From: http://www.motornetireland.ie/news/articles/22100103.phtml
"So as not to upstage the launch of the all important Polo, VW have been keeping details of the next generation Golf under their corporate hat. However, some news is starting to leak. Firstly, we know the 3dr. and 5dr. hatches are going to look more different than before. In the past the two cars had strong visual links with one another, whereas the new 3 and 5 dr. Golfs will have a more individual flavour. The 3 dr. will have a smaller rear side window with a sporty, swept up appearance, while the hatch will have a straighter, more sober glasshouse.
The new Golf is going to be bigger than before too, offering class-leading levels of interior space. Don't expect a wildly different car, though. Styling is very much an evolution of the current car and although it might not wow the crowds like the Focus, it's a good looking car that will appeal Golf owners everywhere.
We can also expect to see an estate and saloon version, the latter car likely to retain the Bora badge (the Bora and Vento both carried the Jetta name in the US, were they were big sellers). The Cabriolet version is also going to be based on the new floorpan, unlike the current car which is a facelifted version of the Mk3 and is hopelessly out of date in terms of driving pleasure and packaging now. Sadly, the new car won't get a folding hard-top, relying, instead, on a multi-layer fabric item.
Naturally, VW intend to enter the lucrative mini MPV market, and will use the new Golf as a base for its Scénic and Zafira rival. In fact, this is the model to be launched first and is expected to hit the streets more than a year before the rest of the models. It will probably be launched next year in Geneva, which will allow the new VW mini-MPV to get the jump on the expected Paris launch of the new Scenic. The VW MPV will have a 7 seater layout similar to that of the Zafira, but should be even cleverer when it comes to accommodating luggage.
As in the current car, 4WD will be available, but this time it will be an option on all body-types, and an array of 5 and 6 speed gearboxes and automatic transmissions will also be available, depending on the model. As always, a bewildering array of engines will be available but as there isn't much wrong with the current range of engines they'll be carried over into the new car. Expect, therefore, to see an entry-level 1.4 (possibly 80ish bhp and/or 100 bhp), 1.8Turbo (125 bhp), 2.0 litre FSI (direct injection petrol, 150 bhp), the 2.3 litre V5 (170 bhp), 2.9 litre V6 (204 bhp) and 1.9 Turbo diesel (Common-rail, 100-130 bhp). Also rumoured to be in the pipeline is a new 3.2 V6 producing 250 bhp while the 2.5 litre V6 turbo-diesels from the Passat and Audi A4 and A6 could feature too, producing 150-180 bhp.
It's too early to guess at prices, but expect the Golf to be a bit more expensive than its rivals when it's launched in 2003."
"So as not to upstage the launch of the all important Polo, VW have been keeping details of the next generation Golf under their corporate hat. However, some news is starting to leak. Firstly, we know the 3dr. and 5dr. hatches are going to look more different than before. In the past the two cars had strong visual links with one another, whereas the new 3 and 5 dr. Golfs will have a more individual flavour. The 3 dr. will have a smaller rear side window with a sporty, swept up appearance, while the hatch will have a straighter, more sober glasshouse.
The new Golf is going to be bigger than before too, offering class-leading levels of interior space. Don't expect a wildly different car, though. Styling is very much an evolution of the current car and although it might not wow the crowds like the Focus, it's a good looking car that will appeal Golf owners everywhere.
We can also expect to see an estate and saloon version, the latter car likely to retain the Bora badge (the Bora and Vento both carried the Jetta name in the US, were they were big sellers). The Cabriolet version is also going to be based on the new floorpan, unlike the current car which is a facelifted version of the Mk3 and is hopelessly out of date in terms of driving pleasure and packaging now. Sadly, the new car won't get a folding hard-top, relying, instead, on a multi-layer fabric item.
Naturally, VW intend to enter the lucrative mini MPV market, and will use the new Golf as a base for its Scénic and Zafira rival. In fact, this is the model to be launched first and is expected to hit the streets more than a year before the rest of the models. It will probably be launched next year in Geneva, which will allow the new VW mini-MPV to get the jump on the expected Paris launch of the new Scenic. The VW MPV will have a 7 seater layout similar to that of the Zafira, but should be even cleverer when it comes to accommodating luggage.
As in the current car, 4WD will be available, but this time it will be an option on all body-types, and an array of 5 and 6 speed gearboxes and automatic transmissions will also be available, depending on the model. As always, a bewildering array of engines will be available but as there isn't much wrong with the current range of engines they'll be carried over into the new car. Expect, therefore, to see an entry-level 1.4 (possibly 80ish bhp and/or 100 bhp), 1.8Turbo (125 bhp), 2.0 litre FSI (direct injection petrol, 150 bhp), the 2.3 litre V5 (170 bhp), 2.9 litre V6 (204 bhp) and 1.9 Turbo diesel (Common-rail, 100-130 bhp). Also rumoured to be in the pipeline is a new 3.2 V6 producing 250 bhp while the 2.5 litre V6 turbo-diesels from the Passat and Audi A4 and A6 could feature too, producing 150-180 bhp.
It's too early to guess at prices, but expect the Golf to be a bit more expensive than its rivals when it's launched in 2003."
