Weirded Out by the Idea of a Golf GTI Mild Hybrid? You May Have Been Worrying for Nothing

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Volkswagen has big plans for mild hybrid powertrains and fully electric vehicles, but the perpetually popular Golf GTI’s successor won’t be a point of contention for motoring purists. That’s because VW has reportedly pulled a screeching U-turn on that model’s electrification.

According to Autocar, the eighth-generation Golf’s hot (but not hottest) hatch variant won’t go the hybrid route. Instead, company engineers have concerned themselves with incremental improvements over the current model. No electro-mobility here; just fun hatch.

Slated for an early 2020 debut, the upcoming GTI was originally expected to bow with a mild hybrid setup allowing a touch of gas-free boost during acceleration and fuel-free coasting. In that hypothetical model’s wake, the Mk8 GTI forgoes electric assist in favor of an updated 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, mated to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

America’s current GTI generates 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft; Autocar claims outputs of 252 and 286 hp for the European market come 2020, with the latter version of the engine appearing in a TCR-badged version of the car. Standard torque rises to 273 lb-ft, the publication states, which is only 7 lb-ft less than today’s top-flight Golf R.

The about-face is apparently the doing of VW Group boss Herbert Diess, who scrapped plans put in place by his predecessor, Matthias Müller. Mild hybrids are still on the way, just not for the GTI. Eighth-generation Golfs will see a 1.5-liter mild hybrid setup.

Offered only as a five-door, the upcoming GTI adopts an upgraded version of the MQB platform and, reportedly, more aggressive front end styling. Engineers are said to be going to town on the car’s steering in the hopes of improving feedback.

[Images: © 2018 Chris Tonn/TTAC]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Sportyaccordy Sportyaccordy on Feb 04, 2019

    I think it could be a good thing, especially if they paired it with a VR6 rather than the 2.0T. Hopefully they do that with the next R.

  • Jalop1991 Jalop1991 on Feb 04, 2019

    "No electro-mobility here; just fun hatch. " You act as if the two concepts are mutually exclusive. They're not. The GTI has, and will continue to have, automated start/stop, for instance. So it needs more power for that. Adding a bit more in there for other things, including a small boost off the line, is easy and relatively cheap--and does nothing to take the car down in stature, other than in the minds of those who think "hurr durr, electric bad, must have giganto cylinders gulping air and fuel at all times".

    • Art Vandelay Art Vandelay on Feb 04, 2019

      I think it has more to do with weight than anything else. People who buy these cars do care about that...I know I did

  • 3-On-The-Tree I’m sure they are good vehicles but you can’t base that on who is buying them. Land Rovers, Bentley’ are bought by Robin Leaches’s “The Rich and Famous” but they have terrible reliability.
  • SCE to AUX The fix sounds like a bandaid. Kia's not going to address the defective shaft assemblies because it's hard and expensive - not cool.
  • Analoggrotto I am sick and tired of every little Hyundai Kia Genesis flaw being blown out of proportion. Why doesn't TTAC talk about the Tundra iForce Max problems, Toyota V35A engine problems or the Lexus 500H Hybrid problems? Here's why: education. Most of America is illiterate, as are the people who bash Hyundai Kia Genesis. Surveys conducted by credible sources have observed a high concentration of Hyundai Kia Genesis models at elite ivy league universities, you know those places where students earn degrees which earn more than $100K per year? Get with the program TTAC.
  • Analoggrotto NoooooooO!
  • Ted “the model is going to be almost 4 inches longer and 2 inches wider than its predecessor”Size matters. In this case there is 6” too much.
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