This announcement came during CES 2024 when Volkswagen's Head of Technical Development, Kai Grunitz, confirmed the discontinuation of the manual option, as reported by Automotive News Europe. The revised Golf, set to be unveiled on January 24, will exclusively feature a dual-clutch transmission, even for the GTI model.
Grunitz explained the decision, citing two primary reasons. Firstly, a remarkable 95% of Golf GTI buyers preferred the quick-shifting DSG transmission. Secondly, stringent Euro 7 emissions regulations posed challenges to maintaining the manual transmission.
Grunitz mentioned, "When we began development, Euro 7 rules were uncertain. The Golf's overall concept remains strong, so we didn't need to make many changes to the vehicle," except for the manual transmission.
There's a slim possibility that the Golf GTI with a manual transmission could continue in the United States. This is due to the fact that US-spec vehicles do not need to adhere to Euro 7 regulations, and there is strong local demand for manual GTIs. In 2022, Hein Schafer of VW USA informed CarBuzz that 40% of customers who purchased a Golf GTI or Golf R opted for a manual transmission.
VW Golf Mk. 8.5
But it's not all gloomy news. The updated Golf 8.5 will introduce several much-needed improvements. These include ergonomic upgrades, enhanced software, and illuminated slider controls. Volkswagen has faced criticism in recent years for its complex interior setups, including touch capacitive controls on the steering wheel. Fortunately, physical buttons and user-friendly controls have returned to the Golf 8.5's interior. Grunitz emphasized, "One of our main concerns was that customer interaction with the digital dashboard was far from seamless."
Inside, the revised Golf will feature the MIB4 digital architecture for its digital displays, which Volkswagen claims is more intuitive and user-friendly than before. The dashboard boasts a 12.9-inch touchscreen angled toward the driver. Unlike newly introduced VW models like the Passat, the Golf will keep its center console-mounted gear selector.
VW Golf Mk. 8.5
In a surprising twist, Volkswagen announced at CES 2024 that it will integrate ChatGPT into its vehicles. This will reportedly enhance the in-car voice assistant, offering customers improved functionality and additional features.
