First details of new Volkswagen Golf revealed; GTi planned for Paris

Volkswagen has revealed the first details of its seventh-generation Golf--including a classy new interior--at a heavily cloaked press event ahead of the car's official unveiling in September in Berlin.

The Golf, VW's perennial best seller, has raked in worldwide sales of more 29 million cars over 38 years of production. The new model, which is described as being up to 23 percent more economical than its predecessor, is planned to go on sale across Europe in November, replacing today's model, introduced in 2008. North American sales are expected by mid-to-late 2013.

At 167.5 inches long, 70.8 inches wide and 57.2 inches tall, the Golf is 2.2 inches longer and 0.5 inch wider yet 1.1 inches lower than its predecessor.

The new Golf is the first Volkswagen model to use the company's heavily hyped MQB (modular transverse architecture) platform. It also rides on a chassis that uses a 2.3-inch longer wheelbase than today's Golf, while track widths have been increased by 0.3 inch front and rear.

The increase in dimensions is claimed to bring vastly improved crash protection. It also helps boost overall accommodations; the length of the interior has increased by 0.6 inch to 68.9 inches, providing the basis for a 0.6-inch improvement in rear legroom. There is also a 1.2-inch improvement in shoulder room for the front- and rear-seat occupants, respectively. Elbow room is also up by 0.8 inch.

The larger interior has led to a rethink in ergonomics, with the driver's seat shifted back by 0.8 inch, the position of the gear lever raised by 0.8 inch and the distance between the throttle and brake pedals increased by 0.6 inch. Volkswagen has also increased the range of steering wheel adjustment.

Meanwhile, the adoption of an electronic park brake has freed up space on the center console for a larger storage compartment.

Despite the increase in size, Volkswagen claims to have shaved up to 220.5 pounds of weight in comparison with the current car. The saving is achieved through a series of refinements, including the use of a greater percentage of ultra-high-strength steel and tailored blanks (steel members of differing thickness) within the body structure. VW says the steel changes save 50.7 pounds.

Other weight savings come through lighter engines; the new EA211-designated turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder is up to 58.5 pounds lighter than the earlier EA111 unit of the same capacity.

The Golf's suspension, a combination of front MacPherson struts and a rear multilink arrangement, also includes more aluminum components for a 57.3-pound reduction compared with the sixth-gen model.

Volkswagen also points to a 26.7-pound saving in standard equipment levels, some 15.4 pounds of which come in the adoption of a new seat design.

The curb weight comes in at 2,314.9 pounds, a figure the German carmaker says has been achieved without the adoption of expensive aluminum body panels or other exotic materials.

Also included are an electronic differential lock (as previously found on the Golf GTi), adaptive cruise control and traffic sign detection.

Customers will also be able to order the new Golf with the latest generation of automatic parking systems and automated light functions, including light assist and dynamic light assist.

On the chassis front, Volkswagen's head of development, Ulrich Hackenberg, confirms a new progressive steering system offering varying levels of assistance depending on speed, as well as up to five different driving profiles: eco, sport, normal, individual and, in combination with optional adaptive dampers, comfort.

Volkswagen is yet to announce the full range of engine choices for the new Golf. Confirmed is the EA211 turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder direct-injection gasoline unit with cylinder deactivation and about 138 hp. In combination with the company's latest seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, it is claimed to return 49 mpg (U.S.) on the combined European consumption cycle.

Joining it from the outset of European sales will be the by the company's EA288 turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder common-rail diesel with 105 hp and an average fuel consumption of 61.9 mpg (U.S.)

Additionally, Volkswagen plans to preview the new Golf GTi in September in Paris. It receives a 222-hp version of the Audi-developed EA888 turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder direct-injection engine.

In a concerted effort to match the hatchback competition, the seventh-generation Golf model will come with the choice of three different monitors offering a wide selection of navigation, entertainment and information systems. They include a standard 5.0-inch black-and-white screen, optional 5.8-inch color screen and the ultimate, an 8.0-inch 3-D screen.

By Greg Kable