the eighth generation is the most advanced ever

IT IS ALWAYS YOU, BUT MORE LEAVING – Like the seven generations that preceded it, the new edition of Volkswagen Golf it does not appear revolutionary on an aesthetic level, maintaining the proportions and volumes of the model that is about to retire, with the clear and precise design that distinguishes it. For example, the appearance of the front (which always retains a thin mask, although all new and wider) and of the profile, where the classic robust rear roof pillar is noted, do not change. At first glance, however, this eighth generation of the Golf appears to be more streamlined and sporty, with the headlamps and the thinner elongated headlights, the bonnet with two noticeable ribs, the wraparound front bumper and, on the rear, the sides that widen just below the windows.

NEW PURE THE BRAND – To accentuate the sporting character of the Volkswagen Golf contributes the lowered roof line, which makes the new Golf seem longer and wider than the previous one; in reality, the dimensions change little, with a length of 428 cm (before they were 426), a width, unchanged, of 179 cm and a height of 146 cm (against 149); the step is 264 cm (they were 262). And in the center of the mask stands the new logo of the house, essential, in black and white (here, the news).

VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTATION – The interiors of the new change a lot Volkswagen Golf, with the soft dashboard in the upper part that continues in the door trims and the two displays of the virtual dashboard and of the multimedia system well connected together. Especially in the richer configuration, with the 10.3 "digital dashboard that joins the 10" screen of the multimedia system (the standard one is 8.3 ") so that it looks like a single surface. The instrumentation allows numerous customizations, all characterized by a modern and refined graphic; scenographic the one that projects the navigator's maps in full screen. The head-up display is also clear and well made, displaying information on the gear and GPS on a large portion of the windscreen behind the steering wheel.

ALL DIGITAL – A sort of revolution has been accomplished in terms of digital content and interface between driver and machine. The new Volkswagen Golf, in fact, it is full of bright displays (there is also one, small, in the central rear cabinet, which displays the temperature and air flow of the "climate" for those sitting on the sofa) and replaces the physical buttons, with tactile and vocal commands. Even the keys for opening and closing the glass roof (located in the ceiling), and the keys for turning the headlights on and off and the windscreen and rear window heating on the left of the steering wheel are “digital”: they seemed reactive and pleasing to us use. The multimedia system that can be used with voice commands or by touching the surface of the touch screen is valuable. Or, again, with the virtual keys below the display: some (such as what is needed to raise and lower the radio volume or the "climate" temperature) also work as sliders, like sliders. Pleasant the tiny DSG robotised gear lever, making the console console even more “clean” with very few physical controls.

ALWAYS CONNECTED – In the new Volkswagen Golf all third-generation MIB3 infotainment systems are combined with a SIM card, which guarantees access to a set of online functions and services (constantly growing, securing the home). These are the Volkswagen We Connect and We Connect Plus packages which may include, according to the layout, also streaming and web-radio, opening and closing doors from the mobile phone, hotspots and updating online maps . In addition to the report on the status of the machine and the use of the smartphone as a mobile digital key. The voice command has also been improved: it is activated by saying “hello Volkswagen”, it understands normal, intuitive, unencoded questions and through unpublished digital microphones it also recognizes the origin of the voice, locating the interlocutor (driver, front or rear passenger): for example, if the person sitting next to the driver says "I'm cold", the system responds by raising the temperature of the dual "climate" only on the right side. It is also possible to integrate Amazon's Alexa app (already used in home automation applications), and to store driver settings via the cloud.

CONTINUOUS CUSTOMIZATION – As for comfort, among the options are the three-zone “climate” and the heating of the front and rear seats. Do not miss the Harman Kardon hi-fi with 10 speakers and a power of 400 watts. Another novelty is the possibility of varying the ambient light: as a standard it emits only one color, but it can reach up to 30 shades. And for the first time the Volkswagen Golf it allows not only to update the on-board systems, but also to complete them (with the online on-demand function, via We Upgrade from the screen of the multimedia system), adding new functions. Thus, after the purchase it is possible to activate the adaptive cruise control (the hardware, ie camera and radar, is already present from the basic version), the control of the automatic high beams, the navigator and the hotspot.

AN EYE OF QUALITY … – The cabin of the new Volkswagen Golf it is nice and spacious (it remains a bit uncomfortable, as often happens, the central seat of the sofa, more rigid and with the tunnel high on the floor): the materials of the upper part are soft and pleasing to the eye, the seat covers have a robust appearance and virtual controls are well made. The dashboard, developed horizontally, has an elegant appearance, with the dashboard and multimedia system screens "resting" on the shelf that crosses it from door to door, the extended air vents of the "climate", the elegant tactile keys and the console slightly turned towards the driver.

… AND ONE TO THE PRACTICALITY – Many details also show attention to practicality: the numerous storage compartments have a non-slip rubber bottom, the armrest between the two front seats is smooth and the front seat belt attachment is height-adjustable. The drawer in front of the front passenger is deep and equipped with light, however it is not refrigerated or lockable. Original, and practical, the lighting system of the courtesy lights on the ceiling (both in front and behind): just touch them with a finger to turn them on or off; while, holding it down on the lamp, the light intensity increases or decreases. In the central rear cabinet (made with a slightly thin and rigid plastic, like the pockets in the doors) there are two USB Type-C sockets and, above, the display of the three-zone "climate" and the keys for heating the two seats side. The central armrest of the sofa hides the trapdoor that communicates with the trunk, to let longer objects pass. Furthermore, in the back of the front seat backrests there are three fabric pockets: practical ones at the top, which can accommodate a cell phone (perhaps, while charging connected to one of its Usb sockets on the cabinet). The trunk is well done, with the bottom that can be fixed on two positions in height.

FIVE HYBRID VERSIONS – The range of engines (eight in total) of the new one Volkswagen Golf provides some important innovations: alongside diesel and petrol (the latter also combined with the methane system), mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions are available (with power ratings from 90 to 300 hp). Among the traditional non-hybrid petrol engines are the 1.0 TSI three-cylinder 90 and 110 hp turbos and the four-cylinder 130 TSI 130 and 150 hp with the ACT cylinder deactivation system. The units up to 130 HP use the Miller combustion cycle: the compression phase of the cylinders is shortened compared to the expansion phase, to improve efficiency. The turbodiesels are 2.0 with 115 and 150 HP (which can also be combined with all-wheel drive). The mild-hybrid versions, called eTSI, have powers of 110, 130 and 150 HP: to reduce the consumption of the petrol engine they use a starter / generator, which recharges a 48-volt lithium battery in slow motion (transforms the 'kinetic energy in electricity), while in traction the driving torque increases. The system allows inertia to advance, with the heat engine off, always to improve efficiency. Then there are the two rechargeable Hybrid Golfs: 204 horses for the eHybrid and 245 for the GTE. Both use an electric motor combined with a 1.4 petrol engine. The lithium ion battery has a capacity of 13 kWh: the autonomy in electric is not yet declared, but should exceed 50 km ..

"DIALOGUE" WITH OTHER CARS – News also in the security chapter. In fact, in addition to in-lane maintenance and automatic emergency braking (with the recognition of pedestrians and cyclists), as standard, the new Volkswagen Golf among the optional it offers also the adaptive cruise control with the predictive speed regulation thanks to the indications obtained by the navigator on the type of route (which "sees" bends, roundabouts and intersections in advance) and detecting the signs. It is active up to 210 km / h and allows the car to proceed autonomously (Traffic Jam Asist) without active intervention by the driver on steering, accelerator and brakes (while keeping the steering wheel safely). Furthermore, the new Car2X function is present, which provides for an exchange of car information with the other connected cars and with the road traffic infrastructures within a radius of 800 meters (an operation that takes place in real time and completely independent of the telephone network). The Car2X communication (a standard accessible to all manufacturers in Europe) allows, for example, to alert cars equipped with this system with the arrival of an ambulance (with warnings in the digital dashboard), so as to allow the rapid formation of an emergency lane for the passage of the emergency vehicle. Or, in the event that a vehicle far ahead of the Golf brakes suddenly, the brake lights quickly activate to allow those behind to react more quickly.

INTELLIGENT LED LIGHTS – In terms of security there is also to note that all versions of the Volkswagen Golf have full led headlights as standard. And, among the options, there are the IQ.Light matrix headlights (for the first time on an average car), consisting of 22 diodes for each headlight, which turn on and off individually to improve visibility of the road in the dark and not dazzle the vehicles that are in front or those that come in the opposite direction. The information received from the front camera, from the GPS and those relative to the steering angle and speed, are analyzed by a control unit that acts on each module. New for Golf also the function that reduces glare on wet asphalt (the light beam is reduced by automatically lowering the intensity of the IQ.Light in this area and the road is lit more widely) and the one in presence of road signs (the dazzling light on the signs is precisely attenuated, so that the reflected light of the headlights does not disturb the driver).

FROM THE SPRING 2020 – The new Volkswagen Golf five-door sedan will be in dealerships starting in March 2020; the wagon arrives later, presumably after the summer.