The eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf will only make its debut in October, so to keep the hype train chugging along, the German carmaker has announced that development work on the C-segment hatchback is almost complete. There’s also a photo of a prototype dressed in some rather psychedelic camouflage to go along with the announcement.
Despite the camouflage doing its work disguising the five-door vehicle, the Mk8 is instantly recognisable as a Golf, albeit a little more curvaceous compared to the outgoing Mk7.5 model.
For a look at the finer details, we can refer to previous spyshots of an undisguised example that we posted earlier this month. Up front, the Mk8 has slimmer headlamps with “tails” that extend close to the wheel arches, with a full-width intake in the lower apron.
The car seen in the spyshots shares a similar front end to the one in Volkswagen’s photo, and is assumed to be the R-Line model. As for the rear, there are now wraparound, L-shaped taillights, while the slim reflectors have been pushed further upwards away from the dual exhaust trims.
Earlier spyshots also gave us a good look at the interior of the new Golf, which has been made to be more upmarket. Highlights include a dual-screen setup, with one acting as the digital instrument cluster while the other is for the infotainment system.
Other visible cues include a long trim piece that stretches across the width of the dashboard, with the air vents placed just beneath it. You’ll also find a redesigned, flat-bottom steering wheel with a smaller centre boss than before.
The new Golf will reportedly ride on an updated MQB platform, and should benefit from weight savings of up to 50 kg. On the powertrain side of things, expect a 48-volt mild hybrid system to be offered with the standard 1.5 TSI and performance-focused GTI petrol models, the latter said to deliver up to 290 hp. The 1.0 litre three-cylinder engine introduced on the Mk7.5 is also likely to be retained.
Meanwhile, the GTE plug-in hybrid model will come with significant improvements to its electric-only range, with claims that it will exceed the current model’s 50 km range. Diesel engines like the EA288 Evo 2.0 litre TDI turbodiesel will get a 12-volt version of the mild hybrid system, while the current 1.6 litre unit is expected to be replaced by a new 1.5 litre unit.
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