Forward of the launch of the new Volkswagen Touareg this afternoon, Volkswagen Passenger Automobiles Malaysia (VPCM) managing director Denyu Bostandzhiev took to the stage to present his speech, which got here with a tantalising teaser in regards to the firm’s future plans.

Bostandzhiev mentioned the corporate had massive plans to rejoice the fiftieth anniversary of the Golf, which has been kicking round since 1974. Whereas his assertion was ambiguous, the mere point out of this will solely imply one factor – the facelifted Golf Mk8.5 is coming to Malaysia this yr.

As a refresher, the revised five-door hatchback that was revealed in January options slimmer headlights (with a brand new IQ.Mild matrix LED possibility made obtainable), an excellent bigger “smiley” decrease grille lifted from the brand new B9 Passat, new taillights with C-shaped graphics and a mildly reprofiled rear bumper.

The new GTI model features an angrier “fanged” entrance bumper (nonetheless with the 5 hexagonal fog lights on both facet) and loses the faux fender “vents”, the GTI badged now moved to the entrance doorways. It additionally marks the return of the beloved “phone dial” alloy wheels that had been first launched on the Mk5 GTI. Nonetheless, the larger modifications are to be discovered on the within, the place Volkswagen has applied a number of usability tweaks in response to a barrage of media and buyer complaints.

These embody a model new (and hopefully a lot quicker) infotainment system with touchscreen sizes as much as 12.9 inches (beforehand ten inches max), illuminated air-con management sliders (lastly) and bodily steering wheel controls – within the type of the earlier Mk7 mannequin – to exchange the capacitive contact gadgets. There’s additionally a brand new IDA voice management system with ChatGPT integration.

Underneath the bonnet, the rejigged Golf is globally obtainable with a selection of 4 turbocharged petrol engines, two turbodiesels, two 48-volt delicate hybrid petrol engines and two plug-in hybrid variants. On the GTI mannequin, the venerable 2.0 litre turbo mill will get a 20 PS energy increase to 261 hp, nonetheless mated to a seven-speed DSG moist dual-clutch transmission.

The GTI is at present the one variant on sale in Malaysia – the R-Line was dropped final March, and the high-performance R mannequin has but to be formally launched in CKD kind, regardless of being previewed in August – and we anticipate it to stay this manner for now.

Now, one may be questioning how VPCM is getting the Mk8.5 Golf in so rapidly, having taken two and a half years for the previous Mk8 (and a whopping six years for the third-generation Touareg). One benefit the corporate has this time round is that the plant in Pekan, Pahang has now been outfitted with tooling for the Mk8 technology, so a minor change shouldn’t be too onerous to implement.

Bostandzhiev provided one other teaser in the course of the occasion, saying that VPCM will likely be celebrating the Golf’s half-centenary with a particular version GTI. This factors to the Golf Version 50, which comes with “50” B-pillar and steering wheel badges in addition to Version 50 facet sill scuff plates.

There’s just one drawback with this – the Version 50 is barely provided on cooking variations of the Golf, not the GTI mannequin. In fact, as a result of the automobile will likely be CKD domestically assembled, including these bits to the recent model wouldn’t be too troublesome. We additionally shouldn’t low cost the chance that this will likely be a locally-developed particular version that’s particular to our market.

So, are you excited for the VW Golf Mk8.5? We definitely would – it will likely be attention-grabbing to drive a brand new Golf with the Mk8’s usability kinks ironed out.

GALLERY: Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk8.5

GALLERY: Volkswagen Golf Version 50 Mk8.5

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