See the Volkswagen Golf 8 in all its glory before the official launch tonight



In the age of social media and Internet connectivity, it seems like nobody is save from secrets. With all the hype surrounding the upcoming Golf 8 (not called the Mk. 8 anymore), it’s no surprise that Volkswagen couldn’t run from the savvy netizens either.

Originally scheduled to be launched tonight, it seems that a Spanish online publication by the name Motor El Pais has gotten their hands on the official press photos a day early (the page has gone down at the time of writing). 

So what’s new? Let’s get straight to it. From the outside, changes made on the VW Golf 8 are pretty mild. That’s not surprising though, as the Golf lineage has always kept a fairly similar appearance since the Mk. 4 era. 

At the front, the Golf 8 gains a new headlight design, with the enclosure sculpted to the ‘U’-shaped daytime running lights. Above the projectors, there seems to also be an eyebrow-styled DRL strip that doubles as turn indicators. 

The two headlights are joined at the eyebrows by a chrome strip running across the grille. The new grille also features the new Volkswagen emblem. Further down the front apron, the Golf 8 gets a revamped bumper design. 

At the rear, the Volkswagen Golf 8 is equipped with new angular IQ.Light taillights, along with the new Volkswagen emblem and a centrally-positioned Golf badging. The rear bumper has also been redesigned to include integrated exhaust housing.

If you think that the exterior of the new Golf is a little too evolutionary, the cabin of the new hatchback might pique your fancy. As shown in the previous spy pictures, the Golf 8 gets a new dual screen instrument cluster and infotainment display, laid-out in a wraparound enclosure around the steering wheel. 

Buttons and switches in the cabin are also kept to a minimum. Other than the steering wheel controls, the mechanical bits left in the cabin are the window switches, push-start button, hazard light switch, and the electronic parking brake; all other controls have been made into touch-activated panels or relegated into the infotainment display. 

The air-conditioning vents are tucked neatly into a decorative strip that runs across the entire dashboard. Underneath the central air vents, Volkswagen seems to have included two USB-C ports for charging and connectivity with your mobile phone. Certain variants also seem to include a heads-up display.

There is currently no confirmation on the powertrain for the new Golf 8, but by looking through the leaked pictures, there seems to be a high-performance plug-in hybrid version with the GTE moniker. 

According to a report by Autocar, Volkswagen’s technical chief, Dr. Frank Welsch said that the GTE high-performance hybrid will offer up to 245 hp, while the other powertrains will also be available with a 48V mild hybrid system

Despite the leaks, there are still many things to be excited about for the official launch tonight! Be sure to keep your eyes peeled as we bring you the latest updates.