The redesigned model comes after five generations, 34 years and over 26m units since the 1970s original. Design was headed by Klaus Bischoff overseen by group design chief Walter de Silva.
This is the first Golf offered with Driver Assistance systems such as adaptive chassis control (ACC), also available on the Passat CC and standard on the new Scirocco, that allows the driver to select from normal, comfort or sport modes to define the desired suspension, steering and accelerator response settings for any particular journey.
Automatic Distance Control (ADC) is also offered which monitors the area around the vehicle through a series of sensors and will reduce the vehicle’s speed should an obstruction be identified. In extreme cases the vehicle can be brought to a complete stop. A parking assistant, first used by VW on the new Tiguan SUV, is also optional for the new Golf.
There is also a a new ESP system with sharper response over its control range, further optimised crash properties, seven airbags including knee airbag, head restraints (WOKS) to counteract whiplash, a seatbelt detection feature for the rear seats and standard daylight running lamps.
Golf 6 will be presented at the Mondial Paris motor show in October, and European sales begin the same month.
