Photo: Volkswagen
It might not be dazzling to look at or engaging to drive, but Volkswagen's Golf hatchback is one of the most popular cars in its segment. As a result, it's been on sale continuously for the past forty years, through seven consecutive generations.
The current model made its debut in late 2012 and is only now finding its way into showrooms across North America. However, the German company is already thinking ahead to the next model.
After launching the all-new Passat, engineers have apparently turned their attention to the next Golf, at least according to German magazine Auto motor und sport. In their recent report, they said the eight generation will be launched in 2017, just five years after the present version.
As surprising as that might sound, Volkswagen has done the same in the past. Despite being widely acclaimed and well received by customers, the Golf 5 only stayed in production for a little over four years. Its replacement was based on the same platform. Rumor has it the switch-over was because VW wanted to simplify the build process in order to increase profitability.
The Golf 8 will continue to use the modular MQB platform, but the German publication says it will be a little lower and wider. In order to reduce fuel consumption, engineers have been tasked to reduce the car's weight by 50 kgs (110 pounds). It will also adopt some of the technology developed for the new Passat and three-cylinder engines from the 2014 Polo facelift (1.0 TSI with 90 PS and 1.4 TDI with up to 105 PS).
Since the Golf is now also made separately at a factory in Mexico for the North American market, we don't expect the Mk8 to arrive there until 2019.
Our say: A new Golf every five years doesn't surprise us at all. It's the best-selling car in Europe and an icon. However, maybe they'll want to rethink lowering the suspension even further.
After launching the all-new Passat, engineers have apparently turned their attention to the next Golf, at least according to German magazine Auto motor und sport. In their recent report, they said the eight generation will be launched in 2017, just five years after the present version.
As surprising as that might sound, Volkswagen has done the same in the past. Despite being widely acclaimed and well received by customers, the Golf 5 only stayed in production for a little over four years. Its replacement was based on the same platform. Rumor has it the switch-over was because VW wanted to simplify the build process in order to increase profitability.
The Golf 8 will continue to use the modular MQB platform, but the German publication says it will be a little lower and wider. In order to reduce fuel consumption, engineers have been tasked to reduce the car's weight by 50 kgs (110 pounds). It will also adopt some of the technology developed for the new Passat and three-cylinder engines from the 2014 Polo facelift (1.0 TSI with 90 PS and 1.4 TDI with up to 105 PS).
Since the Golf is now also made separately at a factory in Mexico for the North American market, we don't expect the Mk8 to arrive there until 2019.
Our say: A new Golf every five years doesn't surprise us at all. It's the best-selling car in Europe and an icon. However, maybe they'll want to rethink lowering the suspension even further.
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