Golf MK7 / MKVII Speculation / Pre-Release Information Thread

[MkVIGTI]

Active steering on the Mk7? Hope it's gonna be good

[WhiteJames]

The Mark 7 Golf is looking the goods over the Mark 6 in many respects:

Active steering, proper LSD (albeit electronically controlled) helps negate need for AWD, wider track & longer wheelbase for lower centre of gravity and surefooted handling, Audi valve-lift on the EA888 (this motor in the Audi A5 makes 350Nm), 7 speed DSG and multi-link rear end. Could make for a compelling case to upgrade to the Mark 7 in about 18 months.

On the wish list, apart from items above, would be Revo-Knuckle front strut hubs, tighter & shorter shifting manual gearbox and uprated spring rates of about 10-15% stiffer than current Mark 6 GTI if possible.

The different body style for the 3 door Golf GTI as opposed to the 5 door appears to be a growing trend amongst the Euro hatches. First it was the Megane RS250, now the Opel Astra GTC 3 door that will have a wider track & wheelbase than the 5 door hatch in addition to Hyper-Strut/Revo-Knuckle front end for less torque steer. See link:

Vauxhall Astra GTC SRi - Road Test First Drive - Autocar.co.uk

Volkswagen may take the same route with the 3 door Golf GTI, where it could be a differentiated harder focussed coupe in terms of looks and drivetrain & suspension hardware versus a more placad & humble standard 5 door Golf GTI.

Cheers.
WJ

[Corey_R]

Sorry... can someone explain why active steering is a good thing?
It's been panned consistently by car enthusiasts, magazines, and tv review shows on cars such as the BMW's which have it. They say it's an option you want to avoid. I wouldn't assume it'd be standard though...

Having the valve lift is good, but limits the power potential of the engine.

As for different body style for the 3 door. You could hardly say that the first was the Megane RS250. Opel did it years ago with the Astra. I'm sure they weren't the first either....

[orkers]

First one I remember was the Fiat Punto back in the 90s, but the A3 has had its Sportback 5 door version for some time too.

[triode12]

All these gadgets serve to do (apart from improving the cars performance) is to distance the driver from the driving experience even further - I can't see how this is a good thing.

To get any fun out of these cars, one would have to drive them to their limits (which one can only do legally and safely on a track).

[pologti18t]

To get any fun out of these cars, one would have to drive them to their limits (which one can only do legally and safely on a track).

The "fun" models in a lineup now seem to be the class under the Golf/Astra/Megane -> Clio, Polo, Corsa

[Corey_R]

Yep exactly. And it's not like it's a "step down" either if you're moving from a MKIV or MKV

[triode12]

Yep exactly. And it's not like it's a "step down" either if you're moving from a MKIV or MKV

Pls explain...I'm not getting the bit in bold.

[Corey_R]

What I mean is, the new Polo GTI is now at a level of standard kit and "quality" that it's quite comparable to a MKV Golf GTI. It's also has, as has been mentioned previously, the "space" or "room" as a MKIV Golf. You can now get your xenons and all that too. It's just as quick 0 to 100 as a MKV Golf GTI, and very competitve around the track. Throw a few suspension, handling, brake, and power addons to it (whilst still spending less than a stock Golf GTI) and all of a sudden you have a car which around a short and tight track like Wakefield Park, is quicker than the Focus RS/Renault Megane Cup RS250/BMW M3/Audi RS4 etc etc.

So whilst you once bought a MKV Golf GTI because at the time it offered the performance and features and level of refinement which balanced what you wanted at the time, but has since "grown up", the cars below it have also grown and are now taking that place.

[triode12]

What I mean is, the new Polo GTI is now at a level of standard kit and "quality" that it's quite comparable to a MKV Golf GTI. It's also has, as has been mentioned previously, the "space" or "room" as a MKIV Golf. You can now get your xenons and all that too. It's just as quick 0 to 100 as a MKV Golf GTI, and very competitve around the track. Throw a few suspension, handling, brake, and power addons to it (whilst still spending less than a stock Golf GTI) and all of a sudden you have a car which around a short and tight track like Wakefield Park, is quicker than the Focus RS/Renault Megane Cup RS250/BMW M3/Audi RS4 etc etc.

So whilst you once bought a MKV Golf GTI because at the time it offered the performance and features and level of refinement which balanced what you wanted at the time, but has since "grown up", the cars below it have also grown and are now taking that place.

Ah thanks - gotcha.
But IMO the new POG and Clio are also not fun to drive.
What we need are cars like the previous POG.

[Corey_R]

Maybe the next generation of chinese sports cars are what you're after then

[Sharkie]

What I mean is, the new Polo GTI is now at a level of standard kit and "quality" that it's quite comparable to a MKV Golf GTI. It's also has, as has been mentioned previously, the "space" or "room" as a MKIV Golf. You can now get your xenons and all that too. It's just as quick 0 to 100 as a MKV Golf GTI, and very competitve around the track. Throw a few suspension, handling, brake, and power addons to it (whilst still spending less than a stock Golf GTI) and all of a sudden you have a car which around a short and tight track like Wakefield Park, is quicker than the Focus RS/Renault Megane Cup RS250/BMW M3/Audi RS4 etc etc.

So whilst you once bought a MKV Golf GTI because at the time it offered the performance and features and level of refinement which balanced what you wanted at the time, but has since "grown up", the cars below it have also grown and are now taking that place.

Sounds a lot like buyers regret on that porky R of yours Corey ..... should have kept the Polo ....

What we need are cars like the previous POG.

Have to agree, the old Polo GTI was much more fun than the new one. Far less civilized and less comfortable, but heaps more fun ..... so much so I'm in negotiations to buy my old Polo GTI back .....

[triode12]

Maybe the next generation of chinese sports cars are what you're after then

Nah - rather drive an NA MX5 or Pug 205GTI...far safer.

[Corey_R]

Sounds a lot like buyers regret on that porky R of yours Corey ..... should have kept the Polo ....

Nah. The old Polo just wasn't up to the goodies that I'd like in a car. But the R is a porker though. If only the Golf GTI were available in Blue. At least it's extra weight is down low

You guys happen to see the Audi A1 hit 324km/h on the Nardo Ring? I wonder what's under the hood

[triode12]

Nah. The old Polo just wasn't up to the goodies that I'd like in a car. But the R is a porker though. If only the Golf GTI were available in Blue. At least it's extra weight is down low

You guys happen to see the Audi A1 hit 324km/h on the Nardo Ring? I wonder what's under the hood

Looks like what you need is a Scirocco R or Golf 35.