Photo: Volkswagen
Because the compact car segment has become more competitive, Volkswagen has decided to launch fresh generations of the Golf every five years. The pace of GTI refreshes is also quickening, and we have the first bits of information about the 2019 next-gen hot hatch.
It will ride on the MQB Evo platform, which will help shed somewhere between 50-100 lbs (22-45 kg). No surprises here, as we've known an update for the MQB is coming for over a year.
According to Automobile Magazine, the wheelbase of the car will be lengthened while the overhangs will be shortened slightly. Roughly translated, that means the engine won't sit as far forward and the chassis will be more manageable.
Of course, more power will also be added, but we don't expect huge increases since the VW Golf GTI has always been about refinement and everyday usability. Over the past few generations, output has only gone up by 10 horsepower at a time. We'll be happy with 250 PS, but they might give it the same 265 PS as the GTI Clubsport so as not to take backwards steps.
We find the technological details to be far more interesting. For example, the headlights will be full-LED, meaning the regular Golf might go in that direction as well. The GTI will feature a heads up display and infotainment system with voice and gesture recognition technology, just like the Golf R Touch concept presented at the CES.
Volkswagen's lineup of performance Golfs is already the most complex in the business, as it includes the GTD diesel model, GTE hybrid, two wagons and the Golf R flagship. Pretty soon, we will also have the R 400 with even more power. The only model that's still missing from the picture is a GTI Variant.
It will ride on the MQB Evo platform, which will help shed somewhere between 50-100 lbs (22-45 kg). No surprises here, as we've known an update for the MQB is coming for over a year.
According to Automobile Magazine, the wheelbase of the car will be lengthened while the overhangs will be shortened slightly. Roughly translated, that means the engine won't sit as far forward and the chassis will be more manageable.
Of course, more power will also be added, but we don't expect huge increases since the VW Golf GTI has always been about refinement and everyday usability. Over the past few generations, output has only gone up by 10 horsepower at a time. We'll be happy with 250 PS, but they might give it the same 265 PS as the GTI Clubsport so as not to take backwards steps.
We find the technological details to be far more interesting. For example, the headlights will be full-LED, meaning the regular Golf might go in that direction as well. The GTI will feature a heads up display and infotainment system with voice and gesture recognition technology, just like the Golf R Touch concept presented at the CES.
Volkswagen's lineup of performance Golfs is already the most complex in the business, as it includes the GTD diesel model, GTE hybrid, two wagons and the Golf R flagship. Pretty soon, we will also have the R 400 with even more power. The only model that's still missing from the picture is a GTI Variant.
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