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The Volkswagen Golf Is 50 Years Old Now & The New Mk8.5 Is The Perfect Birthday Present
The Volkswagen Golf turns 50 years old this year and to celebrate this VW has decided to overhaul the eight-gen hatchback into the Golf Mk8.5. The first-generation Volkswagen Golf was introduced to the world in May 1974.
The changes to the updated Golf, which is expected to go electric in its next-gen avatar include a few tweaks to the design, a major upgrade to the infotainment system, a refreshed interior with new material options and upgrades to the powerplants including that of the potent GTi.
The new Golf Mk8.5 showcases a range of styling updates including the now illuminated VW badge, redesigned angular LED headlights, reprofiled front and rear bumper, and new LED taillights, all of which add up to give the updated Golf a sportier look.
The GTI version takes it up a notch with the availability of carbon fibre exterior applications. The Golf GTI also sports updated alloy wheels offered in sizes ranging from 17 to 19 inches and a new spoiler element that further emphasizes its performance-oriented nature.
Inside the cabin, the Golf offers a new multifunction steering wheel, an updated instrument display with new graphic skins and an updated infotainment system that brings back physical buttons. The infotainment system is powered by VW's fourth-gen MIB4 setup and includes a ChatGPT-powered voice assistant that allows drivers to effortlessly control various functions with ease.
The new Golf is powered exclusively by four-cylinder powerplants designed to deliver both power and efficiency. The powerplant includes turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engines with and without mild-hybrid technology, a reworked turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine, and an updated version of the turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel engine.
The plug-in hybrid models have also undergone significant upgrades, featuring a second-generation petrol-electric drivetrain and a larger lithium-ion battery. The GTI variant, powered by the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine has seen its power output bumped up to 261bhp from the Mk8's 242bhp.
The other big change to the GTI is that it is now exclusively offered with VW's 7-speed DSG gearbox after the German firm ditched the 6-speed manual box in favour of its speedy auto shifter. While performance figures have not been released by VW, the new Mk 8.5 GTI is expected to be quicker from 0-100km/h than the pre-facelift hot hatch's time of 6.2 seconds.
Thoughts About The 2024 Volkswagen Golf
With the introduction of the more potent Mk8.5 version with its big list of updates, the Volkswagen Golf has been reinvented to meet the demands of customers who had raised issues, especially with the pre-facelift car's infotainment. With its refreshed styling, refined interior, cutting-edge technology, and revamped powertrain the Golf looks set to reclaim its place atop the European sales charts as it turns 50 years old.
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