infotainment system conveniently from a tablet or phone.  Passengers simply connect their tablet to the Discover Media or Discover Pro infotainment system using the car’s WiFi hotspot.  The systems that can be controlled include the radio, all audio and video sources, as well as the navigation system, where fitted.

Status quo of assistance systems

Semi-automated driving functions are also fresh in this segment, with, for instance, Traffic Jam Assist which can guide the Golf in stop-and-go traffic. 

Another is Front Assist with new Pedestrian monitoring, which lets the car monitor the road ahead for any pedestrian and, when needed, brake automatically to avoid hitting or running over a person.  

Lane Assist and ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) can take control of the car at up to 60km/h.  The Golf steers, brakes and accelerates… by itself.

TSI Evo

Evo.  A name which perks up attention of any performance-inclined petrolhead.  Golf sees the debut of a new-generation TSI Evo engine, with 1.5-litre displacement making 110kW and variable Active Cylinder Management (German acronym ACT). 

Later, a BlueMotion 96kW version will be added, also with ACT, but adding the coasting function which shuts off the engine when driving without the fuel pedal pressed, to save fuel.  Sister VW companies Porsche and Audi are doing the same already in some of their newer cars.

Current 6-speed DSG gearboxes will be phased in with newly-developed 7-speed DSG units.

GTI upshifts

Good news for Golf GTI lovers are that it will also get the freshened-up look and new tech… and more vooma: the pre-facelift GTI with Performance pack will now become the power for the standard GTI, meaning 169kW, with the new GTI Performance pack nudged up to 180kW.

Same base price

In its home market, Germany, the updated Golf will start at the same base price as the previous car, and can be ordered from December 2016.

The major update Golf 7 will arrive in South Africa in 2017, with models and prices to become knowledge then.  The TSI and GTI are certainties, but VWSA has no hybrid car in South Africa, so could the hybrid Golf GTE become the first?