The present and eighth generation of the Volkswagen Golf could well be its last.
Posted at 11:45 a.m.
At least that was admitted in an interview with the German magazine Die Welt the CEO of the German manufacturer, Thomas Schäfer, whose comments were collected by the magazine Automotive. The big boss of Volkswagen maintains that the imposition of the new European standards for polluting emissions Euro 7 makes the development of heat engines more and more expensive.
The mandatory electrification of the vehicle fleet from 2035 in the European Union also puts additional pressure on the brand’s spending. From this perspective, it is also less attractive for a manufacturer to develop such mechanics, knowing that they will eventually be discarded.
Instead, Volkswagen is currently banking on a mid-cycle refresh for the current generation to keep it up to speed. A decision will then be made on his future.
Offered on this side of the Atlantic since 1975, the so-called entry-level Golf was discontinued last year at the conclusion of its seventh generation. Its eighth chapter is thus only composed of the sports versions GTI and R since last fall. This eighth generation has been offered in Europe since 2019 in various variants, including a plug-in hybrid.
Several thousand dollars less for an ID.4
PHOTO PROVIDED BY VOLKSWAGEN
The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4
At the same time, Volkswagen detailed the base price of the rear-wheel-drive 2023 ID.4, whose assembly has just begun at the US plant in Chattanooga. This version will cost $43,995 and will be equipped with a 62 kWh battery. The option of an 82 kWh battery, the same as that of the all-wheel-drive version, will also be offered for an additional $4,000 to increase autonomy. Volkswagen has not yet detailed the estimated number of kilometers in both cases.
The all-wheel-drive version will be marketed at a price of $52,995. It increases the total power from 201 to 295 hp. It can also travel 410 km, an improvement of 16 km compared to the 2022 model. The manufacturer also claims that it will be able to produce 7,000 ID.4s per month on this assembly line.