Golf Official: Golf MK.VI

[coolraoul]

^ The MK V model will age more gracefully this way because it isn't made instantly out-of-date by the new model. The subtle change of the panel surfaces updates the vehicle to fit with current trends.

The MkV was quite old the day it was released. And it is not graceful at all. The VI is what the V should've looked like...4 years ago. Now they should move on. The VI will be old when the competitors will see daylight.

The VI corrects the V. And one inspiration source was the IV (grille, lights, interior finish according to VW).

However, it's still backwards-thinking to correct a design instead of creating a new one.

 

[martinbo]

Luw, if I recall correctly, it was evident from early on that Golf VI would be an urgently introduced yet thorough revision of the poor margin Golf V. I also remember reading that where possible, VW would make use of existing parts and components in an effort to keep tooling costs low - I specifically seem to recall that the roof and DLO parts would come across unchanged. So what's wrong with that?

I'm intrigued by the critics here and the level of negative sentiment. The Golf V platform already provides the foundation for the most refined and sophisticated front-wheel drive underpinnings on the market. So why not build on the virtues of that and, at the same time, give yourself an opportunity to improve the cost-effectiveness and time-to-market of the product. At the same time consumers benefit from getting a whole new look Golf coupled with an attractive and elegant interior that is so typically in keeping with customer expectations of the product. Really people, I find the level of criticism most bemusing.

 

[coolraoul]

^^ Just what I said. Instead of making a FL and then a new generation, they corrected the V (bloated, poorly finished, expensive to produce). However to stay in touch they'll have to make a new generation in 4 years max, or they will be blown away by the competitors. As a result you end up with something rather strange.

Furthermore, the Golf V was heavily criticized for the styling, why not changing it a bit more than that? Here, it's just a ridiculously expensive FL for VW, only justified by the incredibly poor manufacturing process of the V...

 

[Centurion]

Martin: Well let's hope that all the cost cutting will translate into a lower sticker price instead of walking down the same path as Mercedes introducing the CLC built using existing parts but with the price remaining the same.

There is a slight chance that this is just a pit stop with a proper new generation Golf scheduled to be unveiled in 3-4 years. A new A3, 1er and A-class(hatchback) will be introduced in 2-3 years and will make this Golf look like a prehistoric armadillo so VW better have something better coming up.

 

[The Pretender]

They better do the right thing this time too, a 300hp R36, no more R32!
M

There will not be a R32/36 of the Golf 6, the top 3 engine's all are 2.0TSI one's.
A basic 200 hp 2.0TSI, a 240 hp 2.0TSI for the GTI and a 272 hp 4Motion top version probably called RSI.
A R36 make no sence because the 272 hp 2.0TSI 4Motion version would wipe the floor with it.

Jarod.

 

[SDNR]

Furthermore, the Golf V was heavily criticized for the styling, why not changing it a bit more than that? Here, it's just a ridiculously expensive FL for VW, only justified by the incredibly poor manufacturing process of the V...

I wonder why VW never got Giorgetto Giugiaro (the designer of the original Golf) back to do the successive models.

The original Golf really was a true VW -- in the tradition of the original Beetle -- a genuinely classless product owned by anyone from waitresses to kings. Over the years the Golf has become more expensive and aimed primarily at the middle class market. Today, Skoda is more of a real 'people's car'.

 

[Tumbo]

Hmmm..nothing "Wow"
It's okay... Imo it's not enough changes for a new model. Lools like the changed the bumpers and fron and rear lights... When you look at it quickly..

 

[martinbo]

[Pardon me raoul - I see nothing of what you've said in this thread that resembles my point in the post above]

I'm sorry people but many of you are viewing this situation at face value. Clearly a deeper appreciation of the modern hatchback market is missing here. It is economically preferable (and common practice!) to build on the strengths of an existing platform when engineering the next generation hatch:

- The current 308, Astra and Focus models are all revised (as opposed to completely re-engineered) versions of the previous generation models.

- The Golf VI is the only car in this FWD segment other than the Focus-platform cars to use a multi-link sophisticated geometry rear suspension. All of the other competitors use semi-independant torsion beam rear axle suspension - more often than not carried over from previous generations - yes folks, that's the 308, Astra, Auris/Corolla and so on. Some cars like the Civic actually took a backward step in employing the torsion beam layout in a effort to retain margins and profitability!

- The entire automotive market is facing the biggest economic downturn in car sales since the early eighties. It makes financial sense to offer an improved version of the best car in its class. No need to re-invent the wheel at the behest of a bunch of car forum junkies.

- The VWAG range of four cylinder engines employing such technologies like direct injection and forced induction coupled with DSG transmissions are the most advanced available in a transversely mounted application. None of the competitors come close to this level of sophistication. So there's nothing to improve here.

- The Golf IV is commonly looked at through rose-tinted glasses. In fact, its only real virtue was the high quality of the materials used in the cabin. But few people recall the snap-crackle-pop effect of an interior that was prone to rattling and a body that lacked torsional rigidity. The Golf V won universal appraisal for the improved construction of the car albeit at the expense of some soft-touch materials.

- Golf V is the class benchmark for sporting hatchbacks with its unmatched blend of driver enjoyment, refinement, all day comfort and performance. Oh, and it looks a shiteload better than an ST, Type-R or R26 for that matter.

What I want to know is, pray tell, which of Golf's competitors are going to make it look prehistoric in 3 to 4 years time?

 

[PHYBENZ]

This is actually a very lame attempt by VW. This car was delayed and reworked and supposed to be a lot more exciting visually because in Europe the Golf is starting to struggle in sales versus the competition. The Toureg is going to be replaced soon and is about 5 years old and they're using it's tailights? The front is scirroco-ish but still isn't different enough from the V.

VW could have a disaster on their hands.

 

[SDNR]

^ A disaster? ...why?

Does anyone ever buy a Golf based purely on its styling?

 

[DaSilva]

The MkV was quite old the day it was released. And it is not graceful at all. The VI is what the V should've looked like...4 years ago.

The VI corrects the V. And one inspiration source was the IV (grille, lights, interior finish according to VW).

This is how a Golf should look like!

 

[martinbo]

Julius you maniac!

At first I was going to let you have it for showing pics of a clearly aftermarket enhanced GTI. But your post does help in illustrating a point: the Golf V GTI's and R32's look way way better, more sporty and altogether more appealing than their Golf A4 predecessors. Both my GTI's looked sooo dull - you couldn't tell them apart from an ordinary TDI!

I think VW have learnt the lessons from the MK V. Remember, we're merely looking at a cooking version of the Golf VI. GTI's and so forth have a whole lotta scope for visual impact improvement.

 

[DaSilva]

Julius you maniac!

At first I was going to let you have it for showing pics of a clearly aftermarket enhanced GTI.
But your post does help in illustrating a point: the Golf V GTI's and R32's look way way better,
more sporty and altogether more appealing than their Golf A4 predecessors. Both my GTI's looked sooo dull -
you couldn't tell them apart from an ordinary TDI!

I think VW have learnt the lessons from the MK V. Remember, we're merely looking
at a cooking version of the Golf IV.
GTI's and so forth have a whole lotta scope for visual impact improvement.

Hehe..

But about the car:

Actually, that golf has only original Volkswagen AG parts if you take aside and forget the rims,
carbon trim in enginebay and the fact that is lowered. other than that All Volkswagen Golf MKV

Basically
It's a GTI with 30 edition frontlip, 30 edition rear.
That's all..

But of course it's painted a little different but who cares ?


Point is, the GTI/30 R32 all look great!
That means more sporty than the MK VI ...

 

[martinbo]

That means more sporty than the MKVI ...

I gather you mean to say MK IV! If you didn't then I wonder how you can say more sporty than MK VI when we haven't ever seen GTI or R editions of that car!

 

[DaSilva]

I wonder how you can say more sporty than MK VI when we haven't ever seen GTI or R editions of that car!

I was comparing the ordinary Golf MK VI with the MKV GTI
And only by looks btw (you can see the the behind of the two aren't
very different both got the 30 edition rearbumper.

View attachment 9a25e0c60a3e1e89a95c2701f14fafc8.jpg

on the GTI the rear windo is kind of curved while on the VI it's strait.
so dead in a way.

 

[PHYBENZ]

^ A disaster? ...why?

Does anyone ever buy a Golf based purely on its styling?

A disaster because this is VW's bread and butter. If it does not sell like they want it to, VW could be in trouble because that's where it makes it's money. Golf sales have been steadily declining because of the increased competition, from Renault and Opel, and this design is too ordinary and not different enough to sustain good sales for a long period of time.

 

[martinbo]

Julius. I'm convinced that you've got an attention span disorder!

You mean to tell me that you'd have a Golf V GTI but with a MK IV (4) interior:

Surely you mean that you'd rather have this lovely interior from the MK VI (6)!?!



... over the Golf MK V's still rather nice interior:

 

[martinbo]

But PHYBENZ isn't this a phenomenon that we're seeing in every segment of the market? I mean the BMW 3er (BMW's supposed bread and butter) is under as much of an onslaught by vastly closer competitors (from a technical standpoint) in the Audi B8 and Merc C-Class compared with what the Golf has to face?

The Golf's closest true rivals come from within VWAG's own stable: namely the Audi A3 and SEAT Leon. The A-Class sits in its own micro-segment (no self respecting hatch lover will ever go there) and the BMW 1er is a premium rear-wheel drive product with concessions in the practicality and versatility stakes. So, when it comes to competition for the Golf outside of VW, I only see the Ford Focus as being a proper rival on paper. Where the VW loses out to its other European competitors such as the Astra and Megane II is chiefly as a result of cheaper pricing of the latter two. From a sophistication and a desirability point of view the Golf 5 is already deemed as more desirable and more advanced than its competitors. It's the Golf 5's profitability and not sales volumes that are at the heart of the woes for VW.

 

[coolraoul]

Well the Golf was a kind of myth, the typical European car, the obvious choice in the category, a car that was quite better than the competition.

The Golf V was criticized for its boring look compared to some others, its realtively cheap interior compared to others, and its incredibly noisy motors.

Now it looks good, is way more silent due to common-rail, and is supposed to be better finished. Fine. So in fact, it has catched up the competition, whose cars are nice-looking, silent and some of them well finished. Nobody cared about VW's mutltilink rear axle.

Trouble is...all these competitors are only a few years away from a new generations.

Just look at what Peugeot did to its 307 to make it a 308 (impressive interior design, modern look), or Honda to its Civic. Renault, Ford, Opel will do the same to their own cars. As a result, the Golf will appear completely outfashioned, old-looking and boring!!

That's what I said: backwards-thinking. No innovation, only correcting problems.

Don't get me wrong: the Golf V was certainly the best car in its category. But not by a big margin. And compared to others, it lacked appeal.
The same will very soon apply to the Golf VI, imo. Very good car, but not appealing enough compared to competitors.

 

[Deutsch]

The VI is a return to classic understated but charming VW design, much like the old IV.