Rumorpile: Volkswagen Launching A New Golf In 2017

This pretty much wants to make me root for the avian flu an Ebola. Dumb, dumb, dumb on the part of VW...why are we in America the last to get everything, and then we get the crumbs...and then the geniuses at VW wonder why Americans don't want to buy An offblackgreydarkwhite German Camry with power windows that quit in the rain.

Announcing a new Golf before the current one is even fully released here is an insult...

Sorry for the rant. Maybe the MK 8 will have a USB port or a decent navagation screen, two things missing on the mk7. Then again, maybe VW will be happy selling 1400 Golfs a month long term in the US.

VW would rather sell Beetles here.

From what I've read the MQB issues were with the production process, so maybe re-engineering the car is the only way to lower the cost of assembly? If so, someone at VW f*ed up seriously on the current MQB cars...

VW would rather sell Beetles here.

Beetle is a low volume niche car.

Why would anyone really want to sit lower to the ground and always have to do a deep squat to get out of the car. That lower sitting position really does not affect the MPG or handling that much in real world driving.

Depends, some of us like the ultra sweet handling of a Miata, Corvette, BRZ, Boxster, Z4, et al. Key word in the above post though is real world driving.  If it is not a sports car, then the really low center of gravity is pretty much a moot point.  Again, VW of America is showing that it really does not understand American customers.  Many drivers, particularly female, like to sit up higher.  i know my wife does.

So does mine, she will not drive anything less than the trailblazer SS AWD I bought her. Sit up high with performance to boot.

Why would anyone really want to sit lower to the ground and always have to do a deep squat to get out of the car. That lower sitting position really does not affect the MPG or handling that much in real world driving.

Lower to the ground most certainly does effect mpg.  There is less wind resistance both above and below the car.  It's one of the reasons the Tesla has a height adjustable suspension

 

Why would anyone really want to sit lower to the ground and always have to do a deep squat to get out of the car. That lower sitting position really does not affect the MPG or handling that much in real world driving.

 

Lower to the ground most certainly does effect mpg.  There is less wind resistance both above and below the car.  It's one of the reasons the Tesla has a height adjustable suspension

 

To clarify, I agree with you that it does make a difference on road trips and constant highway driving, but for the bulk of people just driving local city driving, I question that it really affects the MPG that much if at all.

Pretty much anytime you get above 45mph

Good to know, I always wondered from an engineering point of few where wind resistance affected MPG on auto's.

Horse, yes VW would rather sell Beetles. First of all, the beetle line sold over 40k last year. Not at all niche. VW's entire brand history is based off the Beetle and it's far more charismatic in America than the Golf. VW even tried to rid the Golf name from our soil (Rabbit redux). The Beetle was remade to precisely provide appeal as the 2 door coupe/hatch here because no one wants a 2 door Golf. Side by side in the showroom, the 2 door golf can't compete vs a Beetle. With four doors, the Jetta creams the golf hatch. The only thing that keeps the Golf afloat is the GTI as far as keeping it in the news.

We're lucky actually to get this new version with the new one hitting in 17. I think VW would bail on the Golf if not for the interest in the Focus and Mazda 3 hatches. If this were GM they'd let the previous version wither on the vine a few more years.

VW has a problem, they have this paradox where they want to make one car or platform all over, but then we have 2 world Passats simultaneously on different platforms. I think VW seems to have weird behavior these days with their market planning. Aggressive but not at all executed well.

What's so bad about lowering the new Golf. I think it's a good idea because it will help the looks, being wider too and the fuel consumption will be improved too. The Golf it's a hatchback, in my opinion they should look a little bit aggresive.  

The lower to the ground the harder it is for most people to get into and out of especially once you go north of 5'8" tall.

Lowering also improves aerodynamics. You weren't fitting into a golf anyway. So being half an inch lower isn't going to matter to you anyway.

Very True Drew. 

Well at least one thing is for certain. They will sell an absolute load of them in Europe because every Golf is bought and loved here. They are also quite reliable since they're not made in Mexico. I want to drive the GTI at some point.