2017 VW Golf revealed 10 | 11 | 2016

THIS IS THE first sight of the facelifted 2017 VW Golf which gains a number of revised engines — including a new petrol-electric hybrid — and significant tech upgrades, including much-improved infotainment and connectivity.

The revised Golf models — three-door, five-door, GT, GTI, GTE and estate — go on-sale in Scottish dealerships in February, with first deliveries scheduled for April. Prices are expected to start around £18,000.

Externally, what VW insiders are referring to as the Golf Mk7.5 is very much a subtle evolution of the iconic model. Look closely and you’ll see the there are tweaks to the front-end design, with the option of LED headlights and different air intakes in the lower bumper.

Nip round to the rear, and you’ll see every Golf now gets  LED tail-lights as standard, and higher-end editions will feature animated ‘flowing’ indicators.

Inside the cabin the seat covers get new patterns, plus there’s new materials in the dashboard, door panels and centre console. Interior space remains unchanged, as does the boot capacity, simply because the core structure of the Golf hasn’t changed.

But the most noticeable upgrade involves the Golf’s infotainment systems which will now be offered across the range with the option of ‘Active Info Display’. Essentially it’s the same, very clever and functional, system already seen on the VW Passat and various Audis.

And out goes the most basic black and white central dashboard screen from the current model to be replaced by a 6.5in colour version which now has double the resolution.

While the existing 6.5-inch screen-based systems move up to 8ins, the range-topping Discover Pro improves from 8ins to 9.2 inches, and from 800x480 pixels to 1280x640 pixels.

Voice commands are also a also a feature of Discover Pro, and VW claims a  sector first by incorporating gesture controls for some of its key functions. The system itself also gets a software upgrade, with a configurable homepage and the ability to swipe through items like album covers.

There’s also a wireless charging facility for compatible smartphones, a series of new apps that sit alongside Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus an interface that allows phones and tablets to connect to the car and control its infotainment system away from the dashboard (from the rear seats, for example).

As for engines, there’s a new 148bhp 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol, which is the second in the history of the Golf to be offered with Active Cylinder Management. This technology allows the engine to shut down cylinders to save fuel when the car is cruising.

Expect, an eco-focused Bluemotion-badged version of the same engine, delivering a modest 129bhp, to arrive later.

In complete contrast, the hot hatch GTI gets a revised engine with more power. While the ‘regular’ GTI will now produce 227bhp, the Performance edition increases up to 241bhp.

The facelifted Golf GTE retains the same driveline as today’s model, with a 148bhp 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and 101bhp electric motor. Together, the two power units provide combined system outputs of 201bhp and 258lb ft.

Other hybrids in the Golf range will be a 12-volt system, coupled to the 1.5-litre engine.

And when it comes to gearboxes, VW has initiated the phase out of the six-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission across the range, replacing it with a seven-speed unit.

New safety measures are also being added to the facelifted Golf. There’s a new semi-autonomous ‘Traffic Jam Assist’, which combines lane assist and automatic distance control to give the driver an easier ride through heavy queuing.

Plus, City Emergency Braking system can now detect pedestrians crossing the road as well as oncoming cars.

And Trailer Assist — first seen on the Passat — is added to the Golf option list. The system means a trailer reversing manoeuvre can be set up using the door mirror ‘joystick’ and the rear-view camera, then executed by the car with only pedal inputs from the driver.

Related: Roadtest — VW Passat Estate SE Business 2.0TDI

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Jim McGill