Miles Bennett
The Volkswagen Golf Mk8, also known as the Golf VIII, is the eighth generation of the Volkswagen Golf compact car. It was launched in October 2019 and arrived in German showrooms in December 2019. In January 2024, the Golf range received a mild facelift, known as the Golf Mk8.5. The Mk8.5 is expected to be released in Europe in September 2024 and in North America in late 2024 as a 2025 model.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Launch Date | 24 October 2019 |
| Debut | 31 May 2023 |
| Facelift | January 2024 |
| Engine | 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine (TSI) with 150 PS |
| Gearbox | 8-speed torque converter automatic |
| Battery | 13 kWh lithium-ion battery |
| Horsepower | 245 PS |
| Electric Range | 60 kilometres |
| Semi-autonomous Driving System | Travel Assist |
| US Release Date | March 2025 |
| EU Release Date | September 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
The Volkswagen Golf Mk8 debuted in 2019
The Mk8 includes a semi-autonomous driving system known as Travel Assist, which can work at speeds of up to 130 mph. It also features a new two-dimensional Volkswagen logo and more angular styling, with new L-shaped taillights at the rear. The three-door hatchback model has been discontinued, with the five-door hatchback being the only model available at launch.
The GTE, GTD, and GTI models feature distinct styling to set them apart from less powerful Golf variants. These models have a large honeycomb grille with a blue accent and an LED light strip at the front, as well as wider side sill panels, larger wheels, and red brake calipers. The interior of these models also differs, with sports seats and unique fabric choices.
In terms of performance, the Golf GTE is a hot hatchback with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain producing 241 horsepower. It offers an all-electric range of approximately 37 miles in EV mode, supplemented by a 1.4-litre TSI direct-injection petrol engine. The TSI models sold in Euro 5 compliant countries, such as Australia, feature a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 148 horsepower.
The Volkswagen Golf Mk8 received a mild facelift in January 2024, known as the Golf Mk8.5. This updated version is expected to be released in Europe in September 2024 and in North America in late 2024 or March 2025.
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Mk8.5 Golf R and GTI to be released in the US shortly after Christmas 2024
Volkswagen Golf, also known as Golf VIII, is a compact car and the eighth generation of the Volkswagen Golf. It was launched in Wolfsburg on 24 October 2019 and arrived in German showrooms in December 2019. The Mk8 includes a semi-autonomous driving system known as Travel Assist and is the first Volkswagen vehicle to use Car2X.
In January 2024, the Golf range received a mild facelift, known as the Golf Mk8.5. The new 2024 facelift includes a larger 1.5-litre TSI direct-injection petrol engine and a bigger 19.7 kWh battery. The GTE, GTD, and GTI have different styling to distinguish them from less powerful Golf models.
The Mk8.5 Golf R and GTI are expected to be released in the US shortly after Christmas 2024. They are likely to be available by March 2025. There is speculation that this will be the last generation of Golf model cars in the US, with an electric model likely to replace it.
There is some uncertainty about the release date of the Mk8.5, with some sources suggesting it may not be released until late 2025 or even 2026. Volkswagen is committed to transitioning the next-generation Golf into an electric vehicle, with a potential launch closer to the end of the decade. However, there is also speculation that the current Golf Mk8 could remain in production until the mid-2030s, with a potential lifecycle extending until 2035.
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Mk8.5 to be released in Europe in September 2024
The Volkswagen Golf Mk8, also known as the Golf VIII, is the eighth generation of the Volkswagen Golf compact car. It was launched in October 2019 and arrived in German showrooms in December 2019.
In January 2024, Volkswagen gave the Golf range a mild facelift, known as the Golf Mk8.5. According to various sources, the Mk8.5 is expected to be released in Europe in September 2024.
The Mk8.5 will be the last generation of Golf model cars in the US, as Volkswagen is committed to transitioning the next-generation Golf into an electric vehicle. However, Kai Grünitz, head of Volkswagen's technical development, suggests that the Mk8 Golf could remain in production until the mid-2030s, extending its life cycle to 2035. This would allow the current Golf to stay in showrooms until the European Union's 2035 deadline for banning new cars with harmful emissions.
The Mk8.5 is rumoured to start production in the second half of 2024, with North America expected to receive it as a 2025 model year. It is speculated that the US release will be shortly after Christmas 2024, with most dealers receiving their first run of the new model year by March 2025.
The Mk8.5 is expected to feature normal buttons on the steering wheel, addressing the inconvenience of touch controls on the Mk8. It will also likely have a larger infotainment screen, and there are hopes for the return of the manual transmission in the GTI and R variants.
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Mk8.5 to be released in North America in late 2024
The Volkswagen Golf Mk8 was launched in 2019, with a limited edition, the Golf R 333, debuting in May 2023. In January 2024, Volkswagen gave the Golf range a mild facelift, known as the Golf Mk8.5.
The Mk8.5 is expected to be released in North America in late 2024, as a 2025 model. The first batch of cars shipped to dealers will likely have September 2024 VIN tags, with most dealers receiving their first run of the new model by March 2025. Production for 2025 models is expected to start in December 2024, with the first factory orders taking place at the same time.
The Mk8.5 will feature some slight performance upgrades, with an increase of about 21 horsepower, but the same torque. It will also bring back normal buttons on the steering wheel, addressing the inconvenience of the touch controls on the Mk8. The infotainment system will also be improved, as the Mk8 required users to navigate through multiple screens to perform simple tasks.
There are already spy shots of the Mk8.5, and it is rumoured that production will start in the second half of 2024. However, there is some uncertainty regarding the release date, as Volkswagen is transitioning the next-generation Golf into an electric vehicle, with an expected launch closer to the end of the decade.
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Volkswagen aims to transition the next-generation Golf into an electric vehicle
The Volkswagen Golf Mk8, the eighth generation of the Volkswagen Golf, was launched in Wolfsburg on 24 October 2019 and arrived in German showrooms in December 2019. The compact car features evolutionary design changes, including a new two-dimensional Volkswagen logo and more angular styling.
While Volkswagen has not provided an exact date, the company aims to transition the next generation of the Golf, the Golf GTI, into an electric vehicle. In December 2022, Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume hinted at the introduction of an all-new VW Golf EV. He stated that the company was "examining how it can take icons such as the Golf or the Tiguan into the electric future".
At the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show, Volkswagen Passenger Cars CEO Thomas Schäfer hinted that the next-generation VW Golf EV might be called the VW ID. Golf with a GTI variant. Schäfer has expressed confidence in the progress of the electric Golf, stating that it will be a "monster car". The SSP underpinnings are expected to be a game-changer for the Volkswagen Group.
The Golf GTI EV is being engineered to retain the fun-to-drive handling that has been a hallmark of the Golf GTI since 1975. It will be built on the front-drive MEB 21 EV platform, which is lighter and simpler to produce than Volkswagen's rear- and all-wheel-drive MEB platform. The electric Golf R is also being planned, which will have the capacity to come with another power leap, with drive being applied to all four wheels.
The VW e-Golf, which was sold between 2014 and 2021, marked the beginning of the electric Golf. The 2029 VW Golf Electric will have a flatter roof than the ID.3, and it will aim to surpass the ID.3 in terms of space, simplicity, and affordability.
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Frequently asked questions
The Volkswagen Golf Mk8 was launched in Wolfsburg on 24 October 2019 and arrived in German showrooms in December 2019.
The Golf Mk8 includes a semi-autonomous driving system known as Travel Assist that can work at speeds of up to 130 mph. It is also the first Volkswagen vehicle to use Car2X, which allows information exchange with other cars and traffic infrastructure within a radius of 2,625 ft.
The Golf Mk8 received a mild facelift in January 2024, known as the Golf Mk8.5. The first batch of cars is expected to be shipped to dealers with September 2024 VIN tags, and most dealers are expected to have their first run of the new model year by March 2025.
Volkswagen is committed to transitioning the next-generation Golf into an electric vehicle, with a potential launch closer to the end of the decade. The current Golf Mk8 could remain in production until the mid-2030s, with a potential lifecycle extension until 2035.
