2013 Volkswagen Golf Spy Video
0:54 min
Inside Line spy shooters caught prototypes of both the standard Golf and GTI hot weather testing in Death Valley.
2013 Volkswagen Golf Spy Video
Video
2013 Volkswagen Golf Spy Video
0:54 min
This week we have spy footage of the seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf and GTI testing in Death Valley. Based on an all-new vehicle architecture, the new Golf is expected to be larger than the car it replaces -- especially in terms of width. The five door in these photos is a regular Golf given its single exhaust placement on the car's left side. The three-door is a GTI with dual exhausts. The wheels are a bit of a giveaway as well. VW's chairman Martin Winterkorn has said that his company's bread and butter hatchback will be easily recognizable as a Golf, but will apparently push the envelope to a greater degree than any previous generation change. VW's camo job on these prototypes makes it hard to tell if they've accomplished that so we'll just have to wait for the new Golf's debut sometime late next year to see how different it really is.
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todd_bianco says:
02:20 PM, 10/14/2011
I seem to remember reading that the Golf VI was really just a reworked version of the V (kind of like a 5.5 rather than a true 6) and that VW only did it as a stop gap before they could get the full platform sharing benefit of the new platform (that will be used for dozens of VW, Seat, Skoda and Audi products).
I too wish that VW would ditch the 2.5L 5-cylinder mill. It's never been a spectacular performer nor particularly fuel efficient. We all know that VW has much more efficient engines - both gas and diesel - that never see the light of day in the US. The twin charged small engine (I forgot the actual displacement - maybe 1.3 or 1.4L) would be great to see as a frugal but fun gas engine.
And I'd like to see more standard and optional kit for Golf in the US. I know VW thinks it has to be as cheap as possible, but I miss the GTI I had (maybe 2001) that had automatic climate control and rain-sensing wipers.
jm1212 says:
08:42 PM, 10/13/2011
i really hope that VW uses this opportunity to introduce a new, very efficient gas 4-cylinder for the US market. to stay competitive in this market, the Golf is going to need to get at least 35 mpg highway with the gas engine. with the Jetta now placed as the least expensive VW and the Golf always being a more premium offering, this will give VW an opportunity to bring over one of their turbo-supercharged engines that get great fuel economy.
as for the GTI, here's to hoping that it gets an upgraded powertrain with at least 240 hp.
garrym says:
03:30 PM, 10/13/2011
nuieve: I thought the same thing, yet another generation of Golf? And why make it bigger?
eldaino2 says:
09:53 AM, 10/13/2011
5lv8: the only accord that out accelerates the gti is the manual six speed version and its only by a hair. the fastest time i have seen for one was 5.4 seconds, and it was by the clutch abusers at car and driver. i've seen gti's putting down 5.8, and considering the gti has 70hp less, thats freaking awesome. and an accord, even in that trim, still doesnt handle like a gti.
gti drivers have other preferences than base model camaro and mustang drivers. not to mention that you cant really fit a family into either one, but a gti is totally doable as a small family car.
besides, vw is against over 250hp in a fwd car, there's the golf r for that. if you dont like that fact, you'll have to look elsewhere
eldaino2 says:
09:48 AM, 10/13/2011
@jacton: they know better. the mkVI was cheaper to make than the mkV, and it drove nicer, was quiter, got better mpg and had a better interior.
though i do wonder why we are getting it so soon? it may have to do with the fact that europe gets the 'new' golf consistently before we do, by about a year or so. maybe they want to release it in all markets at the same time?
personally i'd love to see a small tsi twincharged as the base engine...it may be a maintenance nightmare out of warranty, but with the power it puts out, and the gas mileage it could acheive, it would give people a reason to get the 'regular' golf over the tdi.
nuieve says:
08:14 AM, 10/13/2011
New generation already? We just got MKVI a year ago!
5lv8 says:
07:09 AM, 10/13/2011
Address the engine's power before making it bigger. The V6 Camaro and V6 Mustang are significantly faster and even the Honda Accord V6 has faster acceleration than the Volkswagen GTI.
ne_blackshirts says:
06:52 AM, 10/13/2011
HEY EDMUNDS when are we going to get a full review of the 2012 GLI's that are already on dealers lots?? Would love to know how it compares to the old GLI's and maybe a head to head with the Buick GS??
jacton says:
06:01 AM, 10/13/2011
Lets hope they don't cheapen the interior like they did with the Jetta.