Mk VI Golf Previewed

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Motor Authority has a preview of the 2009 Mk VI Golf, which was set to debut at the Geneva Auto Show earlier this year. The new Golf will debut at Paris this fall, after VW CEO Martin Winterkorn ordered a strategic review of the Golf/Scirocco/Tiguan. The next generation of Golfs will boast a new range of engines, including a 1.6-liter TSI making 200hp (for the GT version) and a 2.0-liter four making 260hp (for the GTI). Given the lag between European and American introductions, and the already-delayed release, the neue Golf's stateside debut could now be several years away. Whether the raw, inefficient 2.5-liter mill currently offered in the base North American-market Rabbit will make an unwanted return is likewise a matter of speculation. In any case, the new Golf exhibits the evolutionary design changes one expects from this model. (Zen masters reveal that VW isn't done developing a Golf until it "looks like a Golf.") Mk VI shares much of the heft and proportion of the Mk V, with only mild updates to the headlights, grille and rear quarter. Perhaps if VW had gone just a bit further, the new hatch could have enjoyed the slightly fresher yet still-evolutionary looks of the Mk VI GTI photochopped by our own Andrei Avarvarii.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Vento97 Vento97 on May 07, 2008

    I don't blame the Germans for keeping their better offerings away from the U.S - They see U.S. drivers as incompetant, cell-phone talking, latte drinking, blackberry manipulating, ipod playing, navigation system staring, Fast and Furious imitating idiots that are multiple accidents waiting to happen. Hell, they figure that most of the cars that they import will either wind up in a fender bender, trashed, poorly maintained, or wrapped around a telephone pole.

  • Hal Hal on May 08, 2008

    "I don’t blame the Germans for keeping their better offerings away from the U.S" It's true you won't see many B Class Mercs but isn't the US the main market for AMG, M series and S models? It's wildly inaccurate to call the US the "most competitive market in the world". The domestics haven't competed in the car market for years. When is the last time a domestic car led its class? In Europe you'll find every manufacturer present in the US and several more besides. Compare the Ford range in the US and the UK and weep.

  • Brettc Brettc on May 08, 2008

    In somewhat positive VW news, the first 2009 TDIs have been spotted being transported to your friendly local VW stealer. 1 per dealer will be allocated for test drives for now. VW might need to slow down on making desirable cars available for purchase. I wonder if the TDIs will sell above MSRP this time around with high diesel prices. It'll be interesting to watch. http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/05/06/first-new-vw-jetta-tdis-now-in-transit-to-us-dealers

  • Strippo Strippo on May 08, 2008
    It’s wildly inaccurate to call the US the “most competitive market in the world”. Not really. All that means is that there is cutthroat price competition between automakers here like nowhere else. Or so they say. If anything, the obsession with meeting price points here effectively deprives us of the choices you mention.
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