The 2021 Volkswagen Golf Mark 8 Shows Off Its New Look
The next generation of VW's iconic hatchback takes an evolutionary step forward.
Volkswagen's seventh-generation Golf is getting ready to wind down the end of its production run, and the eighth-generation car is almost ready to hit the scene, as evidenced by these photos of a nearly undisguised prototype running around Europe. We've already detailed what we know about the new Golf, expected to arrive in the United States in 2020 as a 2021 model, and seeing the new car in the flesh shows that its styling will be evolutionary. Flip through this gallery to take a closer look and learn more information about VW's new compact hatch.
The small amount of camouflage on the front end of this Golf attempts to disguise the new car's funky headlight shape, which appears to have a chrome bar running along the top of the lights that extends onto the front fenders. More modern-looking LED headlight units are shown here, meaning this is likely a higher-trim version of the car. This car appears to have the more aggressive R-Line appearance package, with the front bumper details obscured by some extra camo.
The car's profile is instantly recognizable as a Golf, with a chunky C-pillar, a relatively squared-off greenhouse, and a strong character line running along the side. New interesting-looking directional wheel designs add a bit of visual interest.
The front and rear overhangs appear to be slightly shorter than the seventh-generation Golf's, making for somewhat chunkier proportions. The new car will still ride on VW's MQB architecture, suggesting that its overall dimensions and footprint aren't likely to change much.
Large stickers attempt to hide slimmer LED taillights that emphasize the width of the rear end, and the hatch itself is just as upright as ever. There appears to be a new, subtly different "VW" logo in place, suggesting that Volkswagen may introduce this new emblem design on the new Golf. This eye-catching lime green color suggests that VW may add more options to the Golf's color palette, at least in some markets, following the lead of the Golf R's Spektrum color customization program.
As for its arrival in the U.S., expect a delay of about a year before it comes to our market. When it does, it may offer fewer variants than it does currently. Based on what Volkswagen of America CEO Scott Keogh told C/D at the Geneva auto show, VW is looking at potentially reducing the number of Golf models that it will bring to the U.S.; the company currently sells a Golf hatchback, a Golf SportWagen, a Golf GTI, a Golf Alltrack, a Golf R, and an e-Golf here. The all-electric e-Golf will be eventually replaced by the I.D. Crozz electric crossover, while we would guess that certain base Golf hatchback and SportWagen models could be on the chopping block, as VW already sells more units of the more expensive Golf GTI and Alltrack in the U.S. market than the regular models.
Production of the Mark 8 Golf begins in Europe later this year, so the car should be revealed within the next few months. Look for more information ahead of the reveal, and for U.S.-specific Golf details to be announced closer to its launch here in calendar-year 2020.
Despite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.
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