In the autumn comes the new Golf. The eighth generation is set to set standards in connectivity and operation. On the other hand, the engine offering is reduced.
It's not just any new car, it's the Golf. For decades it has been at the top of the popularity scale for Germans - by far. In 45 years, the Golf was built over 35 million times in seven generations. It is synonymous with the Volkswagen brand and is one of the most important sources of income in the Group. Detached from the IAA - everything at VW revolves around the ID - the Golf 8 makes its big appearance on October 24 in Wolfsburg.
Until then, developers and engineers still have their hands full. At the moment you are in the phase "Functional safety and start preparation". This is the name of the last station before the SOP, the "Start of Production". VW assures to have everything dry in time for the launch at the end of this year. And reacts to a publication of the "mirror", which due to the high complexity in the electronics many errors are not yet resolved, which would mean a punctual start of production. "We are absolutely on schedule," says VW Head of Development Dr. Frank Welsch, and prefers to speak of "tickets" for the errors. Around 125.000 of them are processed each year, at about 120 parallel vehicle projects, according to Welsch. A ticket can mean a crack in the speaker, but also the crash of the entire infotainment system.
A first seat test in the new Golf, internally called simply VW 380, shows unmistakably: Wolfsburg's icon has arrived in the fully digital age. Displays dominate the cockpit, buttons and physical switches are as good as no longer available. "With the new interior concept, we are transferring the digital lifeworld of customers into their everyday automotive life," says Dr. med. Rolf Zöller, Head of Electrics / Electronics Development, "the always-on principle finds its way into the vehicle architecture." In German: The new Golf is always online, has a connection to the cloud, services can be expanded, software can be purchased later , In addition, he is fit for semi-autonomous driving and can communicate with other vehicles and his infrastructure (Car2x) as well as with his home (Car2Home).
Electronic upgrade on the one hand, mechanical disarmament on the other. "We have almost halved the engine / transmission combination," says Karlheinz Hell, Head of Compact Series. Even bodywork derivatives fell victim to the red pencil. Three-door, Sportsvan and convertible are passé, the latter replaces the open T-Roc. The variant remains.
Technically, the Golf 8 is based on the MBQ evo, retains its size, wheelbase and of course its characteristic design. It must be immediately recognizable as golf anywhere and at all times. The entry-level model is the three-cylinder EA211 evo with 85 kW / 116 hp. However, this is not available from the market launch. VW puts most of the engines in the next year. The two-liter diesel (EA2019 evo) and the 288-liter TSI (EA1,5 evo) will still be available in 211. The 1,6-liter diesel is deleted, the two-liter receives a 12-volt belt starter generator. The TSI has 48 volts. VW speaks of mHEV (mild hybrid electric vehicle). The same type of electrification is planned for 2020 for the one-liter three-cylinder. It is quite possible that this engine will even get a plug-in hybrid, in addition to the already known hybrid combination in the GTE. Here, however, VW sends the 1,4 liter into retirement, installing the new 1,5 liter. The fully electric e-Golf runs out. The ID replaces it. He can do everything better, is bigger on the inside and keeps going.
The performance-hungry fanbase has to be patient for a while. GTI, probably with around 260 PS and Golf R with over 300 PS will go into the second half of the year 2020 at the start. On the diesel side leaves VW again a GTD model (204 PS) off the line. And because of CO2 reduction, the topic of natural gas can not be wiped off the table, and the Golf 8 will also be available as a CNG version. The basic engine for monovalent design is also the 1,5-liter TSI four-cylinder. He should get around 130 PS.