Artist's rendering of the new Golf 7
Bigger. Lighter. The new Golf 7 will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show this weekend with much anticipation. If there’s ever been a time for Golf to add a star to its collection, it’s now. With disappointing worldwide sales of the Golf 6 – which was only on the market for 3 years – the German auto giant needs the Golf 7 to be successful.
Based on Volkswagen’s new Modular Transverse Matrix platform (MQB), the Golf 7 will have increased and lower dimensions when compared to the Golf 6. According to the buzz surrounding the Golf 7, the car will retain the conservative VW styling, but will surprise audiences with a few edgier elements. Not only will the Golf 7’s wider dimensions increase interior and boot space, the fact that the car is closer to the ground and an estimated 100kgs lighter than its predecessor, performance and handling will also be improved.
The interior specs of the Golf 7 will be offered with a choice of monitors in three different sizes that will be linked to a wide assortment of navigational, information and entertainment systems. The basic monitor comprises a 5-inch black and white screen while the top-of-the-range monitor boasts an 8-inch colour 3-D screen. Volkswagen is aiming to promote the Golf 7 as the most advanced in its class, with lane-change assist, fatigue and traffic-sign detection, adaptive cruise control, an electronic diff lock and overhead parking system turning the safety features of the car into a major appeal factor.
The Golf 7 will feature five driving modes: Eco, Sport, Normal, Individual and Comfort (which is only available in combination with optional adaptive dampers). Each of these modes will adjust the engine management and throttle mapping according to the drivers selected mode. While the engine line-up for South Africa has yet to be confirmed, it is certain that a new range of more economical and more powerful diesel and petrol engines will be under the hood of the Golf 7, which will all integrate stop/start functions as well as battery regeneration systems.
While Volkswagen treated the world to a sneak peak of the Golf 7 in Berlin ahead of its unveiling at the Paris Motor Show this upcoming weekend, it will still make it official debut in Paris alongside an all-new Golf GTI concept model.
The Volkswagen Golf 7 will touch down on South African in February or March of 2013.
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Image sourced from Volkswagen.