Volkswagen revealed the up to date Golf to the world late Tuesday, marking the nameplate’s fiftieth anniversary with an overhauled (however not all-new) lineup that can come to our shores within the type of the 2025 GTI. Sadly, it’s going to be packing mild this yr, as there isn’t any have to carry the handbook gearbox alongside. Just like the Golf itself in America, the handbook GTI is however a reminiscence. Whereas its dual-clutch gearbox could also be a downgrade in engagement from a real-deal handbook, it is nonetheless a superb transmission that’s equally at dwelling on the road or observe, so let’s not write off the GTI’s fanatic credentials simply but. And there is excellent news from a day by day driving standpoint too, as VW has heard the criticisms of its touch-based infotainment system and never solely up to date the underlying tech, however introduced again some key bodily controls besides.
As the good thinker John Dorian as soon as mentioned, little victories depend for lots round right here, and in the event you can look previous the departure of the handbook transmission, the Mk8.5 GTI is affected by them. Energy is up from 241 horses to 262 (VW says this spec is for European fashions, however we do not count on a lot to vary); that is six horsepower lower than the plug-in hybrid (and not-for-America) GTE, which continues to strike us as deliberate. No torque determine was out there at publication time, however with energy nonetheless coming from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, it is unlikely we’ll see a lot enhance from the 273 pound-feet supplied within the outgoing GTI.
Then there’s the cabin. We have bemoaned the present (above left) GTI’s over-reliance on contact tech since launch, and whereas the return of bodily wheel controls (above proper) is definitely incredible to see, maybe the most important information right here is that we’re getting a brand new model of the software program suite underpinning all of it. It might be simpler to stay with VW’s tech if it labored as supposed, however the present infotainment system has a repute for merely not booting up at instances (or crashing with unusual frequency even when it does). And because of its integration with the remainder of the automobile’s computer systems, points with a contemporary infotainment system can quickly escalate to show-stoppers. VW says it is MIB4 infotainment system ought to tackle the complaints leveled on the earlier tech and supply extra options besides. As an added bonus, with the brand new floating infotainment display, we get a redesigned middle stack that includes illuminated local weather controls that VW says ought to be extra ergonomically pleasant. These are small wins, positive, however certainly they’re going to enhance the GTI’s day-to-day livability.
Other than the up to date cabin and tweaked powertrain, there’s not a ton extra to the Mk 8.5 GTI. VW’s launch detailed the remainder of its European-market variants much less three — the GTI Clubsport, Golf R and Golf R wagon. These three will likely be revealed later in 2024 and can seemingly hit European showrooms in time for 2025. Of the fashions revealed Tuesday, solely the GTI is because of come stateside; it and the Golf R had been the one fashions not discontinued within the U.S. after 2021. Search for extra on the R when it launches in Europe, at which level we must always study VW’s plans to carry it right here.
