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New Golf uncovered

The MkVII version of VW legend gets more space, hi-tech kit and safety features

Volkswagen Golf MkVII

Text: Sam Hardy / Photos: Poblete

19th July 2011

The all-new VW Golf is coming – and Auto Express has the best pictures yet. The MkVII is due to debut at next year’s Paris Motor Show, and go on sale shortly afterwards. It’s been rebuilt from the ground up to provide more space, technology and safety features than any previous generation of the iconic hatch.

As the cornerstone of the VW range, it will spawn a host of new models, including a saloon – for the first time – a practical Golf Plus, an estate and a replacement for the Touran MPV, as well as a hot new Scirocco coupé. They are all due in 2013, with a new Tiguan and a replacement for the Golf Cabriolet scheduled for the following year.

But the key model is this five-door hatch, which our illustrators have recreated using inside information. Together with images of prototypes caught testing in Germany, they give us a clear idea of how next year’s most exciting new family car will look. As ever, the changes are evolutionary – but design boss Walter de’Silva has set out to give the styling a sportier feel. The front features a raked windscreen, two-bar grille and LED lights, while a square tailgate and wide wheelarches mark out the rear.

Other design cues include dramatic slashes in the sides – but there are big changes under the skin, too. The car is based on a new architecture called MQB, and the wheelbase has been lengthened. This is designed to make the newcomer more versatile than the previous chassis.

The MkVII will have a larger boot than rivals such as the Ford Focus and Renault Mégane, and promises more rear legroom, too. New engines and a host of hi-tech options will also be available. A wide range of TSI turbocharged editions will join the line-up. They will start with an efficient 1.2-litre 85bhp powerplant that returns 60mpg and emits less than 100g/km of CO2 for entry-level models.

There will also be a 1.4-litre unit, plus a new flagship 2.0-litre petrol turbo. This will deliver 220bhp in the next GTI, and 300bhp in a forthcoming four-wheel-drive R model. Diesel options will include 1.6 and 2.0-litre TDI engines. All models will get stop-start as standard, and VW also plans a 100mpg plug-in hybrid, a mild hybrid and an all-electric version, called the e_BlueMotion.

Entry-level cars will drive the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox, while flagship variants are expected to offer the firm’s seven-speed DSG semi-automatic gearbox. And that’s not all, because the new Golf promises class-leading technology, too.

As with Ford’s latest Focus, an ‘eye’ installed in the front bumper will provide automatic speed limit warnings. It will also give a link to the advanced lane departure warning set-up. The new Golf will also be available with a system that helps the car avoid low-speed collisions, plus blindspot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.

Inside, an advanced trip computer is expected to offer Web access, as well as the very latest sat-nav and phone connectivity systems. It will be a while before the MkVII hits the road, but it looks set to be well worth the wait.

For an alternative review of the latest Volkswagen Golf visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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21 Comments

Pfff

If this is the mark VII cheers for the mk V or VI owners. If these are your pictures...hold them.

By giorikas81 on 25 July, 2011, 6:59pm

A Saloon for the first time???

If you are not aware there already is a VW Golf Saloon, it is called the Jetta. Previous incarnations of it have been named Bora, Vento and also Jetta.

By hotredman on 25 July, 2011, 10:36pm

Why "semi-automatic"

Why is the DSG box classed as semi-automatic. Driving with one is similar to the torque convertor box, i.e., put it in D and drive it. Also there is the option to manually change gears, once again, as with a TC box

By cfhughes on 25 July, 2011, 11:20pm

How novel

If this is the real car then it's a Polo on steroids well done for another fine piece of innovative design VW

By tr_4_triumph on 26 July, 2011, 6:43am

LeBaronet

If this is really what the Mk V11 looks like then it perpetuates the boring old fashioned look.
A year away from launch, their competitors will be laughing all the way to the DVLT.

By leBaronet on 26 July, 2011, 7:51am

"next year’s most exciting new family car"

Give me a break!

And is it only me, or does the front have a really smug git look to it?

By gherkins123 on 26 July, 2011, 8:10am

no doubt its a lovely car.....but

but - just because Audi can design one car and pop it on the photocopier at 110% to create the rest of their range - dosent mean VW can pull the same trick.

If a company like Kia can produce a stunning range of cars, surely VW can (even if Kia do have the VW stylist)..... maybe the new Kias were how the VWs were gonna look?

By wmtmarine on 26 July, 2011, 8:10am

Same old, same old.......

A bland, boring big seller.
VW and "drop dead gorgeous looks" are words that are never used in the same sentence.

By toycollector on 26 July, 2011, 11:33am

Another dramatic Golf design...

cant wait, LOL

By cousins11 on 26 July, 2011, 12:48pm

think VW is the latest victim to the infectious virus caught by Audi and Aston that lets play it safe with the exterior design and don't change it. So many new Mark Golfs have come out but there is hardly anything substantial to say about them other than very good German engines.

By corsamani on 26 July, 2011, 1:36pm

alessio

hahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaa

Stupid boring Volkskraut golf 5 6 7 .
3 times facelift same garbage

Numbers say all

By alessio215 on 26 July, 2011, 5:09pm

Ilustration...

This is not a official VW photos but just AE ilustrators renderings...hence comment in above article:"But the key model is this five-door hatch, which our illustrators have recreated using inside information."
So chill' out everyone...

By Sladjan75 on 26 July, 2011, 6:00pm

Shrunken Passat!

... and if it rattles like my Golf VI then..VW kann dieses Auto herauf ihren Arsch haften

By stevecrang on 26 July, 2011, 8:27pm

VW Group lovers part 2

Does VW Group have a stake in Auto Express/Bild. Just looking at the homepage. The "New Reviews" section, seems to have more VW group cars there than any other brand.
Out of the 13 new review cars, only ONE is non VW group, being the Range Rover Evoque.

By hotredman on 26 July, 2011, 10:11pm

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By ansdka on 27 July, 2011, 9:19am

keep it covered

looks so much better when it's covered..Looks like a shoe box!

By liverpool on 15 November, 2011, 10:21pm

Snore

Another yawn-inducing Golf. If this is the best VW can do, I fear for the future of humanity. I wonder if the "dramatic slashes" are Volvo-esque "shoulders"? So passe, Walt.

By CrystalBall on 25 November, 2011, 1:47am

You get what you pay for?

?? Why do they cost so much? a third of the cost must go towards VW's massive marketing budget..

By liverpool on 26 November, 2011, 2:33pm

choose something else vw golf drivers!!! A new 2012 hyundai i30 and kia ceed is coming out this year. be different!!!

By NeilR on 22 January, 2012, 7:23pm

Buy a Toyota! No problems!!!!!

By petegeoff on 15 March, 2012, 10:14am

downunder

Oh no!Not putting on weight again to loose sales.

By tay113 on 5 April, 2012, 4:18pm

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Volkswagen Golf MkVII
Volkswagen Golf MkVII

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