ON THE ROAD- IAN LYNAS ON THE NEW VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

Fifty years on and the Volkswagen Golf remains a firm favourite. For me it was a heartbreak in my early years of driving; oh how I yearned to own a GTI version; but I encountered a Berlin Wall, age and cost. So, while down the years I have driven every version of the Golf including all the GTI variants, none had my name on it and after a highly enjoyable week behind the wheel, it was back to the manufacturer and my dream of owning one continued. To celebrate such a fifty year milestone Volkswagen is launching an enhanced version of its bestseller to mark the anniversary and the new version impresses with a next-generation infotainment system, a more intuitive operating concept, a sharper front and rear end design as well as efficient drive systems. These include plug-in hybrid drives with an increased all-electric range of about 100 kilometres (62 miles) and an illuminated Volkswagen logo adorns the front for the first time on a Golf.

The GTI has become even sportier with added power compared to its predecessor, now 260bhp from its two litre engine and for Golf fans and there are many additional derivatives. The new plug-in hybrid drives in the Golf offer increased power and is equipped with a DC quick-charging function. The highly efficient 48 V mild hybrid drives are particularly appealing for drivers who have no charging facilities at home. Mild hybrid (eTSI), plug-in hybrid (eHybrid and GTE), turbocharged petrol (TSI) and turbocharged diesel (TDI) variants will be available for the product line in the launch phase. The interior of the new model features a newly developed, intuitive infotainment system with a free-standing touchscreen (screen diagonal up to 32.8 cm) and this has ergonomically optimised and illuminated touch sliders for temperature and volume control at its base. Also new are the enhanced multi-function steering wheel and new IDA voice assistant. Using natural language, the IDA can be used not only to control functions such as the air conditioning, telephone or navigation system, but also to access online information from all conceivable areas, from weather forecasts to general knowledge questions. The Golf will have the latest infotainment system generation on board in future and this integrates the artificial-intelligence-based chatbot ChatGPT into the IDA voice assistant; this feature can seamlessly access the ever-growing database of artificial intelligence and those who travel in the new Golf can interact with the car using natural language and have researched content read aloud to them while travelling. Manoeuvring the Golf and Estate is made easier by new assist systems such as the enhanced Park Assist Plus function. When driving past a parking space, it can detect whether the space (parallel or bay) is large enough and starts the parking procedure accordingly. It takes over the steering as well as acceleration and braking and all the driver has to do is monitor the parking process. In addition, Park Assist Pro will be available for the Golf for the first time, enabling drivers to guide the vehicle in and out of parking spaces with their smartphone. The vehicle can be driven out of the parking space remotely if the parking space is very narrow, for example. Another new feature is the Area View system, a 360-degree all-round view is created by merging four cameras, and the corresponding image is transferred to the infotainment system touchscreen, this makes it easy to see kerbs and parking space markings.

Looking back, the first series-produced Golf was built at the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg at the end of March 1974 and the official launch began in May. Of course prior to this, the Beetle and thus the combination of a rear-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive had shaped the Volkswagen brand for decades. At the beginning of the 1970s, the first Golf, like the Passat, the Scirocco and the Polo, marked the start of a new era: that of the front-mounted engine and front-wheel drive. The modern and safe drive system concept, the great flexibility with a tailgate and folding rear seat backrest, and the design were so convincing that the millionth Golf rolled off the assembly line by October 1976. I have no doubt that the Golf will be amongst the few trailblazers of motoring when it comes to recording the history of the motor car. I must also mention the huge part that the Golf has played in motor sport, both in track events and rallying. My parting shot as to regards the new GTI, when it first hit the tarmac it had few rivals; however the new model will face stiff competition from the likes of Honda.

Ian Lynas