VW

EXCLUSIVE: Golf 9 will hit the market in 2025

The Volkswagen Golf is an indisputable success in all the markets where it is present, which is why a Golf 9 cannot be missing. At least that is what can be seen for the duration of each of its versions, which cover almost 50 years of history. Year after year, and there have been many, the Golf is the favorite choice as a compact car and the international flagship of the automotive sector.

Since its introduction in 1974, some have said that the terms 'Golf' and 'Volkswagen' are two distinct members of the same family. In the beginning, it was one of those cars aimed at the needs of a young public that was looking for a cheap, reliable and, above all, practical form of transport. An idea that has inevitably evolved over the years.

From the 1970s onwards, all other compacts had to compete with eight generations of the Golf. Although last year the company's new chief executive commented that he had some doubts about the future of the successful compact, Volkswagen has confirmed that a facelift is coming later this year and a new generation this decade.

According to the British Autocar, a prototype will present a preview of the electric compact next March. Then the GTI version will arrive, probably in May, and a few months later we will know the final production version that will arrive in 2025. According to internal company sources, the electric Golf family will measure around 4,250 mm, slightly less than the current model .

Volkswagen is aware that it must keep the name ‘Golf’ alive in order to succeed. More than 35 million copies have been sold since the mid-1970s. As Thomas Schäfer himself pointed out, “We will not abandon the Golf name under any circumstances. We have iconic brands such as Golf and GTI. It would be madness to let them die or slip out of our hands.”

So the question remains as to how the Volkswagen Golf 9 will be positioned. The brand's top management wants it to become part of the ID family. Maybe as ID. Golf, as Schäfer himself suggested. The Volkswagen ID.3 is not the electric successor to the Golf, but to the Golf Plus that we saw during the fifth and sixth generations of the Golf. Remembering that it was sold between 2004 and 2014.

Concretely, Schäfer suggested that the next generation Golf will be smaller than the ID.3. This means that it will be above the ID.2 urban electric, but below the next generation ID.3. From the ID.3 we will also see a “very different” Cross version of the ID.3 we know, which will receive a facelift and a GTX version in 2023.

Regarding the restyling of the Golf for this year, the photographers on duty have already spotted the car running through the streets. In addition to the usual exterior changes, the compact will receive a larger infotainment system. Probably the same 12-inch touchscreen that will debut soon with the ID.3 facelift.

The electric Golf is expected to be based on the improved MEB Plus architecture, with prismatic lithium iron phosphate battery cells. It will, in principle, only have an electric motor and fast charge speeds of up to 200 kW. Apparently, it could be manufactured at the Spanish plant in Martorell, along with the Cupra UrbanRebel and another Skoda electric car.

Autonews