SPY PICS: VW tees up Golf seven

Only days before Volkswagen reveals the seventh generation Golf hatchback to the world, the final version of the sixth generation, the R Cabrio, has been scooped testing in Europe.

While the R Cabrio is basically a cloth-top version of the 188kW Golf R hatch, Golf 7 is a fundamental overhaul of one of the globe’s most popular and respected small cars. The new Golf  goes on-sale in Europe before the end of the year and reaches Australia mid-2013. The Cabrio R is yet to be confirmed for Australia.

This week VW has started briefing European media on the basics of Golf 7, with UK publications Autocar and Auto Express both carrying extensive reports. The thrust of it all is that Golf 7 is a substantially bigger car than its predecessor, while also being as much as 100kg lighter at a minimum 1050kg. Fuel economy is also improved by as much as 23 per cent.

The look of the car will be revealed to the world at a media event in Berlin on September 4, before going on display at the Paris motor show later in the month. Expect 7 to be an evolution of the Golf hatchback’s current exterior style. Hey when you’ve sold 29 million cars in 38 years you’ve obviously struck onto a successful formula!

Inside, however, the changes will be more substantial. A more driver-centric cockpit is a feature, along with an electric park brake that release storage space. Touch-free screens that sense approaching fingers (no more smears!) are said to be part of the package also.

Underpinning Golf 7 is Volkswagen’s new MQB architecture, which is so versatile it is planned to form the basis of as many as 60 transverse-engine models from the VW Group. By 2018 it could be the basis of as many as 6 million new cars – per annum!

Golf 7’s wheelbase stretches 59mm and overall body length 56mm. It is 13mm wider but 28mm lower. That means the only vital interior measurement to be reduced is headroom, while overall interior length grows 14mm, rear legroom 15mm, front shoulder room 31mm and rear shoulder room 31mm. The boot grows 30 litres to 380 litres, bringing Golf level with its most important European rival, the Ford Focus.

Under the bonnet the Golf will definitely get the new EA211 103k 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine that recently debuted in the smaller Polo. Fitted with direct injection and cylinder deactivation and mated to a seven-speed DSG dual clutch gearbox, it averages just 4.8L/100km (on the European cycle) and emits only 112g CO2/km.

The EA288 77kW1.6-litre turbodiesel will also be in the lineup. It averages 3.8L/100km and emits just 99g CO2/km. Even that is shaded by the next generation Bluemotion turbodiesel, which will drink just 3.2L/100km and emit only 85g/km of CO2. That’s less than a Prius! There are also hybrid and electric versions of Golf coming, along with various other turbo-petrol and diesel engines.

At the other end of the scale is the iconic GTI, which is also anticipated to make its debut in the French capital. Autocar says the new GTI will be fitted with a 165kW version of Audi’s EA888 turbo-petrol engine. That debunks earlier reports of the GTI being upgraded to 200kW. Still, despite the relatively soft 10kW lift in peak power, there’s no doubt the GTI will be faster.

That’s partly thanks to the Golf’s weight reduction. The body is 23kg lighter thanks to the use of ultra-high strength steel and tailored blanks, while weight has also been eked out of the engines, seats and wiring looms. VW proudly boasts the Golf uses no expensive aluminium body panels. The Mac strut/multi-link suspension has also been lightened, while a new speed-dependent variable steering system is part of the dynamic package. Wider tracks front and rear should also play a role in lifting Golf’s already high-quality handling.

Safety and comfort equipment upgrades are also part of the Golf overhaul, including a new multi-collision brake booster, an emergency braking function, adaptive cruise control, lane assist, fatigue detection and traffic sign detection. Automatic parking assistance will be available.

Meanwhile, Carparazzi reports the Golf R Cabrio follows on from the concept unveiled at GTI-Wörthersee in Austria in 2011. The convertible will be distinguished by an aggressive front fascia, aerodynamic side skirts and a centre-mounted dual exhaust system which is not mounted on this prototype yet. Other goodies include a sport-tuned suspension, a high-performance braking system and 19-inch alloy wheels.

Volkswagen says the cabin has Nappa leather sport seats, piano black trim and carbon-fibre accents. Like the standard all-wheel-drive Golf R, power is provided by a turbocharged 2.0 litre engine, enabling the convertible to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in "less than six seconds" and hit a top speed of 250km/h. Unsurprisingly, the Golf R Cabriolet will be the fastest open-top Golf ever.

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