Throughout the Volkswagen Golf’s multiple life cycles, it has evolved from a back-to-basics hatchback into a premium product that has managed to retain a reasonable price tag. The seventh generation of Volkswagen’s Golf has been on sale since 2013, during this time it has established itself as one of the most successful Golfs ever, with over 6-million units finding homes during this period. That means that the new model has big boots to fill. Let’s take a look at 3 things that you need to know about the eighth-generation model.
Related: How will the Volkswagen Golf 8 differ from the Golf 7/7.5?
1.Digitised interior
The eighth-generation model has an increased emphasis on connectivity and digitisation inside. The brand’s so-called 'Innovision Cockpit', first seen on the flagship Touareg, is now standard on all Golf models. This system includes a digitised 10.2-inch instrument cluster as well as a colour-screen infotainment system, measuring either 8.25 or 10.0-inches, depending on the model selected. The Innovision Cockpit incorporates a new voice command system and features Amazon's virtual assistant, Alexa in addition to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.
There are also fully digitised panels to control the fog and headlights, climate control and driving assistance systems while the optional head-up display projects important driver information directly onto the windscreen.
Also, a part of the digitised interior is the adoption of a more comprehensive semi-autonomous driving experience that falls under the Volkswagen IQ Drive umbrella. The IQ Drive system combines lane-keeping systems with adaptive cruise control and works at speeds of up to 209 km/h while other assistive technologies such as collision mitigation with emergency braking and rear cross-traffic alert will also be available. The tiny gear lever continues the minimalist theme inside because the DSG gearbox is now a shift-by-wire unit, freeing-up interior space.
2.Limited engine range to start with
At a press conference earlier this year, Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA) confirmed that the first of the new Golf derivatives to reach local shores is the GTI with a 1.4 TSI and the flagship R model following closely, provided the latter gets the green light with local fuel quality concerns.
The GTI was later confirmed to be arriving early in 2021 with headline figures that include an output of 180 kW with 370 Nm of torque from its EA888 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine is paired with a 7-speed DSG gearbox that sends power to the front wheels.
The 1.4 TSI EA211 engine figures remain at 110 kW of power and 250 Nm with a new 8-speed torque converter automatic gearbox in this model. Volkswagen South Africa has confirmed that there will be no manual gearbox options within the local Golf line-up, leaving the door open to a potential introduction of both the 1.0 and 1.5-litre TSI models which, when paired with the brand’s DSG gearbox, feature a 48V mild-hybrid system, improving fuel economy and engine responsiveness.
The Golf R will be powered by the same EA888 motor as the GTI with rumours at the time of writing suggesting that power could be up to 245 kW with over 400 Nm of torque. The R is likely to feature the same 7-speed DSG as seen in the GTI, this time sending the power to all four wheels thanks to a 4Motion all-wheel drive system.
The other performance-oriented Golf models yet to be confirmed for local introduction are the GTD and GTE. The GTD is the performance diesel, now producing 147 kW and 400 Nm of torque from a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine which is also said to provide around 960km of range on a single tank. The GTE is a plug-in hybrid that features the EA211 1.4-litre TSI engine with a 13 kWh battery for a combined output of around 182 kW while an all-electric mode is said to provide up to 64km of driving range.
3.No Clubsport GTI for South Africa
In other countries, this news may have been disappointing, but for South Africans, the fact that the more powerful and focussed version of the GTI, the Clubsport, is not being released locally may be devastating for fans. With 221 kW and 400 Nm of torque, the Clubsport has some 41 kW and 30 Nm of torque more than the standard GTI, and subsequently, its engine only qualifies for European fuel quality standards. The GTI has been the best-selling Golf variant within the local line-up for years, meaning that it is a seminal model for VWSA, which may necessitate a de-tuned version of the Clubsport being launched locally at a later date, however, this is only speculation at this point.
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