As the seventh-generation VW Golf nears production, we’re getting a better idea of what to expect. The new car will be lighter, more efficient, and more agile than the current, sixth-generation Golf thanks to an entirely new architecture called MQB. That’s German for “Modularer Querbaukasten,” or modular transverse platform. It will be used throughout the VW Group, and the vast economies of scale will allow VW to spend the money where it counts. Expect premium-class technologies, dual-clutch transmissions, engines with up to 300 hp (a figure reserved for the next R model), hybrid and electric versions, and a level of material quality unknown to this vehicle segment. Many—but not all—of these goodies will be offered in the U.S.
2013 Volkswagen Golf MkVII rendered
The styling gets more angular and aggressive, and our artist also predicts a few glitzy elements. The front bumper is graced, Passat-like, with cornering lamps and fog lights surrounded by chrome strips, and chrome also intersects the taillights, which resemble the units used on the current Golf cabriolet. LED daytime running lights, which will be part of a European-market xenon package, create a visual signature. A rising line that runs from the front to the rear wheel arches helps to mask the height of the Golf’s flanks.
We dig what we see—even if it is only a well-educated guess—and we’re eager to see if and by how much the MkVII Golf improves on the excellent MkVI.
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