Introducing the last petrol Volkswagen Golf. Golf Mk8.5 became more powerful, got a voice assistant based on ChatGPT and a steering wheel with normal keys

Concern Volkswagen AG officially presented the updated model Golf eighth generation (here and designation – Mk8.5). This will be the last Golf with petrol engines: it will be replaced by an electric vehicle, although for some time petrol and pure electric versions will be offered in parallel.

The new Golf increased in power and equipment, but the exterior practically did not change. And yet it preserved the mechanical box transmission in the basic versions: judging by everything, in Europe the manual transmission dies together with the DVC, and not earlier.

The biggest innovation in the design – these are new LED anti-fog headlights and new lighting technology with illuminated logo, as well as a luminous jumper between the headlights – like in the electric mobile ID. Rear lamps received volumetric graphics.

The updated car received four new colors and five new versions of wheel disks ranging in size from 16 to 19 inches. All trim levels (Life, Style, R-Line, GTE and GTI) received slightly updated bumpers, in all versions, starting with Style, a black roof.

Volkswagen showed the interior of the Golf Mk8.5 at the CES show, so there’s nothing particularly new here. The car finally received a steering wheel with physical buttons (earlier in the top versions the keys were touch-sensitive, and there was a lot of interference from the driver’s side), voice assistant based on ChatGPT (later it will appear and in other models Volkswagen), media system with a screen diagonal 12,9 inches (in basic versions the screen is smaller – 10,4 inches). Among the optional equipment – ​​projection screen.

The basic Volkswagen Golf is equipped with a petrol engine 1,5 TSI with a capacity of 113 or 148 hp, both variants are combined with a mechanical box transmission. The «mild» hybrid 1.5 eTSI has the same power options, but the transmission here is different – ​​the branded 7-door «robot» DSG.

Top gasoline motor – two-liter turbocharged with a capacity of 201 hp, it is also combined with a 7-stage «robot». Diesel versions – with a 2.0-litre motor with a capacity of 113 hp. (with MKPP) or 148 l.s. (with «robot»).

Hybrid named eHybrid has a power of 201 hp. and 6-speed DSG box. Capacity of traction battery – 10,6 or 19,7 kW·h, maximum range – 100 km. For comparison, the maximum range of the previous eHybrid – 80 km. According to Volkswagen itself, the hybrid Golf is capable of traveling up to 1000 km on a tank of petrol.