It can be easy to overlook the still-significant global importance of the new Golf when Volkswagen is making as much noise as possible about the ID 3.
Yes, ambitions for global ID 3 sales to reach six figures next year justify the fanfare, but the Golf will remain one of the world’s volume elite: more than 730,000 examples were sold last year. That was soundly beaten by the Toyota Corolla, which managed 930,000 sales in the same period, but the Golf still dominates Europe and VW wants that to remain the case.
New Volkswagen Golf to feature class-leading technology
It’s also arguably as much of an icon for Volkswagen as the Beetle. Around 35 million of the things have been sold since it first revolutionised the mainstream small family car market in 1974 and there’s a clear visual lineage between the generations. This is not about challenging visual norms: the Mk8 will gently evolve the look of the Mk7 because Golf customers like familiarity and subtlety, VW reckons.
One of the biggest challenges VW faces with the Mk8’s is keeping the Mk7 Golf’s consummate all-round appeal. The sheer variety of engines and trims has made the Golf's market positioning broad, crossing all age groups and many income levels. But VW’s intention to reduce range complexity across the board could affect this. Will entry-level versions be as accessible as before? It remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, the Mk8 also has to introduce a dazzling array of new-generation infotainment and technology without spoiling the ergonomic simplicity and while satisfying the perceived quality standards with which today’s Golf is synonymous.
The ID 3 doesn’t seem quite as impressive as the Mk7 Golf in the latter regard, based on poking and prodding a few (admittedly pre-production) examples after the car’s launch. Retaining all of the Golf’s traditional virtues may be a tough ask, and one we’ll await with bated breath.
One day, the Golf as we know it might fade into insignificance. Or, more likely, the ID 3 will eventually become the Golf when EVs become the majority market. But that's still several years away, and for VW to pay off the staggering financial investment it's making in electrification, it will need the Mk8 Golf to keep the party rolling.
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With the ID3, will the Golf
With the ID3, will the Golf EV/GTE no longer be offered?
It was an EV but with common parts to the ubiquitous petrol/diesel models.
As others, and VW themselves said, this is their 3rd act after air cooled rear engined models and water cooled front engined petrols and diesels.
Their water cooled efforts only came to fruition because they absorbed NSU from Mercedes.
Yet another...
...click bait article on the "New" Golf. ZZZzzzzz
Mk 8 Golf is not the most important VW
The Mk 8 golf is not the most important VW anymore. The all electric VW ID-3 is surely the most important Volkswagen. In twenty years time the most important VW models in history will be (1) The Beetle, (2) The 1974 Golf & (3) The VW ID-3.