Skip advert
Advertisement

VW’s five-year cycle means even more new cars

Volkswagen will replace core models like the Golf and Passat every five years, with facelifts after three

Volkswagen is embarking on a five-year lifecycle of its products to better reflect market and customer demands.

It will mean that core cars like the VW Golf will be replaced after every five years helping the German giant get the most out of its already flexible product range.

“We will reduce the lifecycle of our products to better align with customers’ buying habits,” Volkswagen of America’s vice president for marketing and strategy, Joerg Sommer told Auto Express. “A five-year lifecycle will cut two years off our current lifecycle.”

Advertisement - Article continues below

When a new Volkswagen is launched under the new lifecycle, it will have a facelift and refresh after three years before being replaced completely after five years.

Volkswagen's US investment

Sommer was talking at Volkswagen’s Electronic Research Laboratory (ERL) in California’s Silicon Valley. The ERL is the largest VW research facility outside of Germany and finds ways of integrating current trends in the techie Silicon Valley into the next generation of Volkswagen Group cars – from Skodas to Bugattis.

Volkswagen is pumping $7billion into new products and facilities in the USA from now until 2018 – an investment which will easily have an effect on Volkswagen’s activities in European countries such as the UK.

The company is currently focusing on rolling out the Golf hatchback in the United States – first with GTI and standard Golf models earlier this year, the all-electric e-Golf this month, and the Golf R and Estate (called Sports Wagon in the US) next year.

However, aside from the Golf, Volkswagen of America is also focusing on producing more models in the A and B segments, and in particular the ever-growing SUV sectors.

Volkswagen CrossBlue SUV concept

A new seven-seat SUV will arrive in 2016 that will be built at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant – a facility that currently builds the US-spec Passat. It’ll use VW’s flexible MQB platform and is expected to sit below the Touareg and Tiguan SUVs. It was previewed by the CrossBlue Concept of 2013.

Although Sommer stipulated it’s only for the US, the new SUV is likely to come to the UK as it’ll tap into the popular seven-seat SUV market. Thanks to the MQB platform, the car could easily makes its way across the Pond to allow Volkswagen to compete in a market it’s currently not in. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best new cars coming in 2024
Best new cars coming in 2024 - header image
Best cars & vans

Best new cars coming in 2024

There are some big new models from the likes of BMW, Citroen, Dacia, Ford, MINI, Skoda and more on the way in 2024
12 Mar 2024
New Volkswagen Tayron spotted as seven-seat alternative to the Tiguan
Volkswagen Tayron (camouflaged) - front action
News

New Volkswagen Tayron spotted as seven-seat alternative to the Tiguan

Volkswagen had initially sold the Tayron exclusively in China but it’ll come to Europe later this year
22 Feb 2024
Volkswagen ChatGPT to gain ‘level 2’ software update later this year
Steve Fowler in the Volkswagen Golf facelift at CES
News

Volkswagen ChatGPT to gain ‘level 2’ software update later this year

A ‘two-way conversation’ will soon be possible with your new Volkswagen
21 Feb 2024
Match of the day! Volkswagen Match trim returns in range-wide value boost
Volkswagen ID.7 Pro Match - front tracking
News

Match of the day! Volkswagen Match trim returns in range-wide value boost

Match specification is now available on 10 models in the VW line-up, including the new Tiguan and ID.7 flagship EV
30 Jan 2024

Most Popular

“MG is easily outselling Jaguar, Land Rover and Bentley combined”
Opinion - MG4
Opinion

“MG is easily outselling Jaguar, Land Rover and Bentley combined”

The wave of Chinese cars has arrived in the UK, and Mike Rutherford thinks it’s not about to stop any time soon
17 Mar 2024
New Skoda Epiq electric SUV revives the spirit of the Yeti
Skoda Epiq - front
News

New Skoda Epiq electric SUV revives the spirit of the Yeti

The all-electric Skoda Epiq crossover SUV is set to be fully unveiled next year and is likely to cost around £22,000
15 Mar 2024
Car Deal of the Day: brand new, top-spec VW Tiguan SUV for way less than you think
Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line - front tracking
News

Car Deal of the Day: brand new, top-spec VW Tiguan SUV for way less than you think

The all-new third generation of Volkswagen’s smash hit mid-size SUV is our Car Deal of the Day for 14 March
14 Mar 2024