Autocar March 4, 2020

‘UNPRECEDENTED TIMES’ is a phrase we’ve used frequently over the past decade to describe the impact that the credit crunch, Dieselgate, electrification and Brexit have had on the automotive industry. Now you can add another to the list: coronavirus. Late last week, it caused the cancellation of the Geneva motor show, the world’s biggest and most important motor show. Almost all the cars you see over the news pages that follow this one were due to make their public debuts in Switzerland but instead were left with their covers on in empty halls. The impact of coronavirus on the automotive industry runs much deeper than the cancellation of Geneva (p31). The travel restrictions and quarantining of huge numbers of people are already affecting factories worldwide that rely on China for key parts.…

The new, eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf GTI has been revealed, with the company’s technical chief promising that it’s more of a “true GTI” than its highly regarded predecessor. The newest version of the genre-defining hot hatchback is based on the Mk8 Golf, which was unveiled last year. It sticks closely to the established template for the model, retaining the Volkswagen Group’s familiar ‘EA888’ turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and sending power to its front wheels exclusively. However, the standard version of the new GTI features all the additions fitted to the GTI Performance version of the Mk7 Golf, including boosts in power to 242bhp (from 228bhp) and torque to 273lb ft (from 258lb ft), a limited-slip differential and upgraded brakes. To please enthusiasts further, the GTI retains a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, although a…

‘UNPRECEDENTED TIMES’ is a phrase we’ve used frequently over the past decade to describe the impact that the credit crunch, Dieselgate, electrification and Brexit have had on the automotive industry. Now you can add another to the list: coronavirus. Late last week, it caused the cancellation of the Geneva motor show, the world’s biggest and most important motor show. Almost all the cars you see over the news pages that follow this one were due to make their public debuts in Switzerland but instead were left with their covers on in empty halls. The impact of coronavirus on the automotive industry runs much deeper than the cancellation of Geneva (p31). The travel restrictions and quarantining of huge numbers of people are already affecting factories worldwide that rely on China for…

The new Golf GTI holds few surprises, and that’s a very good thing. This model is so well defined that it doesn’t need reinventing with every generation; it simply needs renewing. There wasn’t much wrong with the seventh-generation version, so Volkswagen didn’t mess with the formula. That means no electrified powertrain. Fitting a 48V mild-hybrid system may be bang on-trend but, since it wouldn’t add anything to the GTI formula, Volkswagen didn’t do so. To its enormous credit, it has made the GTI that GTI fans want. Brilliant. Of course, as the industry shifts towards electrification, this does mean the GTI risks being left behind. It’s still jolting to consider that new cars like it could be banned from sale in the UK within a decade. That’s why the subtle shift of the…

The new, eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf GTI has been revealed, with the company’s technical chief promising that it’s more of a “true GTI” than its highly regarded predecessor. The newest version of the genre-defining hot hatchback is based on the Mk8 Golf, which was unveiled last year. It sticks closely to the established template for the model, retaining the Volkswagen Group’s familiar ‘EA888’ turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and sending power to its front wheels exclusively. However, the standard version of the new GTI features all the additions fitted to the GTI Performance version of the Mk7 Golf, including boosts in power to 242bhp (from 228bhp) and torque to 273lb ft (from 258lb ft), a limited-slip differential and upgraded brakes. To please enthusiasts further, the GTI retains a six-speed manual gearbox as…

How important is it for the Golf GTI to be a true driver’s car? “It’s important to get the car to reach the fans. We can talk very openly: looking back four Golf generations ago, the GTI was like a trim line, and then Volkswagen decided to get it back to the GTI. The GTI is a special car that makes your heart beat faster. I can promise that you will love this car.” Why did you rule out a hybrid powertrain for the GTI? “I like the Golf 1.5 TSI with the mild hybrid, and you feel the low-end torque. But it adds weight, and you don’t need the extra torque on the 2.0 TSI engine. It doesn’t give you much at the high end for a performance car. “In the future, we…