2013 VW Golf comes into focus

Volkswagen is all set to unveil the next generation Golf (MK7) at the 2012 Paris Motor Show on September 27. The Golf is an extremely important car for Volkswagen, almost as important as the VW Beetle.

It is an ‘identity car’ for Volkswagen which must be successful otherwise Volkswagen might not achieve its target of 10 million vehicles sales annually by 2018.

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What do we know about the Volkswagen Golf (MK7)?

2013 VW Golf Platform

• This will be the seventh generation Volkswagen Golf.
• It will be based on the MQB platform, a modular platform that will underpin a whole range of VW Group models.
• As a result of an extensive use of high-strength steel in its construction, the new Golf is up to 100kg lighter than the current car.
• The new Golf measures 4,255mm in length, 1,799mm in width and 1,452mm in height. This makes it 56mm longer, 13mm wider and 28mm lower than the current model. It rides on a 59mm longer wheelbase and wider front and rear tracks.
• The boot space is up by 30 litres, which means the new car will match the Ford Focus with 380 litres. The boot will have a wider opening and lower lip, as well as 60/40 split-fold rear seats.
• Volkswagen says that it will be the cleanest vehicle in this class and sport an improved drag coefficient of 0.274

2013 VW Golf Interiors

• The interior packaging is improved, with a longer, wider cabin space. However, thanks to the sloping roofline, headroom has been slightly reduced.
• The interiors are wrapped in lush soft-touch covering for the upper dashboard and doors, and sturdy materials elsewhere.
• The switches and controls have a solid feel, while the fabric-covered door pockets and ambient lighting will lend a classy look.
• The range of adjustment for the seats and steering wheel has been increased.
• There is a bigger gap between the brake and accelerator pedals.
• The gear lever sits slightly higher, so it's easier to reach.
• It will have a new infotainment system which uses a 5-inch display on entry-level models, a 5.8-inch color display on mid-trim models and a massive 8-inch WVGA screen on range-topping models. The high-end versions will feature 3D sat-nav which will have a ‘Heptactic’ touch. The Heptatic touch senses your finger approaching the screen and switches from display to operating modes. The touchscreen can also be used to zoom in on maps, for instance, as well as select music from a 64GB hard-drive.
• Bluetooth, USB, auxillary and SD card connectivity, as well as the ability to read all file formats, ensure Golf owners won’t be without music.
• It will feature a progressive steering system that will provide various levels of assistance and also five different driving profiles: Eco, Sport, Normal, Individual and Comfort.
• The electric parking brake – operated by a switch between the front seats – will now be standard

2013 VW Golf Safety

• Safety innovations include a fatigue detection system, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and a traffic sign detection.
• It will have a new City Emergency Braking Function that uses sensors to detect an imminent collision and automatically applies the car's brakes at speeds below 19mph.
• It will also have Multi-collision Brake that works by automatically applying the brakes after an initial collision in order to minimise any damage or injury in a secondary collision.
• It will get the latest generation of automatic parking systems, including OPS (overhead parking system), which uses a 360 degree graphic.

2013 VW Golf Engines

• It will get new generation three- and four-cylinder turbo diesels
• The entry-level model will be a 1.2L TSI petrol. There will also be a 1.4L TSI (138 hp) petrol with cylinder-deactivation technology, which shuts down two of the cylinders under light engine loads to save fuel.
• The diesel power will come from EA288 turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder common rail diesel with 105bhp
• The Golf VII BlueMotion will be powered by a 1.6-liter TDI engine which will allow the car to return 73 mpg
• VW will also preview the GTI version of the Golf Mk7 equipped with a new 222hp (225PS) 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol.

[Source: Autoexpress.co.uk]