The Golf celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024 – and to mark the occasion, Volkswagen released a new version of the bestselling car with a fresh design, enhanced features and improved performance. Among the highlights of the eighth-generation Golf is a new-generation infotainment system, which has a fast processor, is intuitive to use and benefits from a sophisticated voice assistant with integrated ChatGPT. Other notable features include the IQ Light LED matrix headlights and the IDA voice assistant. In addition, the Golf is available for the first time with an illuminated VW badge at the front.
Golf
Press Releases
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Bandai Namco, AirConsole and Volkswagen bring PAC-MAN into the vehicle
Volkswagen is expanding its gaming offering in selected models. The PAC-MAN Championship Edition is now available in the optional AirConsole In-Car App for playing on the infotainment display in a parked vehicle. A smartphone serves as the controller. Volkswagen is the first automotive manufacturer to dynamically combine the new game with the vehicle’s background lighting and, for compatible ID. models, also with ID. Light as an option. This means that an even more immersive gaming experience is created specifically by the interior lighting responding to the game content and inputs by the players. -
Volkswagen celebrates a GTI world premiere with the fans at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring
The ADAC 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, the largest motorsport event in Germany (19-22 June 2025), is once again all about the fans. More than 230,000 car and motorsport enthusiasts are expected at the legendary Nordschleife. Volkswagen is once again offering numerous highlights this year: among other things, the world premiere of a GTI special model is on the agenda. Other highlights include the performance models from Volkswagen R – which will be presented off the track at the race weekend – as well as, of course, the legendary 24-hour race itself. After the class victory last year, the Max Kruse Racing customer team will compete in the race with two fast Golf GTI “Clubsport 24h” cars. -
Volkswagen and Autostadt at the Edelweiß-Bergpreis hill climb race: historic Golf and Scirocco in the spotlight
Volkswagen Classic and the Autostadt in Wolfsburg are turning the spotlight on two milestones in automotive history at the International Edelweiß-Bergpreis Rossfeld Berchtesgaden. To mark the 50th anniversary of the Volkswagen Golf and the Scirocco, the two teams will have several outstanding models from these iconic product lines on the starting line. The historic hill climb race will be held on 28 and 29 September 2024, featuring classic motorsport action in the heart of the Alps.
Basic Info
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The new Golf R and Golf R Variant - World premiere
Status quo of the Golf class. Volkswagen R presents the most powerful Golf models of our time: the new Golf R and the new Golf R Variant with 245 kW (333 PS). The new maximum output corresponds to an increase of 10 kW compared with the direct predecessors. As standard. This power has so far only been available in exclusive special models. The Golf R Variant has never before been available with this amount of power. The times for the classic sprint from 0 to 100 km/h have thus now been shortened to 4.6 and 4.8 seconds (Variant) respectively. In the latest generation too, the top speed can be increased by 20 km/h to 270 km/h by adding the Performance package. This makes the Golf R models the world’s fastest Volkswagens together with the Arteon R Shooting Brake. -
The new Golf GTI and Golf GTI Clubsport
GTI – the next chapter. It has the world’s largest fan base of all compact sports cars and is regarded as the original in its class: the Golf GTI is the ultimate icon, with well over 2.3 million units sold. A new evolutionary stage of this vehicle is now being launched. The output of the Golf GTI has increased from 180 kW (245 PS) to 195 kW (265 PS). Pre-sales will get underway in Europe on 14 May. The next GTI highlight will follow just a few days later with the world premiere of the new Golf GTI Clubsport at the Nürburgring – as part of the legendary 24-hour race. This represents the start of a true GTI weekend: on 1 June, Volkswagen will unveil the 221 kW (300 PS) Golf GTI Clubsport in front of thousands of visitors, who will then be able to take a closer look at the top-of-the-range GTI model on the ‘Nürburgring Boulevard’. The world premiere is taking place to coincide with the celebration of the Golf’s 50th birthday (launched in 1974). To help mark the occasion, three classic Golf vehicles will be taking part in the ADAC 24h Classic (3-hour race) on 2 June just before the main race. And that’s not all. A truly unique Golf will then take part in the 24-hour race: the Golf GTI Clubsport 24h, which boasts an output of 256 kW (348 PS). This race car was originally designed by Volkswagen Motorsport and has now been taken to the next level. As a tribute to half a century of Golf, the race organisers have given it the start number 50. Volkswagen says thank you! -
The new Golf - World premiere
Volkswagen is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Golf. Series production of the bestseller started in Wolfsburg in March 1974. More than 37 million units have followed that first Golf to date. Purely in mathematical terms, this means that over 2,000 people around the world have opted to buy a new Golf every single day over the last 50 years. This makes the compact icon the most successful European car and the best-selling Volkswagen model of all time. Volkswagen is now presenting the latest stage in the Golf’s evolution with a world premiere, featuring a new infotainment system that has been developed from scratch and a next-generation plug-in hybrid drive. The best Golf of the last 50 years will arrive in dealerships this spring.
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