“Innovating without distorting, preserving while improving”. Klaus Bischoff, head of Volkswagen design, and, since April 2020, style boss for all the German group’s brands, points out that radically changing the Golf’s eighth generation would have been a mistake. “The Golf is an immortal model. Every new edition has entailed unprecedented elements, while preserving its soul”. The lines of the 8th are sportier and cleaner compared to the previous versions, with a narrow radiator grille and a ridge that completely wraps around the car, crossing its profile at the height of the door handles.
The lighting achieves a dominant role: the headlights are LED series lights and the daytime-running lights form a new design that takes the shape of the headlights, united by a chrome border that crosses the width of the Golf. At the centre, the new logo stands out, which debuted on the ID.3, the first electric Volkswagen constructed on the Meb platform.
“The total design is muscular in order to increase its presence on the road”, but the true revolution occurred inside, focused on the two instrument displays and the infotainment system control. “We have raised the horizontal line of the dashboard to avoid the driver’s glance dropping down, removing their attention from the road”.
The sportier lines of the exteriors and interiors reflect a greater dynamism compared to the preceding generations. We tested the car in Portugal with the 1.5 litre, mild hybrid petrol engine with 150 hp combined with a DSG automatic gearbox. Precise and fun to drive, the Golf 8 has gained in comfort though the overall measurements have not changed: it is 4.28 metres long (+3 centimetres compared to the previous version), 1.78 metres wide, and 1.45 metres high with a 2.63 metre wheelbase).
