Volkswagen has released the first pictures of the new Golf, the fifth generation of the car first launched in 1974. The new range goes on sale in the UK next February. As with all subsequent generations, this fifth version is an evolution of the Giorgetto Giugiaro designed original, the trademark rear pillar, truncated tail and simple silhouette all remaining. The latest version is significantly bigger than the last, gaining 57m in length, 24mm in width and 39mm in height, making it decisively larger than its rival the Ford Focus and bigger, incidentally, than the Passat of the late '70s. The extra space particularly benefits rear leg- and headroom.
Cabin quality - which leapt forward so completely in the previous generation Golf that the opposition was wrong-footed - edges forward again, but not to the same degree as last time. Nevertheless, expect the new Golf to maintain its perceived position as the best quality car in its class. To this end, its body is a spectacular 80 percent stiffer than the outgoing car's (which was far from poor in this respect) to the benefit of crash performance, refinement and suspension behaviour. The suspension system itself consists of MacPherson struts up front, as before, but a completely new rear axle, previously revealed on the Audi A3, which is modelled on the clever multi-link control blade system employed by the Ford Focus. The power steering system is electro-hydraulic. Expect the new Golf to ride and handle more effectively than the current model as a result.
The engine range is extensive; all units, whether petrol or diesel, are now direct injection, though not all variants will make it to the UK. Four engines will be available at launch, with more to come later, as indicated:
Petrol
1.4 FSI 75bhp - launch
1.6 FSI 115bhp - launch
1.6 FSI 85bhp - late 2004
2.0 FSI 148bhp - late 2004
2.0 Turbo 200bhp - 2005
3.2 V6 250bhp - 2005
Diesel
1.9 105bhp - launch
2.0 140bhp - launch
2.0 69bhp - late 2004
2.5 TDI 175bhp - 2005
Gearboxes will include six-speed manuals and automatics, plus a five-speed manual and the clever six-speed sequential DSG transmission recently debuted in the Audi TT V6.