Golf Refresh Imminent, Volkswagen Celebrates With Retro Photos

Matthew Guy
by Matthew Guy

Next year will mark five decades since Volkswagen presented its first Golf, showing up with front-wheel drive and its engine ahead of the driver unlike the loaded-diaper Beetle. The model, currently in its eighth generation (or Mk8 as forum dweebs like to say) will receive some freshening for the big party in 2024 – and VW has decided to mark the occasion with a few retro photos.


If you’re looking for a way in which to while away the time at yer desk during these nebulous few days between Christmas and New Year’s, when no one’s sure what day it is and we’re all filled with cheese, may we gently suggest pointing an internet browser to this page on VW’s media site. There is a wealth of Golf history and, more importantly, entertaining snaps of the model from different eras along with more than a few creative print ads. Go mad and use up the company bandwidth – we won’t tell.


As for the upcoming Golf refresh, VW released a typical teaser shot which only reveals new lighting signatures up front plus a potential massaging of the bumper style. The company also promises Der Golf 8.5 will have new assist systems and “next-generation infotainment systems and software.” The latter is likely to be hauled from the brand’s SUV lineup where a wholesale rethink of such tech is mercifully underway in an effort to bin some of the, erm, odd UX decisions of present-day VW infotainment systems.


The bumf also talks in vague terms about new powertrains, though nothing is mentioned with even the slightest amount of specificity. There’s every chance in the world that the GTI may gain a few ponies from its current 241-horse stable, though any movement on that trim would likely necessitate also cranking the wick on the R, a machine which is presently good for 315 horsepower.


The company promises a premiere of the updated Golf (not next-gen, as VW themselves call the changes an ‘evolutionary development’) is just a few weeks away, suggesting versions might land on dealer lots this side of the pond before Santa shows up again.


[Images: Volkswagen]


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Matthew Guy
Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

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  • 3SpeedAutomatic 3SpeedAutomatic on Dec 30, 2023

    Back in the day when you were actually in control of the car.

    No anti-lock, no power steering, no power windows. Maybe a stereo, flip open roof panel, 5 speed stick, stiff suspension but your buns were firmer back then. 🚗🚗🚗


    Today, you drive a rechargeable toaster in muted colors. 🚫🚫🚫


    • Teddyc73 Teddyc73 on Mar 20, 2024

      Yeah, and cars with "No anti-lock, no power steering, no power windows. Maybe a stereo, flip open roof panel, 5 speed stick, stiff suspension" were horrible.

  • Inside Looking Out Inside Looking Out on Jan 01, 2024

    Back to the future.

  • Bd2 Lexus is just a higher trim package Toyota. ^^
  • Tassos ONLY consider CIvics or Corollas, in their segment. NO DAMNED Hyundais, Kias, Nissans or esp Mitsus. Not even a Pretend-BMW Mazda. They may look cute but they SUCK.I always recommend Corollas to friends of mine who are not auto enthusiasts, even tho I never owed one, and owned a Civic Hatch 5 speed 1992 for 25 years. MANY follow my advice and are VERY happy. ALmost all are women.friends who believe they are auto enthusiasts would not listen to me anyway, and would never buy a Toyota. They are damned fools, on both counts.
  • Tassos since Oct 2016 I drive a 2007 E320 Bluetec and since April 2017 also a 2008 E320 Bluetec.Now I am in my summer palace deep in the Eurozone until end October and drive the 2008.Changing the considerable oils (10 quarts synthetic) twice cost me 80 and 70 euros. Same changes in the US on the 2007 cost me $219 at the dealers and $120 at Firestone.Changing the air filter cost 30 Euros, with labor, and there are two such filters (engine and cabin), and changing the fuel filter only 50 euros, while in the US they asked for... $400. You can safely bet I declined and told them what to do with their gold-plated filter. And when I changed it in Europe, I looked at the old one and it was clean as a whistle.A set of Continentals tires, installed etc, 300 EurosI can't remember anything else for the 2008. For the 2007, a brand new set of manual rec'd tires at Discount Tire with free rotations for life used up the $500 allowance the dealer gave me when I bought it (tires only had 5000 miles left on them then)So, as you can see, I spent less than even if I owned a Lexus instead, and probably less than all these poor devils here that brag about their alleged low cost Datsun-Mitsus and Hyundai-Kias.And that's THETRUTHABOUTCARS. My Cars,
  • NJRide These are the Q1 Luxury division salesAudi 44,226Acura 30,373BMW 84,475Genesis 14,777Mercedes 66,000Lexus 78,471Infiniti 13,904Volvo 30,000*Tesla (maybe not luxury but relevant): 125,000?Lincoln 24,894Cadillac 35,451So Cadillac is now stuck as a second-tier player with names like Volvo. Even German 3rd wheel Audi is outselling them. Where to gain sales?Surprisingly a decline of Tesla could boost Cadillac EVs. Tesla sort of is now in the old Buick-Mercury upper middle of the market. If lets say the market stays the same, but another 15-20% leave Tesla I could see some going for a Caddy EV or hybrid, but is the division ready to meet them?In terms of the mainstream luxury brands, Lexus is probably a better benchmark than BMW. Lexus is basically doing a modern interpretation of what Cadillac/upscale Olds/Buick used to completely dominate. But Lexus' only downfall is the lack of emotion, something Cadillac at least used to be good at. The Escalade still has far more styling and brand ID than most of Lexus. So match Lexus' quality but out-do them on comfort and styling. Yes a lot of Lexus buyers may be Toyota or import loyal but there are a lot who are former GM buyers who would "come home" for a better product.In fact, that by and large is the Big 3's problem. In the 80s and 90s they would try to win back "import intenders" and this at least slowed the market share erosion. I feel like around 2000 they gave this up and resorted to a ton of gimmicks before the bankruptcies. So they have dropped from 66% to 37% of the market in a quarter century. Sure they have scaled down their presence and for the last 14 years preserved profit. But in the largest, most prosperous market in the world they are not leading. I mean who would think the Koreans could take almost 10% of the market? But they did because they built and structured products people wanted. (I also think the excess reliance on overseas assembly by the Big 3 hurts them vs more import brands building in US). But the domestics should really be at 60% of their home market and the fact that they are not speaks volumes. Cadillac should not be losing 2-1 to Lexus and BMW.
  • Tassos Not my favorite Eldorados. Too much cowbell (fins), the gauges look poor for such an expensive car, the interior has too many shiny bits but does not scream "flagship luxury", and the white on red leather or whatever is rather loud for this car, while it might work in a Corvette. But do not despair, a couple more years and the exterior designs (at least) will sober up, the cowbells will be more discreet and the long, low and wide 60s designs are not far away. If only the interiors would be fit for the price point, and especially a few acres of real wood that also looked real.
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