Seven up for Golf

what's the point??

this is pathetic attempt by vw. call it something different. 7? bhah

By lucasworld on 12 May, 2010, 1:42pm

Is this better than new Audi A3?

Lines look too sharp. Yet, I like rear view. It's better than that of the current one. I hope this is better than new A3.

By duketennine on 12 May, 2010, 2:14pm

Surprise!

It looks exactly the same as the last one, which looked exactly the same as the previous one, which looked.....

They may drive ok, but they're not reliable anymore and they look boring. Even Hyundai have overtaken VW on design.

By gherkins123 on 12 May, 2010, 10:12pm

Why so soon?

Why is VW planning to replace the current Golf after it's been on sale for only 3 years? Have they such little faith in the current design that they feel the need to rush the release of it's replacement? They should be concentrating on replacing the dated Touran and Golf Plus instead of continually facelifting these models. And from what I've seen of the next Passat, it also looks like a mildly facelifted version of the current model rather than the all new model it should be.

By erly5 on 12 May, 2010, 11:11pm

OTT....

The over the top paragraph penned by the idiotic writer Sam Hardy:

"It's the storming hatchback that’s heading to the top of the family car leaderboard. This is VW’s sensational new Golf ..... And this latest version is set to be the best yet. "

Why is it sensational?
How do you know its heading to the top of the family car leaderboard?
Can you see into the future?
Do you own a Time Machine from Back to The Future?
How do you know its the best yet?
Did VW invite you to see the car?
Have you driven it?

Any car manufacturer can CLAIM all sorts of figures and improvements on paper to grab headlines and the writer was stupid enough to open with such a generic opionionated paragraph.

By scott1234 on 13 May, 2010, 12:45am

German now stands for Fashion and high depreciation ?

All german companies Audi/Porsche -one and same,BMW,Mercedes are all at it for private buyers this is a nightmare - a little tweek here and a little tweek there on camera mad UK and a 70mph uk, top speed limit , whats alarming is we all continue to fall for it, though after the lastest global economy it must be having its effect at long last,new models are no good for consumer if they update 2 yrs - we need five years to hold values up -otherwise its financial ruin, whil eit might be co car deals that buy the bulk, it's our money they are playing with- so sort it out Car industry. Hiw can it be good to pay 15k for a car and get 7or 8 k barely a year later for even a low mileage car ??

By browser0072000 on 13 May, 2010, 6:56am

Dissapointed

If i was a golf owner (which i was 6 or 7 years ago) I'd be really dissapointed with the constant tweaking and fiddling (and price hiking) that seems to be the norm now for VW and the golf. If the car is as good as they'd like us to believe it shouldn't need to be fiddled with all the time!

By ianemarshall on 13 May, 2010, 8:10am

Looks hideous

They say the VW Golf is a car for both a proffessor and a student at the same university. Thats why VW has to be conservative about its design.
Even pictures above shows a top version it looks like a bigger Polo. A humble Kia Ceed, the one even not facelifted looks better than this. Hope this isnt going to be the final look of Mk7 Golf. In 2012 it will look even older. Shame on you VW.

By tatarramazan on 13 May, 2010, 8:26am

Look like a bigger Polo

This is silly VW. Initially there was banter about the new Polo looking like its bigger sibling the Golf but now the Golf looks like the smaller current sibling of the Polo. What the heck. Can't this car have its own identity for God's sake. It makes enough money for VW to deserve it. Cheers from Oz.

By HakanOzcelik on 13 May, 2010, 8:40am

Same old, same old.....It's a VW that looks exactly the same as the previous incarnation, that wasn't particularly good but because it was a VW all the journalists said it was great!!!
Yawn....dull....uninspired....boring....
Alfa bring out the Giulietta and it gets critisised for being too good and golf like..hmmmmmm

By philipdayton on 13 May, 2010, 8:41am

Too big

"As the new car also has widened tracks and a slightly longer wheelbase, it will be better to drive and more spacious, too."

Yes, but it won't fit in my garage. A Golf V will, with a Golf VI I might just get the door open wide enough to get out, but its unlikely. If the Golf VII is wider, I've got no chance.

By neil733 on 13 May, 2010, 8:55am

What's the point?

It mainly looks like the new Touareg at the front. The thing is, what's the point of revealing it 2 years before it's release date? Don't you think they should wait 'til the end production of the mk6? I do.

By JPW2010 on 13 May, 2010, 9:04am

yeah hmm

it's coming in 2012 so I hope VW will provide us with some more extreme shape of side panels, wheel arches, hood doesn't need to be that boring flat and please VW don't leave front bumber as it looks here!?!? e.g. 5's big grill in the middle is much more stylish that 6's and now 7's.

What about interior in 7? I concern interior even more important from driving pleasure point of view, and yes Golf is boring.

comoon Germans you have few design studios over there, you can do it better. Do not give a pen to one older than 30 years and you should be fine?!

btw, I m going to test drive Alfa 159 right now, and I m buying 5 GTI only if I hear some rattle and creaks in Alfa - otherwise Italians have much more ability to keep driver in the seat than VW.

By hubabuba on 13 May, 2010, 9:31am

Den Wood

Ghastly! Euek! What are VW doing replacing a pretty car with an an ugly dog. Also guaranteed to cheese off existing customers by bringing out a new model so soon..

By denjar on 13 May, 2010, 9:40am

Boring

The article is as ECSTATIC as the Golf is DULL! Great PR Autoexpress!!!

The current Golf 6 is actually Golf 5 mk2, or 5 1/2, not a new generation car...

By mko_20vt on 13 May, 2010, 10:11am

Rewind please?

First: sincewhen does Golf follow Polo in design direction? What's up with the BMW-esque kink that's appeared atthe bottom of the rear door window? Why have they shrunk the c-pillar? Why does the rear look like it's come from the Audi A3? I agree the previous direction VW were heading in with that awfull massive chrome smiley-grille was a bit OTT, but where are they going with this 2-bar grille?

And what's with the 2 years ahead picture launch? Are they teasing their competitors by showing us the car they won't be building? I hope so as it's definitely not a step forwards. I'll stick with Golf V for now thank you.

By hermann_kratz on 13 May, 2010, 10:13am

Vorsprung durch tedium?

The Golf is a decent drive, but having actually driven one, found it over-priced through all the hype. It's comfortable enough on good roads, but jars a lot on speed bumps e.g., even at very low speed.

The new Astra is streets ahead and actually feels alive in the cab. The Golf is well laid out but pretty drab on the dash. It's also not as refined as reports would indicate.

By bmooney1 on 13 May, 2010, 10:22am

AutoExpress will do their usual...

FIVE STARS WILL AGAIN ADORN THE VW GOLF - NO SURPRISES THERE THEN!!!
THEY'LL BIG UP THE STYLING, IT'LL TROUNCE THE COMPETITION IN EVERY CATEGORY.
WITH AUTOEXPRESS YOU ALWAYS KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, THEY'LL ALWAYS GIVE UNBIASED OPINION - MY @RSE!

"the most desirable compact family car you can buy" - Really! Look at all those all complementary opinions above!

By GearHunter on 13 May, 2010, 11:46am

Mk 5.5?

Pretty much agree with the above comments. VW rely heavily on their reputation rather than their cars these days. Just look at the ads "Why have something cheap when you could have a Golf?"

I remember being told that the Mk VI was rushed into production as the Mk V was losing money - the design was poor from the factory's point of view and VW actually LOST money on some versions.

Perhaps this new car was originally intended as the successor to the Mk V?

By quintilian on 13 May, 2010, 11:54am

This is just a bad rendering.

By anogedar on 13 May, 2010, 12:21pm

Everybody - I think this will be good.

I agree with everything people are saying about styling and why replace it so soon. I am a little suspicous of their timing as most cars have a 6 year shelf life before a new shape is released.

VWs currenty mark 6 golf is not a true new shape, it is more of a Mark 5 with cosmentic surgery and a couple of new engines to keep buyers interested until the mark 7 is released.

I believe they have been working on the Mark 7 for a long time and released the Mark 6 to give them more time to perfect there masterpiece.

The Mark 7 will of course look very similar to the old one which most VW customers like Porsche customers are quite happy with (understated). The technology will be great with a leap forward in fuel economy.

However the Golf is not alone as its biggest rivals i.e. Astra, Focus, etc are all trying to develop similar engine technololgies.

The real question remains... Who will get it right?

By gaffer1986 on 13 May, 2010, 1:19pm

Smart

I concur that the Mk 6 Golf seems a little young for replacement, but I think we should see this as the car that the Mk 6 should have been. I cannot agree with comments re styling - I think this is a very stylish looking motor and a big improvement on the dowdy Mk 6 which seemed like a retrograde step from the Mk 5. It remains to be seen if the car is suitably equipped to be a real contender in the class, though the spec predictions here seem to suggest it might.

By BARNEYM1979 on 13 May, 2010, 1:54pm

Boring....zzzzzzzz

Sensational and striking??? Are we looking at the same pictures?
Does Sam Hardy moonlight as a VW salesman?
This is the most pointless boring facelift ever.

By Cardriver123 on 13 May, 2010, 2:00pm

................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Couldn't let the year go by without ANOTHER new Golf appearing. It's beyond a joke. How long did the original one last - can't keep up these days.

By Ian2861 on 13 May, 2010, 2:35pm

Blander than a pub curry

Not liking that at all.

By nickeroo on 13 May, 2010, 3:17pm

MK.V a failure, M

I think Mk.V was a complete disaster from a stylistic point of view - it looked like a Citroen from the front and blobby from the back. They rushed out Mk.VI as a half-way house to remedy the mistake and this - called Mk.VII - is really what they had in mind for Mk.VI.
2002 - 2007 was the real aberration.

By Roger1709 on 13 May, 2010, 3:34pm

Autoexpress is getting ridiculous

"the most desirable compact family car you can buy" Realy?
The golf is getting spit by consumers, the auto industry is smashing it and still autoexpress throws its bells and whistles over it. how much does VW pays this reviewers?
Isn't it time for someone to shout "THE KING IS NAKED"?

By mantunes on 13 May, 2010, 3:34pm

Boring Germans

Sorry but what's new about this?
Looks like a design from the 1970s.

By sirsidneyruffdiamond on 13 May, 2010, 4:18pm

I Think I Have To Agree

The jury's still out for me where styling is concerned. Let's be honest here, it's hardly a major breakthrough is it despite what AE are touting. From the side the VI Golf is a V Golf, there's no escaping that fact. It's only the front and rear ends which have had a cosmetic overhaul and the rear does suspiciously resemble an A3. It could be argued that this isn't a bad thing but certainly it does show lack of inspiration from a design viewpoint. Is the VII Golf what he VI should have been? We'll never really know for sure, but I certainly can't disagree with most of the comments made here, especially when it comes to VW announcing the VII 2 years early. The Mark 1 and Mark 2 Golfs were around for a long time before they were finally replaced so what's the deal here?

I think VW could get burnt here and that's a travesty because I've been a fan of theirs for years, and owned a Mk 1 Golf for about 3 or 4 years so it isn't as if I don't know the breed.

By nick7 on 13 May, 2010, 7:33pm

I Think I Have To Agree

The jury's still out for me where styling is concerned. Let's be honest here, it's hardly a major breakthrough is it despite what AE are touting. From the side the VI Golf is a V Golf, there's no escaping that fact. It's only the front and rear ends which have had a cosmetic overhaul and the rear does suspiciously resemble an A3. It could be argued that this isn't a bad thing but certainly it does show lack of inspiration from a design viewpoint. Is the VII Golf what he VI should have been? We'll never really know for sure, but I certainly can't disagree with most of the comments made here, especially when it comes to VW announcing the VII 2 years early. The Mark 1 and Mark 2 Golfs were around for a long time before they were finally replaced so what's the deal here?

I think VW could get burnt here and that's a travesty because I've been a fan of theirs for years, and owned a Mk 1 Golf for about 3 or 4 years so it isn't as if I don't know the breed.

By nick7 on 13 May, 2010, 7:39pm

and btw

I'd very much like Auto Express to make a comment actually about how they can make such a bold claim as to say the new Golf is the best yet, presumably not either seeing the car or driving it. The thing is still being finished off and even the "spy" pictures of the prototype along with the photos of the VII depict a VI being tested. Or are they quoting from a press pack issued by VW?

Come on Auto Express, I want you to substantiate your remarks and comments written by Sam hardy. As your author wishes to make quite clear, the Mark VII Golf isn't going to be available until 2012 "at the earliest", so how can he possibly make these ambitious claims?

I'd really like to know.

By nick7 on 13 May, 2010, 7:46pm

Oh Dear

VW design now seems to be about ten years behind the competition. With each incarnation the Golf has got bigger, uglier, and pricier. Why on earth anybody would waste their hard earned on one of these is beyond me.

By oliver144 on 13 May, 2010, 8:38pm

Oriental water garden

Well done to VW engineers for making a German Toyota Corolla... Sadly it wont be as reliable... Little engines equal short lifespans! (40k max I`d give them , before bills and repair troubles?)

By LegioIXHispana on 13 May, 2010, 9:38pm

Next Generation?

Is this the next generation? Or the previous? Looks like Fiat Stilo in front! Outdated!

By erevos2 on 13 May, 2010, 11:44pm

my two cents worth !!!

I agree with all the bad commnets VW have realy broke the mould his time,boring!! boring!!!.i
I can never under stand why the germans like to tweek there Cars every couple of years ,if i only bought the car 2 years its dated already .Its like porche same lines differnt bumpers...get rid of the traceing paper VW.

By jemyd on 14 May, 2010, 7:24am

Boring

VW designers are the laziest in the world.

Take the current / last Golf and transplant mk2 Peugeot 406 headlights on it and wheel it out and get the press all excited!

And the sheeple will buy it in their droves, because the UK motoring press are secretly funded to write that German car manufacturers can do no wrong.

By sirwiggum on 14 May, 2010, 10:51am

I HATE THE GOLF!!!!!

Ever since I've been selling cars people always find the need to compare it against the dammed Golf.

"the golf drives better"
"it handles good"
"it holds it's value"

All these are stupid comments, I golf is boring to drive and typical of German engineering. Handles good? I can think of a whole list of cars which handle better. and the last one, this is true, it's holds it's value because people believe that it is a great car.

I always reply , "if it's so great, how come it's not the best selling car in Britain?" They then stop and think. The Ford Focus is the best selling car in Britain.

A Nissan Qashqai holds it's value better than a Golf and you get alot more as standard.

WAKE UP WORLD!!!

This car has not changed in years, when you see the New Focus next year VW had better watchout again!

By no_1fordfan on 14 May, 2010, 3:55pm

mumbo jumbo crap

If you wanna design something then start from scratch and make it award winning - this is worse than bangle you are just copying the previous version and then splashing a lick of paint - running out ideas are you ? get some newbie car designers in for inspiration. How come people like the MK1 and MK2 golf so much. Well they didn't change the design so frequently and giving the design a chance to grow on people and see whether they liked it - in this case they did - Audi TT hint hint. I think i've got vw's idealogy - make the ugliest and visually unbearable design and then that forces people to want to change their car more often - keeps the shop running - it works! no good for customers due to heavy depreciation.

By charliecrocker on 14 May, 2010, 4:25pm

yeah hmm 2

I always loved Golf, but you are not cheating me anymore by realeasing "new generation" every second year or so hahahaha I m staying with 5 until 7 is something much different than this picture here.

7 should be like very magical luckyish number don't you think?

Install 7 wheels, 7 doors, 7 windows, 7 turbos THEN call your next generation small family car Golf 7. Make it 7 times more interesting! This way you can explain higher price even?!

Microsoft made their boring Windows much more stylish and faster with 7th generation so really VW it's not impossible.

By hubabuba on 14 May, 2010, 11:41pm

yeah hmm 3

and yeah.. microsoft reminded me on something you could inculde in boring Golfs.. e.g. some sort of hard-drive with music library thingy with SSD disk, USB 3.0, HDMI, amplifier... at least one of the models could be more entertaining one you know

By hubabuba on 14 May, 2010, 11:45pm

Its a Toyota!

Nice and sleek design but the side reviews make it look like a Toyota Aurus.

By volvofan on 25 May, 2010, 1:23pm

Why has VW gone and made the Polo and Golf the same bloody size and shape? I mean seriously... the Golf is supposed to be the big brother of the hatchback range and yet, the Polo looks identical in every way.. I recently saw a VW hatchback on my way home and thought it was a Golf... got to the back of the car and lo and behold it was a Polo... Talk about confusing!!!

And now they are planning on bringing out a Mk.7? Good god... VW must be desperate for cash if they're updating the Golf again...

By 1deano1 on 28 May, 2010, 7:02pm

Since when do auto express' own photoshopped versions of a new car ever look like the actual car when it's released? Someone has guessed what this car will look like based on the new polo. I can't see it looking like the image they have created above. Will be best to wait a couple of years until an official image is released, not argue about a picture that's been made up! By then it will be the right time to release a new Golf.

By putashovelinit on 29 June, 2010, 12:52pm

Too much £££!!!

The latest top of the range Golf R, with some extra goodies added on is over £30,000. Excuse me if I'm wrong but the whole idea about hot-hatches is that they give performance at a cheap price. But when you can buy a base golf and RenaultSport Clio 200 and still have money left over for a holiday; I think it kinda defies the point.

And car companies now are so focused on making every new model better in every area. So it gets faster, fatter, more eco-friendly, heavier and more crucially more expensive. So in a couple of years when suits at VW launch the next Golf R (or it's replacement) at some swanky motor show. I promise you It will be more than the one we have today.

So that's about 3/2 the price of the GTI we have today, But will it be 3/2 car I doubt it. Only couple of years ago, the best hot hatches were about £20,000 and now their about £27,000, so that's seven thousand pounds for just as many years.

So if you want spend that much money on a performance car, you spend it on a Mitsubishi evolution, a Nissan 370z, a Lotus Elise or just save up a bit of money and buy a Porsche Boxter.

By koupekid on 10 July, 2010, 9:09am

Too much £££!!!

The latest top of the range Golf R, with some extra goodies added on is over £30,000. Excuse me if I'm wrong but the whole idea about hot-hatches is that they give performance at a cheap price. But when you can buy a base golf and RenaultSport Clio 200 and still have money left over for a holiday; I think it kinda defies the point.

And car companies now are so focused on making every new model better in every area. So it gets faster, fatter, more eco-friendly, heavier and more crucially more expensive. So in a couple of years when suits at VW launch the next Golf R (or it's replacement) at some swanky motor show. I promise you It will be more than the one we have today.

So that's about 3/2 the price of the GTI we have today, But will it be 3/2 car I doubt it. Only couple of years ago, the best hot hatches were about £20,000 and now their about £27,000, so that's seven thousand pounds for just as many years.

So if you want spend that much money on a performance car, you spend it on a Mitsubishi evolution, a Nissan 370z, a Lotus Elise or just save up a bit of money and buy a Porsche Boxter.

By koupekid on 10 July, 2010, 9:09am

why is this still news?

This is a non story saying that VW will bereplacing the Golf one day (Shock), it'll look quite like a Golf (shock) it'll be good (like a golf) and it'll be competing with other similar cars.


That's pretty much what this story says, and yet when you log into AE's hompepage over 2 months after thisappeared, it's still being tagged as breaking hot news.

A- its not news
B- there's nothing to break
C- it has broken.

Keep up the good work AE

By ricbelcher2 on 21 July, 2010, 4:18pm

blue motion blues

80 mpg huh? I bought (and soon sold) a Mk 6 Blue Motion and it struggled to top 50 despite all the ad hype. Will the Mk 7 actually do what it says on the tin? I won't be buying one.

By stephen17 on 20 August, 2010, 11:16pm

ok

yeah yea koupekid ur right repeat the question again ?

By R8LOVER_EcO on 8 September, 2010, 2:31pm

koupekid

how u doin mate do 1

By R8LOVER_EcO on 8 September, 2010, 2:33pm

CHEERS R8LOVER_ECO, BUT YOUR MAMA GOT SMELLY FEET

By koupekid on 8 September, 2010, 2:33pm

koupekid

how u doin mate do 1

By R8LOVER_EcO on 8 September, 2010, 2:33pm

CHEERS R8LOVER_ECO, BUT YOUR MAMA GOT SMELLY FEET

By koupekid on 8 September, 2010, 2:34pm

CARS CARS CARS

By koupekid on 8 September, 2010, 2:34pm

DOING UR MA!

.... crazy son of a hipopataus

By R8LOVER_EcO on 8 September, 2010, 2:35pm

CARS CARS CARS

By koupekid on 8 September, 2010, 2:35pm

DOING UR MA!

.... crazy son of a hipopataus

By R8LOVER_EcO on 8 September, 2010, 2:35pm

@no_1fordfan

Just want to make it clear - Ford Focus is a German car too !
Ford of Europe headquarter - Cologne, Germany.

I recoment a book 'Ford in Britain', by Martin Rawbone.

He says:
"all those Focuses, Fiestas and Mondeos are not "British" in any meaningful sense. A Nissan Micra assembled in Sunderland will provide much more of a boost to the British economy than any Ford."

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/ford-in-britain-by-martin-rawbone-568080.html

By miki123 on 9 October, 2010, 8:51pm

Same as

Its not a "Storming" hatchback

Its not a fresh look!

It looks totally forgetable.....

This is another nothing no news story

By Richard_H on 19 May, 2011, 8:36am