New VW Golf to be "lighter and safer" 13 | 02 | 2012
VOLKSWAGEN HAS PLEDGED to make the new Golf MkVII, due in showrooms across Scotland early next year, safer, lighter and more economical.
The new car, which will be officially unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in the autumn, will also have a comprehensive range of new technology and powerplants.
The volume sellers in the range will be powered by a completely new family of downsized petrol engines (codenamed EA211) and super-frugal diesel units (EA288).
Of great interest is the fact there will also be a 243bhp plug-in hybrid which is reported to deliver in excess of 50mpg. There will also be an electric model and a super-clean version fuelled by natural gas.
While the most powerful 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine gets 138bhp and cylinder deactivation for increased economy, the range-topping non-GTD 2.0 diesel delivers 181bhp.
First glimpse of new VW Golf MkVII
VW will also instal the new larger 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol engines (EA888) into the Golf, and the new GTI is believed to have a 260bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine tucked away underneath the bonnet.
As yo might expect, VW also believes the new Golf GTI will again set new standards for hot hatches.
Utilising VW's new VAQ electronically controlled front diff, the company says the GTI will benefit from “more agile steering behaviour” and a much greater sense of precision through the wheel.
Just what difference will all that make? Well VW has confirmed that a VAQ-equipped Golf lapped the Nürburgring 8.0sec faster than prototypes with a conventional differential.
VW reveals five-door up!
The new Golf MkVII will also be available with the option of all-wheel drive, thanks to the new MQB platform.
As we detailed before, the new Golf will be one of the first VW Group cars to be based on the radical new MQB platform and its standardised components.
VW has also promised an extensive selection of options for the new Golf, including 360deg parking sensors and Park Assist 2 — a semi-autonomous system which will park the car in a tight supermarket-style space.
But for those of us who can park a car safely ourselves, there will also be an 8in iPad-style dashboard touchscreen, adaptive cruise control and driver fatigue detection.
Read our roadtest of the VW Eos
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Jim McGill