Volkswagen Golf Mk 7 due in 2012?

If at all that is true, then the current Mk 6 model cycle would be the shortest among all Golf generations. The Mk 5 was after all running from 2003 to 2009 while the preceding Mk 4 Golf production has equal longevity from 1997 to 2003.

Could it be that the current generation of Golf Mk 6 uses a slightly modified platform of the Golf Mk 5? And that the overall dimensions and silhouette shadows much of its predecessor? Perhaps in German automotive application just a major facelift of the Mk 5?

As such, the Golf Mk 7 will be a completely new model. To be built on a new platform known as MQB - which will have a longer wheelbase yet lighter - the all-new 2012 Golf will allow the introduction of hybrid powertrains which include petrol-electric and diesel-electric combos. The Mk 7 Golf will probably sport a full-EV variant rumoured to debut a year later in 2013.

Expect the following pure internal combustion range of 1.2-litre TSI engine (86 and 105 hp), 1.4-litre TSI engine (122 hp and 160 hp), 1.6-litre TDI engine (90 hp and 105 hp), 2.0-litre TDI engine (140 hp, 170 hp and 220 hp). The Mk 7 Golf GTI and Golf R versions are likely still powered by top-range 2.0-litre TSI engine (220 hp and 300 hp).

The all-new Mk 7 Golf is expected to be unveiled by end 2012, with production target for the Mk 6 to be around 1.6 millions units. In contrast, the Mk 5 with its good-and-ripe 6-years production run had clocked up some 2.3 million units.

VW Golf GTI Mk6

Here are some images of a finalised pre-production unit of the new Golf GTI Mk6, slated to go on sale in later part of this year. Power is expected to come from the same turbocharged 4-pot with direct gasoline (petrol) injection, albeit bumped up to 210ps and likely higher torque of perhaps 300Nm (?). No official performance figures are available as yet, but you can expect sub-7 secs 0-100km/h sprint to be maintained with the use of VW's superb DSG twin-clutch tranny. A marginally higher top speed will be possible with the gain of 10ps in horsepower over the stock standard Mk5 Golf GTI.




More significantly, the Mk6 Golf GTI will sport Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC), VW speak for adaptive damping, throttle response tweaks and variable steering weight/assistance, all dialled by a switch on the dash, much like Audi Drive Select, as experienced in the new A4 (B8) 1.8TFSI.

It remains to be seen whether the Mk6 GTI will sport an LSD called XDS to rein in the potential understeer should the GTI go near torque figures like 350Nm or even loftier levels (great for aftermarket ABT rechip/remap et al)!

Still want that 3-door Scirocco or this real deal GTI? Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM) will launch the former sometime H2 2009 (and the Mk6 Golf 1.4 TSI along the way) but no words on this iconic hot hatch yet being available this year.







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VW Golf GTI Mk6 Concept