Volkswagen Golf (2023) Spied With Redesigned Cabin

[Nairrk]

Volkswagen has come under fire in recent years with criticism aimed at the firm’s usually class-leading infotainment system. The latest VW Golf in particular has certainly drawn plenty of condemnation for its use of touch-sensitive panels to control the car’s air-conditioning.

VW has already looked to improve the MIB infotainment setup earlier this year by developing a more responsive, user-friendly adaptation of the Golf’s interior technology but now it appears the family hatchback will gain a more significant update inside.

These new spy pictures show Volkswagen is developing an updated Golf, although the changes look restricted to the infotainment.

The 10-inch touchscreen on the dash looks to have doubled in size vertically and the increased size of the screen could result in a change of infotainment design. The touch-sensitive climate controls look like they’ve been retained at the bottom of the screen however.

The current Mk8 Golf features a brace of 10-inch screens as standard, one central touchscreen and one driver’s display. It’s not known whether VW will reserve the larger screen for higher-spec models with the 10-inch screen being retained for entry-level cars or make the new screen standard across the range.

Volkswagen extended its recent infotainment upgrade to its pure-electric cars on the MEB platform and it’s likely this new screen will also be made available to other brands within the VW Group.

Autoexpress

 

[Nairrk]

Volkswagen teases new Golf with an Illuminated Badge

The eighth-generation VW Golf launched in 2019 and received mixed feedback thanks to bold new styling and frustrating interior technology. An updated version of the current Golf will arrive in 2024 and we expect that Volkswagen has gone back to the drawing board to help its iconic hatchback return to form.

This new image of the front of the revised Golf, taken from a social media post from Volkswagen, confirms the design we’ve spotted on prototypes. This model appears to be the Golf Estate, judging by the roof rails. The LED headlight signature incorporates a new geometric shape and on this model there’s a light-up badge, although don’t expect that feature to arrive on UK models.

Previous spy images have given us a good look at the revised design of the new Golf. The front end has received subtle, but quite far-reaching updates with new headlights and a new lower grille design. As we’ve seen on test cars before, the wide-set mouth of the current Golf looks to be narrowed, tapering at its ends to mimic the look of VW’s updated ID.3.

There are fewer changes visible at the rear, but the model we caught testing has a slightly redesigned lower bumper insert, and underneath this prototype’s clever transparent masks we’ll see the rear lighting get the new signature that we’ve found in patent application form.

Volkswagen’s hoping the changes that customers will appreciate most will reside inside the cabin. The Golf 8 introduced a streamlined new interior design philosophy for Volkswagen, removing nearly all the physical controls and placing them into one of two digital interfaces sat atop the dashboard. Unfortunately, glitchy software, slow response times and complicated menu structures made the Golf 8’s functions significantly more difficult to navigate whilst driving.

Representatives from Volkswagen have told Auto Express that future models will introduce more physical controls on the back of CEO Thomas Schafer’s focus on fixing the much-derided touch-sensitive controls for volume and cabin temperature that we’ve seen on recent VW models. We’ll also hopefully see faster-responding touchscreens, as well as fixes to some of the hardware issues.

Beyond this, VW is also expected to offer the usual colour and trim updates to keep the Mk8 Golf fresh, while maintaining a similar structure of powertrain options from basic petrol and mild-hybrid models, through to plug-in hybrids and high-performance GTI and R models. Volkswagen will almost certainly offer the updated Golf with diesel engines in overseas markets, but we’ll have to wait and see whether Volkswagen follows many of its contemporaries in ditching diesel power altogether in the UK.

The new car is expected to go on sale in early 2024, which will mark 50 years since VW’s iconic hatchback first appeared. The Golf is no stranger to special editions to celebrate its various anniversaries (especially in GTI trim), so we’ll have to wait and see how Volkswagen will commemorate this anniversary.

The next Golf 8 will join a revitalised range of petrol-powered models including an all-new Tiguan and Passat, and heavily updated Touareg, giving VW’s non-EV range a much needed boost.

Autoexpress