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A video promo for VW’s One Liter Concept accidentally reveals that which keeps Mr De Silva up at night: The 2012 Golf VII.
17 Comments on “What’s Wrong With This Picture: Tomorrow’s Golf Today Edition...”
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butbutbut….where’s the pointer to the video??! I’m interested in the 1L VW…
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/news/vw-golf-vii-video-panne-erster-blick-auf-den-vw-golf-vii-2012-1417043.html
Click on the “video” tab.
It’s not a big deal, the Golf VII will look like the Golf VI, which in turn looks like the Golf V, we’re not exactly talking revolutionary changes when it comes to the Golf design.
I appreciate the thinking that goes behind the Golf. Take a platform and continue development over the years in a conscious effort to avoid planned obsolescence, but at the same time keeping the original design goals. Such thinking creates brand continuity and becomes iconic. Other examples: the 911 and Corvette? Perhaps the Accord and Civic might fit the bill, but the former has strayed from it’s original mission, and their looks are not so similar over previous generations. With the possible exception of the 911, what other car has been so true to all previous iterations, and has been in production so long? I’m sure there may be a few, but none immediately comes to my mind.
mpresley: I wish Honda would have followed that model with the S2K.
The Miata may become another example; it sounds like the next one will be closer to the original than the last…
With VW it’s typically been evolution, and not revolution of their models. They typically keep the same model names (except for the idiotic Rabbit thing recently) and try to incrementally improve them with each generation. The Japanese companies have the concept figured out as well, although they are unfortunately taking formerly small cars and super-sizing them for the NA market. Although VW will possibly be doing that soon with their NMS project. Hopefully they keep the Golf true to its roots though.
I like it–a sleek, but sensible, evolution of the current version. It looks like there might be a bit more wheelbase upon which to base the next A3 (the variant I’m most keen to see).
“Take a platform and continue development over the years…”
If I’m not mistaken, the Golf has had new platforms developed for every generation, except for the Golf VI. Golf I-V had new and unique platforms developed, the most prolific must have been the Golf IV, that spawned everything from Audi TT to Skoda Octavia. Golf VI is more a re-skinned refresh than a completely new model, and the reason for that is that the Golf V was such a disappointment compared to the Golf IV. The Golf V was a bloated abomination, but they seem to have gone back to their roots with the Golf VII. They have cleaned up the design considerably, and picked up the design language from the Golf IV, especially the form and curve of the C-pillar.
Strikes me as the offspring of an Evo 8 and a Toyota Venza.
@mpresley :
…what other car has been so true to all previous iterations, and has been in production so long? I’m sure there may be a few, but none immediately comes to my mind.
Chrysler minivan.
Ingvar : The Golf V was a bloated abomination, but they seem to have gone back to their roots with the Golf VII.
The MKV (MY06-09 in the US) has been universally praised. The MKIV took a lot of criticism for bloating the line and, mostly, the terribly reliability reputation of VW. The MKVI is a simple refreshing of the body work and some add’l chassis tuning. If the MKV was so terrible, why did they not completely replace the chassis for the VI? I’m not sure how you can say that the MKVII is a return to the roots when we have only background shots of a clay model to judge upon.
Well, it’s obviously a matter of taste.
“I’m not sure how you can say that the MKVII is a return to the roots when we have only background shots of a clay model to judge upon.”
Because I read somewhere else some weeks ago that DaSilva has the 1st and 4th generation Golf in mind as design goals when he develops the Golf VII.
“If the MKV was so terrible, why did they not completely replace the chassis for the VI?”
The Mk VI was a swift stop-gap solution, as an answer to the criticism to the Mk V. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been a Mk VI, and the Mk VII would have debuted naturally as the Mk VI somewhere in betweern 2010-12. Volkswagen has a history of long platform cycles.
Golf I: 1974-1984, 11 years
Golf II: 1985-1992, 8 years
Golf III: 1993-1998, 6 years
Golf IV: 1997-2005, 9 years
Golf V: 2003-2009, 7 years
Golf VI: 2009-2012, 4 years
Golf VII: 2012-
In hindsight, it seems that the Golf III has had the shortest cycle, but I’d reckon the Golf V should have had a development cycle that lasted at least until 2010 under better circumstances. That the Golf VI will have a very short span reinforces that notion. They had to fast track a redevelopment of the Golf V into Golf VI, and delayed the Golf VII, because the Golf V was loosing to much sales, and it would have gotten worse in the meantime.
My understanding is that the mkV was too expensive to produce and therefore couldn’t turn a profit, or as much of one. Certainly no profit to be seen in the USA.
So they decided to re-engineer the mkVI to be cheaper to make, as in cheaper parts, particularly where you can’t see them (suspension, frame, etc). Correct me if I’m wrong.
Personally, I think the VI looks better if we’re talking base Golf versus Rabbit, but it’s a wash when it comes to the GTI versions of both. I love my mkV GTI and plan on keeping it for years to come, as I’ve had no problems in the 22K miles I’ve driven it and would rather have my IRS and other over-engineered goodies.
Looks like a Japanese car. Looks about two feet longer than the current Golf. No thanks.
I can understand the MKV being a sales failure, but that has more to do with cost than the product not being good. Would you mind referencing where the MKV product received criticism? Not being a fanboy, most everything I’ve read about the MKV GTI is that it is an amazing ‘jack of all trades’ car. 7 years ago, if you told me I’d have purchased a new VW, any VW, I’d have called you a crazy person. I liked the MKI and MKII, but the III & IV were severely lacking. That is what shocked me so much after test driving the MKV. My friends where amazed that someone with so much criticism for VW would go out and buy one. While it hasn’t been as reliable as I’d have liked, I haven’t had a nightmarish ownership experience that I so often hear about from MKIV owners. Really, I love the car. If they could just get reliability to a Subaru/Toyota/Honda level, they’d have a real winner.
They forgot to put the rear wheels on it.
Jesus! I no-longer want to design cars. But I did bookmark the video for the next time I can’t sleep!