The times of a Golf GTI with a fuel engine beneath the hood are coming to an finish, and the ultimate model earlier than the recent hatch goes the electrical route has been noticed testing.

Volkswagen in September made the announcement that the following Golf, the nameplate’s ninth era, might be an electrical car based mostly on a next-generation EV platform referred to as the SSP. That platform will solely be prepared round 2028, so there’s nonetheless loads of shelf life left for the present gas-powered Golf.

To maintain it contemporary till its electrical successor arrives, the present eighth-generation Golf might be given an replace. Prototypes for the up to date Golf have already been noticed and at the moment we’ve the primary pictures of a prototype for the up to date GTI. It was sporting zero camouflage gear and testing alongside the present mannequin, giving a transparent view of the outside styling tweaks which might be deliberate. There’s additionally a glimpse of the inside, revealing among the adjustments going down inside as properly.

The outside adjustments are restricted to revised fascia designs at each ends. The wide-mouth look of the present GTI stays, however with a flatter design for the highest of the mouth and a revised mesh sample. On the rear, there is a revised diffuser design and a brand new design for the exhaust suggestions.

2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI facelift spy pictures – Photograph credit score: Baldauf

Inside, there’s an up to date sprint sporting a a lot bigger infotainment display. The Golf vary at current options an 8.3-inch infotainment display, however the display within the up to date mannequin could stretch as a lot as 15 inches, matching the display within the redesigned international Tiguan that debuted in September.

It is not clear whether or not any main mechanical mods might be made with this replace, although further energy is a risk. The front-wheel-drive GTI is presently supplied with a 2.0-liter turbo-4 good for 241 hp. The engine might be ordered with both a 6-speed handbook or 7-speed dual-clutch automated at current, although VW confirmed in August that the handbook transmission might be dropped for the up to date mannequin. To mark the top of the handbook’s run, VW launched a particular GTI 380 mannequin for the 2024 mannequin yr.

Given the shortage of camouflage gear on the prototype, the debut cannot be far. Search for the up to date Golf vary, together with the GTI, to reach within the U.S. subsequent yr as 2025 fashions. An up to date Golf R must also be coming.