VW Golf 8: Is the bestseller from Volkswagen a discontinued model?

The first impression: Familiar.

That says the manufacturer: "Golf is always," says VW Brand Director Ralf Brandstätter and compares the Germans favorite car with the favorite pullover, which pulls out of the closet for every opportunity. Brandstätter knows, of course, that the "Golf-Pulli" has become a bit of fashion and most people now - for whatever reason - find SUV sexier. He also knows that VW has to make the E-car ID.3 Golf of a new generation, if the group wants to meet the CO2 targets.

Nevertheless, Brandstätter is confident that number eight will make its way. "The pre-orders prove us right," he says, looking at more than 20,000 reservations. The history of golf is far from over: "I see no reason why there should not be a Golf IX and X," he says bravely.

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We noticed that: From the outside, the new VW Golf is an old acquaintance. But after boarding you are sitting in a new world. What the old master lacks in driving to electrical engineering, he makes up for the equipment with electronics. Digital instruments, a large touch screen on which menu tiles can be arranged as easily and individually as on the smartphone, sensor fields instead of switches, the smartphone as a replacement for the car key and instead of rotary controls for temperature or volume, there are now so-called touch slider, the respond to a finger prick. There is also a fairly stable voice recognition and a gesture control for interior or sunroof. The "Innovision Cockpit" may not be as colorful as the MB-UX infotainment system from Mercedes, but in terms of function it is in no way inferior.

In one point, the new VW Golf has remained quite the old: with its absolutely neutral, confident and relaxed driving. The car ironed like a luxury sedan on bad roads. If the oats stand out, you can at the same time drive the standard model precisely through the curves.

In the future, even more electronics will help because, just like LED headlights, a guidance system is always on board. And for an additional charge, there is not only a Travelpilot for almost autonomous driving up to 210 km / h, but for the first time also networking with other vehicles. So the gulf knows of its sensors, what awaits him behind the next corner, and can adjust in time for it.

Take a look inside the VW Golf with our 360 degree photo:

Many of these assistance systems have to be ordered just like the new head-up display when you buy them. But there are also many other extras that can only be activated long after purchase. "Functions on Demand" are the name of these software-based options. One of them is the navigation system, which you can book at any time like a smartphone app and then use it monthly, for a year or the rest of your car's life.

You have to know: the sale of the Golf starts in early December, only then want to give away the Lower Saxony more to the prices. So far, it only means that the price would be "just under 20,000 euros" for the base model with 90 hp and manual transmission.

A total of five electrified engine variants are available. Three gasoline engines with a 48-volt starter generator to mild hybrids, two more gasoline variants, there are with plug-in hybrid technology and an electric range of about 60 kilometers. A pure E-Golf will not exist anymore, considering the ID.3.

VW wants to save the reputation of diesel variants with a new "Twindosing" method. For this, the Ad-Blue solution is injected twice in front of two SCR catalysts arranged one behind the other. According to VW, the process reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80 percent compared to its predecessor. This makes the new TDI engines one of the cleanest combustion engines in the world, the Wolfsburg boast.

The delivery of the new VW Golf models begins in January with initially three gasoline engines (110, 130 or 150 hp) and two diesel engines (115 or 150 hp). Later there will be the plug-in hybrid variants, the GTI and the GTD, and finally a Golf R. In addition, there will be a natural gas golf. While under the hood variety trumps, VW steams the body variants: The station wagon is set for next year again, but the convertible is already history and the Golf Plus with high roof will be there soon.

We will not forget that: The effort when opening the Moto hood. Not that you have to do that very often. But this moment may prove that the Gulf is gradually rising from the throne. Because in the past, the tin lid was lashed by gas shock absorbers, you have to lift the hood now alone with muscle power up - and then keep open with a very ordinary rod.

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