VW Says Next Golf 'under Consideration' For US, GTI And R Confirmed
A report from yesterday claimed that Volkswagen is positioning the upcoming eighth-generation Golf as the segment's standard-bearer for connectivity. What a bummer it was, then, when we caught wind of a new report from Motor1 claiming that VW will only bring the next-generation GTI and Golf R to the US, not the standard variants. Thankfully, nothing appears set in stone just yet. Volkswagen spokesperson in an emailed statement. Models in this Teutonic purgatory likely include the base five-door hatchback, in addition to the SportWagen station wagon and its Alltrack variant. There are a number of factors that could cut off a vehicle's intent to enter the US market. Sales is one, and considering every variant of Golf is on a year-over-year downswing, perhaps VW's suits are thinking twice about expending the time and capital to clear a variety of variants for sale in the US. In fact, the GTI was the best-selling Golf variant in April 2019, which points to a possible reason that it's already confirmed while other variants are not. Nevertheless, Volkswagen has some time before it has to make a final decision. I'm still holding out hope for the next-gen Golf, because it sounds like a doozy. A report from Automotive News Europe claims that standard kit will include lane-keep assist, a large gauge cluster screen and another screen in the dashboard no smaller than 8.25 inches. It will also reportedly pack vehicle-to-x communication capabilities, in addition to allowing a person's phone to act as a car key. Some of those will obviously show up on the GTI and Golf R regardless, but it'd be nice to see them in more affordable form factors, too.
But despite it鈥檚 aggressive appearance, the Civic Si isn鈥檛 as powerful as the Jetta GLI. Power comes from a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 205 horsepower and 192 pound-feet, a 23-horsepower and 66-pound-feet deficit compared to the German sedan. The not-so-good news is that you can鈥檛 order an automatic transmission and that the drivetrain features only two driving modes, Normal and Sport. 24,300, which means there鈥檚 a big chance it will be significantly more affordable than the Volkswagen Jetta GLI. Read our full story on the 2018 Honda Civic Si Sedan. With cars like the Toyota Corolla or Chevrolet Cruze not offering performance-oriented versions to take on the Jetta GLI, we have no choice but to look at the Subaru WRX. A milder version of the rally-inspired WRX STI, the WRX doesn鈥檛 look as aggressive as the Civic Si sedan, but it has what it takes to give the Jetta GLI a run for its money design-wise.
However, its interior looks somewhat poor compared to the Jetta鈥檚, although it has goodies like heavily bolstered seats, a seven-inch infotainment display in the more expensive trims, a flat-bottom steering wheel and nice looking materials. Read our full review of the 2018 Subaru WRX. The GLI has been the cool, beefed-up member of the Jetta family for a few decades now, but the latest version thanks things to a whole new level. Sure, it鈥檚 still a Jetta with Golf GTI underpinnings, but the sportier, more refined looks of the new-generation sedan adds character and turns it into a proper performance-oriented compact. The more powerful engine also moves it closer to the cool Subaru WRX and placed it well above its only notable competitor, the Honda Civic Si Sedan. Needless to say, the Jetta GLI doesn鈥檛 have much competition to worry about except for the WRX, which actually sits in a league of its own thanks to its all-wheel-drive system and race-inspired suspension. The Jetta GLI鈥檚 only downside is that it could be a bit more expensive than the WRX. The Jetta GLI needs a GTI badge and an all-wheel-drive system to become perfect!
The T-Roc GTI will become the most expensive model in the lineup. The Golf GTI, for instance, is almost 20 percent more expensive than the Golf R-Line and the T-Roc should see a similar increase. With the R-Line crossover priced from 拢26,640, the T-Roc GTI could fetch at least 拢31,700 before options. Should VW Go Wild and Make an R too? Word has it that Volkswagen is also planning an R version of the T-Roc. Actually, there are rumors that suggest VW may even skip the GTI and offer the R as the only performance model. The company鈥檚 plans are still a mystery, but some of the prototypes spotted on the road suggest that the Germans may also release a T-Roc R soon. If this happens, it will get a slightly more aggressive exterior, with a bigger front bumper and grille, a chrome stripe in the radiator, bigger side skirts, and a bigger diffuser around back.
