VW bosses go down hybrid path with new look for Europe’s most successful car

Almost every week there is a global premiere of one or two new cars but few make the motoring world sit up in anticipation quite like the launch of a new Volkswagen Golf. As Europe’s most successful car for more than four decades, and while the shape and looks has been evolving the eighth version of the Golf is about to take Volkswagen in a number of different directions.

The world premiere of the newest Golf happened last week and, according to VW bosses, it will be digitalised, connected, and intuitive to operate.

All eyes have been watching what the German car giant will do in the changing times that ahead. Hybrid is the immediate future in terms of electrification for the Golf as well as offering traditional internal combustions engines. All-electric power will be held for the ID family with the current e-Golf being withdrawn from the catalogue.

“Over the course of seven generations, the Golf has impressed more than 35 million customers. The entire automobile industry expects a new Golf to set the standard”, explained Dr. Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG.

Over the years this car has been the primary model of the brand and the eighth Golf will be available in no less than five hybrid versions with 48V technology: a belt starter generator, 48V lithium-ion battery and the latest generation of efficient TSI engines form a new mild hybrid drive in the eTSI.

Volkswagen will also make available two plug-in hybrid drive variants. A new efficiency version generates 150 kW / 204 PS while a sportier GTE delivers 180 kW / 245 PS. Both Golf versions with plug-in hybrid drives will launch with a new 13 kWh lithium-ion battery on board that enables larger electrically powered ranges of approximately 60 kilometres, and temporarily turns the Golf into a zero-emissions vehicle.