More power for the Volkswagen Golf GTI. What changes will the facelift bring?
The Volkswagen Golf will soon see its eighth-generation model undergo a facelift, marking significant visual and technical changes. British magazine "Autocar" has reported the planned enhancements for the sports versions.
10:42 AM EDT, October 30, 2023
Volkswagen is gearing up for the debut of the refreshed eighth-generation model - the Golf 8.5. Both standard and sports versions of the model will experience changes. Importantly for car enthusiasts, both the GTI and the high-performance R variants will continue to be produced.
As detailed by "Autocar", both variants will benefit from an added power boost of around 20 HP. It's plausible that Volkswagen will opt to apply a mild hybrid system, a move that will concurrently lead to reduced fuel consumption.
The specifics are set to be released in early 2024. Yet, it's already known that revisions won't stop merely at drive power. Volkswagen will also optimize the chassis settings, including both the standard and the adaptive DCC configurations.
Aesthetic advancements in the interior including upgraded multimedia and the return of traditional buttons on the steering wheel will likely be well received by consumers. Volkswagen conceded that over-reliance on touch modules was a misstep, just like the oversight of not illuminating key features - such as the audio system's volume slide or the temperature control panel.
It's noteworthy that the Golf GTI will hit its 50th anniversary in 2026. No doubt, Volkswagen will have something special in their works to commemorate this milestone.