Volkswagen casts doubt on next-generation Golf Mk9

Newly-appointed Volkswagen Passenger Vehicles CEO Thomas Schäfer has raised some doubts about whether or not a ninth-generation model of the long-lasting Golf will make manufacturing.

In an interview with German publication Welt, Mr Schäfer stated Volkswagen had but to determine whether or not to proceed with a Golf Mk9 for the incoming all-electric period, with a watch towards European combustion-engine bans beginning in 2035.

“We’ll know extra in twelve months,” Mr Schäfer claimed, including the corporate was now engaged on a mid-life replace for the Mk8 Golf, presumably for 2023-24 given the Mk8 premiered in late 2019.

“We should see whether or not it’s value growing a brand new car that doesn’t final the total seven or eight years,” stated Mr Schäfer in his interview with Welt, including that it might be “extraordinarily costly” to develop a automotive for a shortened lifespan.

These feedback backtrack considerably on a pledge made by ex-CEO Ralf Brandstätter in 2021, when he stated core fashions such because the Golf would enter a brand new technology, earlier than going all-electric.

“We’ll nonetheless want combustion engines for some time, however they need to be as environment friendly as attainable, which is why the following technology of our core merchandise – all of that are world fashions – will even be fitted with the newest technology of plug-in hybrid expertise, with an electrical vary of as much as 100 kilometres,” stated Mr Brandstätter on the time.

A brand new-generation Golf is due round 2027 based mostly on typical mannequin cycles, and would due to this fact be on sale till about 2035, which neatly coincides with the European Union’s plan to ban the sale of latest vehicles and vans with petrol and diesel engines.

Regardless of the timeline on this situation understanding, Mr Schäfer stated that even growing a combustion-powered small automotive to adapt with soon-to-be-introduced Euro 7 rules (round 2025) can be powerful, and “considerably costlier”.

These quotes level towards Volkswagen maybe leaning extra in direction of the ID.3 hatchback, which is the Golf’s all-electric different, as its important C-segment choice – although there’s no technical motive why it couldn’t affix a Golf badge to an EV once more…

Mr Schäfer stated he believed that after Euro 7 rules have been launched, internal-combustion automobiles would grow to be €3000 ($A4388) to €5000 ($A7313) costlier in Europe due to the upper growth and constructing prices.

Mr Schäfer additionally stated that €10,000 ($A14,627) beginning costs for micro vehicles with internal-combustion engines, just like the Volkswagen Up, will now not exist sooner or later.

Volkswagen Group has previously said it plans to introduce three entry-level electric vehicles (EVs) based mostly on the ‘MEB Small’ platform, comparable in measurement to the Polo, beginning in 2025.

Certainly one of these automobiles is reportedly going to be referred to as the Volkswagen ID.2, in keeping with Mr Schäfer, with a revised beginning value round €25,000 ($A36,568). It was beforehand €20,000 ($A29,254).

The opposite two fashions set to be constructed on the MEB Small powertrain embrace the Cupra UrbanRebel, and a Skoda.

Regardless of beforehand saying there have been solely going to be three Volkswagen Group automobiles constructed on the MEB Small platform, Mr Schäfer has now stated there will probably be one other Volkswagen mannequin.

Particulars about this second Volkswagen EV to be based mostly on MEB Small are few and much between for now.

The electrical vary for these small EVs will probably be round 350 to 400km in keeping with Mr Schäfer, calling this the “psychological promote level in the meanwhile”.

The Volkswagen Group is but to begin its all-electric car rollout in Australia simply but, however the Cupra Born is slated for a first quarter of 2023 local launch, and the Volkswagen ID. 4 and ID.5 crossovers will land in Australia before the end of 2023.

MORE: Everything Volkswagen Golf