Preview: Volkswagen Golf Mark VI

Click here for all the official information and pictures for the 2009 Volkswagen Golf Mark VI

Volkswagen fans will have to wait longer than originally planned for the next-gen Golf. The volume seller will now hit dealerships in late 2008 according to VW’s production development exec Ulrich Hackenberg who spoke with reporters from Bloomberg. This is contrary to previous reports that suggested VW was fast–tracking development on the next model because of declining sales in the US, and tougher competition from radically styled models such as Honda’s new Civic. “We are right on track'' and “where we want to be,” Hackenberg said, a good sign for one of the highest selling cars on the road today.

Original plans under the guidance of former chief Bernd Pischetsrieder would have seen the car released at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show, but VW’s new head Martin Winterkorn has pushed back its release to accommodate styling changes and increases in quality levels. These latest renderings reveal the new design for the Mark VI Golf, showing that designers are keeping with the current model’s stylish yet conservative looks. The previous design would have seen the next Golf wearing teardrop shaped headlights as used by the Eos convertible.

There could be a shakeup of the current lineup with the possibility of the two-door version being dropped in favor of the all-new Scirocco, with the Golf coming as a four-door hatch and as a people carrier with the Europe-only Golf Plus. There will be numerous engine choices for the new Golf including a new 1.6L TSI engine developing 200hp as well as a high-performance 2.0L version with 260hp in the GTI. A rumored top of the line 3.6L FSI V6 engine taken from the Passat R36 and developing 281hp will round out the Golf range.

With climate change a major part of today’s current affairs VW has also announced a 30% more fuel-efficient version. This stems from the VW Polo BlueMotion released late last year. The BlueMotion models utilize slow-shift gear boxes that reduce fuel consumption as well as low-resistance tires to save extra fuel.