A new set of spy shots starring the eagerly awaited 7th generation of the Volkswagen Golf GTI has surfaced. The popular sporty hatch from VW is currently undergoing some testing on the Nurburgring, and even though the pictured mule is still wearing quite some heavy camouflage, it is believed that under the cammo the model is already equipped with the definitive bodywork: in light of that, these images allow us to understand the general proportions of the model, which should remain pretty loyal to the latest generations of the Golf.

However, more relevant changes will affect the elements of the car that do not meet the eye: the Golf VII is expected to come with the same MQB frame of the new Audi A3, which should be shared by most cars of the VW Group with transvesal engine. The adoption of this platform as well as light materials for the body work will allow the engineers to save up to 80 kg over the weight of the current generation.

Under the hood of the GTI there will be once again a turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder unit with direct injection, that is expected to deliver about 220 hp with a very generous torque of 340 Nm. According to a “deep throat” within Volkswagen, the new Golf GTI will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.7 seconds and will reach a maximum speed of 246 km/h (153 mph).

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The gap between sixth and seventh generation VW Golf will be much more noticeable than the one between the fifth and the sixth. Instead of opting for the ‘constant update’ strategy, as it’s done sone so far, Volkswagen has this time decided to push harder and have produced a bolder vehicle, arguably more visually engaging than its predecessor.

The Golf VII is quite similar to the IV due to the use of the hyped MQB platform, which has reduced the vehicle’s dimentions. The German hatchback will in fact result lower than the previous model, with a more sloped windscreen, while the MQB platform will provide extra comfort, increased security and efficiency. In regards to the Golf VII, Top Gear has revealed that it will weight 135 less than its predecessor due to the extensive use of aluminium and high-strength steel.

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The long-awaited seventh generation of the mighty Volkswagen Golf is expected to debut on the market worldwide in the second half of the current year, and a new GTI version of the iconic hatchback is obviously in the works too. According to some rumors collected by website GermanCarBlog, the new Golf range will weigh - roughly and on average - a good 70 kg less than the current version thanks to the extensive use extra high-strength steel in the shell, optimized suspension and lighter engines and components. Apparently, the new Golf GTI will go even further than that.

The next sporty version of the German hatch is in fact supposed to make use of even more aluminum, which should result in an overall weight loss of about 100 kg over the current GTI, which boasts a dry weight of 1,320 kg. Rumor has it that the roof will also be made of steel, a move that will play a part in keeping its center of mass as low as possible.

This diet will obviously be an adavantage for the new engine too: the revised 2.0 TSI engine of the next model should end up receiving an extra 20 hp, boosting the total output of the model in the 230 hp region, while the maximum torque figure should go up from 280 to 300 Nm. No doubt these are really interesting figures, which can just add up to the anticipation. The pictures featured in this article are old spy shots of the new Golf GTI and Golf R provided by our parent site Autoblog.it, that date back to last July.

View the full Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R spy shots photo gallery

via | GermanCarBlog

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Spy shots of the eagerly awaited 7th generation of Volkswagen Golf have surfaced. The pictured mule is still quite heavily disguised, but nonetheless these images can help us to figure out which sort of direction the Wolfspurg-based manufacturer is currently weighing up in the development of its historic model.

The new Golf is expected to debut worldwide at some point in the second half of 2012, with a slightly different and yet more aggressive design. The pictured model appears to be wider than the current version, and it might have lost a couple of inches in height too. Besides, that windscreen seems to be more steeply raked.

Apparently, these changes are intended to make both 3 and 5 door configurations of the next Golf distigushingly different from the next Golf Plus, which will be re-designed as well in order to have it clearly positioned in its role of compact 5 seat MPV for the VW range. Rumor has it that the 3-door version of the next Golf will be rather more sporty than its 5 door counterpart.

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