Is The Mk8 Platform Destined Only For Golf Performance Variations?
There have been recent reports out of Volkswagen that its Mk8 platform will be used going forward on just Golf performance models. According to the rumors, after the MK7 platform is replaced, the GTI and the R will be the only Golfs pinned to an Mk8 platform to be on sale in the U.S. We recently covered some sneak peeks of the MK8 platform on the blog before.
Many publications have asked VW what we should expect and a spokesman said that the Golf GTI Mk8 and The Golf R Mk8 are the only Golf models to definitely continue. The German auto manufacturer says that other Golf models for the Mk8 are being considered for sale in North America. No official explanation concerning the rumored demise of the standard and Sportwagen Golf was given.
If true, the reason may be that the GTI has been outselling the standard Golfs in the U.S. and it has been doing so for a long time. Early this year the GTI was outselling the standard model by as much as four times. Moreover, the GTI outsold the standard Golf in 2018.
If the rumors are correct, then it appears to be a trend in the auto industry to make fewer passenger cars and more SUVs. Sales of VW’s Atlas and Tiguan SUVs have been booming, rescuing the company from the falling Golf sales.
A sign that VW has been planning the demise of the Golf in the U.S. for at least two years is the company’s decision to stop manufacturing Golfs in Mexico starting this year. The fact was first reported in the Mexican auto magazine Al Volante in October 2017.
It was believed at the time that the union that is involved in making VWs pushed to have the Golf manufactured in Europe. The company had announced that manufacturing of the Golf would begin in Europe in 2019.
Many have advocated that the decline in sales of the Golf in North America is due to the increase in demand for crossovers. There has also been some talk that the quality of the Golfs made in the Mexican plant in Puebla was deficient. The plant was the second largest Volkswagen factory outside Germany.
The possible demise of the standard Golf and continuation of the Golf GTI could be because of the support of auto enthusiasts. It could be incentive enough to take the vehicle to the next level of performance for a compact car.
The 2020 Golf MK8 is expected to be light and include a 48-volt electric system with mild-hybrid setup and a new 1.5-liter turbo diesel engine. There will also be a 1.5-liter TSI, 1.0-liter turbocharged, possibly two incarnations of a 2.0-liter TDI. 1.0-liter motor with mild hybrid assistance, and a 2.0-liter TSI.
