After months of speculation and sneak peak pictures being released on the internet, the 2013 Volkswagen Golf was finally revealed to the world at the Paris Auto Show this weekend.
The seventh-generation Golf is based off of Volkswagen's new MQB modular front-drive architecture-shared with Audi's new A3. The vehicle is 2.2 inches longer, 0.5 inch wider, and 0.8 inch lower than the outgoing model. Volkswagen has said that the new Golf is over 220 pounds lighter than their previous model, thanks to the expanded use of high-strength steel. They also made the wheelbase longer by 2.3 inches, and these changes should allow the latest Golf to lose some of its previously uptight and squared-off look.
The new car's interior marks a more evident break from that of the current Golf, with an animated dashboard design that also includes a new touch-screen infotainment system and accompanying color instrument-cluster display. This is a major upgrade over Golf's dated-looking dashboard touch-screen for the current vehicle. The steering wheel even appears to look different than before, with a more flat bottom for comfort.
Volkswagen has only discussed the European car's engine and transmission lineup thus far. The European Golf engine range will include two diesels and two turbocharged gas-fueled engines.
The diesel outputs are 105 hp for the smaller 1.6-liter and 150 hp for the top-dog 2.0-liter. The base gas engine offers up 1.2 liters of displacement and 85 hp. A five-speed manual is typical with the 1.6-liter diesel and 1.2-liter gas four, compared to the 2.0-liter diesel and the 1.4-liter turbo which have six-speed sticks.
A seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic is optional to customers with the 1.6-liter diesel and 1.4-liter gas. The base 1.2-liter gas engine is only available with a stick shift.
The new Golf will be released in Europe by the end of this year, but the U.S. won't be getting the new car until 2013.
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