The updated eighth generation of the VW Golf comes almost exactly 50 years after the first production Golf was built in Wolfsburg.
“The Golf has been at the heart of the Volkswagen brand for half a century, offering affordable mobility for all at the highest technical level. The Golf has constantly adapted to customer needs, thus becoming a global bestseller – made in Wolfsburg. This is precisely what we are building on with the new evolutionary stage – with even higher efficiency, comfort and quality and a new operating concept. The Golf does not get any better than this,” Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, said.
Over the last five decades, Volkswagen’s main plant in Wolfsburg has in a sense become the “soul” of global Golf production: over half of the more than 37 million models of this king of the compact class sold to date – an average of 400,000 units per year – have been built at the main plant. This includes the “classic” Golf, now in its eighth generation, with various derivatives such as the Golf Variant and Golf Sportsvan, and a broad range of models and powertrains.
VW Golf GTE (2024)
The model is recognized by its modified front end. Visually defining features include the newly-designed LED headlights. The top-of-the-range IQ.LIGHT – LED matrix headlights incorporate a new high-performance main beam with a very high range. For the first time in a European Volkswagen, the Volkswagen logo in the radiator grille is also illuminated. The IQ.LIGHT – 3D LED tail light clusters have also received a new design – in both the Golf and the Golf Variant.
The interior features a new generation of infotainment system with faster processors, a free-standing touchscreen (diagonal: 12.9 inches) and a revised menu structure. The touch sliders for temperature and volume control are now illuminated. The latest digital instruments are also always on board as standard. Also new is the multifunction steering wheel with physical buttons and the IDA voice assistant with integrated ChatGPT function that can not only be used to control functions such as the air conditioning system, telephone or navigation system, but also to access online information on practically any topic – from flight details to general knowledge questions.
In terms of the powertrain range, in addition to the TSI, TDI and eTSI mild hybrid drives, the Golf update also offers two new plug-in hybrids with an electric range of well over 100 km and a combined range of some 1,000 km, as well as a DC quick-charging function.
Source: Volkswagen
