Pictures of a blue vehicle like this surfaced not too long ago. It looks pretty damn good. When is the Golf VII actually epxected? The VI would be one of the shortest model cycles ever!
Didn't the MKVI just go into production in last year?? LOL Anyway, I like the current MKVI more than this new one.
It looks authentic, but the Mk VI is way too young to talk about a replacement and this Mk VII is very ugly in my opinion anyways... those rear taillights have no definition or character whatsoever. They seem to be positioned way too high up.
I like it and hope this is it! Tight, neat design with strong lines and this just highlights BMW's mistake with the droopy eyed F20 1er:t-banghea
Most exciting? An exciting VW? Apart from Scirocco, or perhaps Beetle? C'mon. Sure the new designs (Polo, Jetta, Passat, Touareg, Tiguan FL etc) are clean & sharp, even smart. Looking safe & nice. Even oozing a bit of middle-class-luxury. But they are far from being exciting. Any other car in the segment looks more exciting than VW. I doubt clean, simple & clean lines & surfaces bring excitement people. They sure bring serenity & typical German sturdiness & sense of stability. Hardly an excitement. Expect VW & Audi to offer clean, sharp & safe designs in this segment, while all the others (incl. BMW & MB) will go a bit more nuts. But I agree sometimes clean & sharp design looks better & more appealing than exciting experimental avant-garde, or even eccentric design or styling. But ... IMO in all segments there are enough customers who prefer one or another styling / design. Perhaps the safe designs have more customers. But how does that affect the brand image? When a company wants us to perceive one brand as exciting, they sure can't play it safe with design. Therefore I (still) can't think of VW (or Audi) as of exciting brands (& therefore products). But they sure communicate the opposite: which is good. Many (if not majority) prefer clean, sharp & sturdy products: and that's what VAG offers. Eg. products like Scirocco or Beetle are just as spice to break the monotony of VW product portfolio. And that's good. Btw, the new Golf looks super nice. I just hope the real rear lights are a bit bigger than these CGIs. I would take it over any Astra, Megane, Focus, 308, Mazda 3, Civic, Bravo, Auris / Corolla, i30, Ceed etc. But it's still a VW. The brand image can't match the one of Audi, MB & BMW - or even Volvo & Alfa Romeo. And when it comes to premium, brand image DOES matter. No matter how good / bad the product is. Downgrading from 1er to Golf? Really? Sounds like a personal failure to me. I don't know ...
Lol, are you talking to me? My reasons are simple. 1. I dont like the exterior design. 2. You get Golf gti 35 edition for the price of a 118i (no M package included). Next GTI comes with 220 hp and I dont think the price are going to change much. More power, same equipment,better design, same price. It hard to argue against it, dont you think?
What about the image? Does it count at all? When it comes to premium, brand image counts. Although the product is not top-notch (which I still think it is). That's why quite some people buy 118d / 120d - and not so many go for Golf GTi. Although it's clear GTi is much more sporty product in this case, and it also offer better cabin & boot space, more features & options for the same price etc. So why people still buy 118d then? People don't just buy products, they buy brand (image) - especially when it comes to premium brands & products. Regarding the design: it's a matter of personal preferences. Yet I find it amusing you are deciding about cars you haven't even seen in person, sat in them, driven them. You only seen one in pics & videos, and the other as a CGI. I have to admit: you seem to have quite huge balls - daring to deciding about car (purchase) on such a vague basis. Isn't it wiser to first check the both cars in person?
Yes, in a month or so I take the new one for a spin. Regarding image, my parentes been driving bimmers for 15 years and will continue doing so, I will get my dose of bimmers. Image isnt important to me, if the car looks and drive well then that car is my choice. PS. My mum is on her second 1-series so I wouldnt be surprised if she get the new 1er one day. Unless I have something to say about it Yes Im well hung!
And from what I understand, "sporty" isn't really the image BMW is going for with the new 1-series anyway, right?
I agree with you EnI, your write-up will sink deep into the minds of all the members reading this. Hindsight is that we get emotional when it comes to cars and especially our brands or rather the brands we prefer and become to love and respect. This enthusiasm is build over years - build on CGI's, photo's & videos. The typical enthusiast makes his/her mind up based on what visually excite the beholder. Most members and thus the enthusiast can't even afford nor have they driven their favourite brand they aspire to, yet they will defend their brand and the written knowledge they gathered fiercely on a Forum or in any conversation. It's when - especially in our day and age the Hi-Res pics, better media and better communication via the internet shows a product of a certain brand - VERY clearly (in this case the F20 1er) that comes as a shocking surprise to they/ us, those who have owned many BMW's and those who still aspire to. Will the F20 be that different IRL so much so that BMW 'fanboys' i.e. Myself and Klier (having both studied the F20 in trying to make sense of it) ??? Answer: No my friend...I may speak for myself only, but if she's ugly she's ugly and I may drink her beautiful:all_cohol Point is the question we (brand loyalists ask) How the F? What were they thinking? etc. It's only then that we start realizing (myself included and I own a X6M and X1) a VW is a German car (X1 vs Tiguan in perceived quality) VW is a premium product IMO, so why not a Scirocco R or Golf GTi / R instead of a BMW F20? In this case give me the Scirocco R
I'd so rather have a GTI 35 than a 118i! In South Africa the ratio of GTI to regular Golf sales is the highest in the world. A Golf GTI might not carry the same "image" as a BMW but there's no denying that those three letters carry an enormous cachet. A Golf GTI transcends classes to such an extent that even very wealthy, successful people need nothing more than a GTI as a daily driver. It's a really good car and if it's good enough for the fastest man on Earth (Andy Green) then it's good enough for me. Edit: Oh and while I'm at it... let me leave you with this little martinbo epitaph: The Golf GTI is an icon in a way that the 1er can only hope to being.
