The Volkswagen Golf is set to go fully automatic as part of its mid life-cycle update due next year, if the Euro 7 emissions regulations goes into effect in its current form, Autocar reports. That means that after half a decade on sale, the manual transmission could be going away completely for the iconic hatchback – even on the hotter Golf GTI variant.
Speaking to the publication, Volkswagen technical development chief, Kai Grünitz, confirmed the news: “With the next generation of the Golf, there will not be one with a manual gearshift.” Grünitz added that the decision was made to comply with the Euro 7 emissions legislations, although it has not been officially signed off by the VW higher ups, as the legilations could still change before it is ratified into law.
According to Volkswagen’s own data, the manual Golf GTI carbon dioxide emissions are rated at 162 g/km, compared to 160 g/km of the automatic. While that difference might seem miniscule, it can easily add up exponentially and cause significant implications in the context of manufacturer fleet emissions quotas.
The landmark decision could go down as one of the most significant in the Golf GTI illustrious history, as the model has always been offered with a manual gearbox since its very first debut, back in 1975. That said, Malaysian customers probably won’t be too surprised, since the model has already been DSG-only since its official introduction, back in the Mk. 6 era.
The decision to drop the manual gearbox could also hint at the looming electrification of the Volkswagen Golf line-up. The German carmaker has already pretty much confirmed that the next-generation Golf will be electrified – or even perhaps even fully electric, and losing the manual gearbox might just be the first step in the long process, before the next-generation model launches sometime after 2028.
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