The time for rumors is over, Volkswagen has officially presented the facelift of the current Golf 8. In keeping with the 50th birthday of what is still probably the most important car model. The most important innovations in brief: an improved infotainment system and new LED headlights and LED taillights regardless of the equipment variant, theoretically around 100 km of electric range and 1,000 km of total range for the new plug-in hybrid and in the top version “IQ.LIGHT – LED matrix headlights ” with a range of up to 500 meters with high beam. For an additional charge there is also an illuminated VW emblem in the radiator grille.
Externally, as is usually the case with a facelift, there are only gentle retouches, for example on the lights or the bumpers. In the interior there are more mechanical controls on the steering wheel instead of just touch surfaces.
Volkswagen AG
Revised infotainment system
The new infotainment system (MIB4) has a free-standing 16:9 touchscreen with 10.4 inches. A 12.9-inch model is also available for an additional charge. VW has revised the software of the infotainment system. The most important improvement is the ChatGPT integration, which complements VW's own voice assistant IDA. The “Cerence Chat Pro” software from Cerence Inc. forms the basis for the ChatGPT integration.
With the IDA voice assistant you can, for example, control the infotainment, navigation and air conditioning or even ask general knowledge questions. Anything that goes beyond that and overwhelms IDA is handled by ChatGPT. IDA is intended to automatically detect whether a vehicle function should be carried out, a destination should be sought or the temperature should be changed. Only if IDA cannot answer the query itself does it forward it anonymously to the AI and the well-known Volkswagen voice then responds with the content determined by ChatGPT.
Communication with ChatGPT works exclusively by voice: VW customers cannot send text input to ChatGPT, but must direct all questions to ChatGPT using voice commands. You use the IDA voice assistant as usual, no new account is required, you don't have to install a new app or activate ChatGPT specifically. The digital assistant is activated with the voice command “Hello IDA” or by pressing the button on the steering wheel.
VW promises: ChatGPT will not have access to the vehicle data; questions and answers should be deleted immediately to ensure the greatest possible data protection.
VW vehicles get ChatGPT: the details
Next to the free-standing touchscreen there are illuminated touch sliders for temperature and volume control. Also new is the further developed multifunction steering wheel, which again has mechanical controls on the steering wheel instead of just touch surfaces. There will again be an optional windshield head-up display for the Golf and Golf Variant: This allows you to read the relevant information directly from the windshield.
Volkswagen AG
New assistance systems
Maneuvering the Golf and Golf Variant is made easier by, among other things, the further developed “Park Assist Plus” and the “Park Assist Pro”, which is offered for the first time for the Golf, for parking and exiting using a smartphone; in the latter, the driver is outside the car. There is also the new 360-degree all-round view “Area View” with four cameras.
Revised drives
You can get the Golf VIII Facelift with combustion engines (petrol TSI and diesel TDI; without 48 volts), 48-volt mild hybrids (petrol-based eTSI) and as plug-in hybrids (petrol-based eHybrid, theoretically around 100 km electric range; DC fast charging function). The new Golf GTI now produces 265 hp. In addition to the GTI and the later Golf R, the GTE is primarily aimed at sporty drivers. All drive variants at a glance:
Volkswagen AG
The battery is charged at the wallbox and other AC charging points with 11 kW (previously 3.6 kW). The Golf eHybrid and Golf GTE also charge on the go at DC fast charging stations with up to 50 kW.
Equipment lines
Volkswagen offers the Golf (Variant) VIII facelift in a basic version.golf(with automatic climate control, multifunction steering wheel, keyless start system “Kessy Go”, traffic sign recognition, cruise control system, parking aids, infotainment system in the basic version, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, LED headlights/taillights, digital cockpit) and in the equipment
“Life(also with chrome package, wireless charging, three-color ambient lighting, comfort seats with lumbar supports, automatic distance control “ACC”, 16-inch light alloy wheels).
“Style(Top equipment, including 17-inch light-alloy wheels, performance headlights with illuminated VW logo, reversing camera).
and
“R Line(sporty top equipment, including numerous elements in high-gloss black).
The standard engine used in all of these models is a four-cylinder turbo petrol engine (1.5 TSI) with 85 kW (115 hp)1 and selective cylinder deactivation (ACTplus).
There’s also golf GTE and golf GTIwhich not only have more power but, as always, also have their own visual features (including the legendary checkered pattern on the seats).
Volkswagen AG
Information about the Golf GTI:
The Golf sports models will follow in the second half of 2024 GTI Clubsportgolf R and golf Variant R (“R” models each with 4Motion all-wheel drive). Further all-wheel drive versions (4Motion) with a 150 kW TSI engine will follow in 2025.
There are eleven different paint finishes for the Golf 8 facelift.
Volkswagen AG
This is what the new Golf VIII facelift costs
Are you looking for prices for the vehicles mentioned above? Then you're out of luck, Volkswagen hasn't even revealed the starting price for the basic version.
The pre sales is scheduled to begin in spring 2024. Then the VW Golf celebrates its 50th birthday.
Reports on the first electric GTI: