According to a recent report by Autocar, the eighth generation Volkswagen Golf GTI will not be powered by a hybrid drivetrain. The Mk8 Golf should be arriving sometime in 2020. For a while, the rumor mill had us believing that the next-generation Golf would make use of a mild hybrid system. The goal being to increase both performance and fuel economy. However, more recent reports suggest that the Mk8 GTI will be powered by a more familiar powerplant.
More Power!
In fact, the next generation Golf GTI should share the exact same engine with the current model, by Autocar‘s account. That engine is the EA888, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. In today’s GTI it makes 220 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. However, the new model may get a significant power increase, up to 252 horsepower. Plus there’s the possibility of a GTI ‘TCR’ edition, which would replace the performance package model (as it is called today). This TCR version would pack an even more impressive 286 horsepower. It makes sense, since Volkswagen couldn’t let the Hyundai Veloster N dominate the hot hatchback world for too long before stepping in and reclaiming the throne.
Allegedly, the Mk8 GTI will carry-over the 6-speed manual option as well as the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Though, the power upgrades should result in an even quicker 0-60 time, certainly well below six-seconds.
Why no hybrid?
The idea of a hybrid GTI came from Matthias Müller, the Volkswagen Group’s previous chairman. However, his replacement, Herbert Diess, has made it clear that this mild-hybrid would not be used in the GTI, for now at least. Of course, the idea would have been to use the electric system’s power at lower RPM, helping with efficiency and power.
What about the Platform?
According to Autocar, the Mk8 Golf will utilize a further developed version of the current Golf’s MQB modular architecture. Which is a good thing, because that architecture has proven to be quite good in the Mk7 GTI and Golf. It resulted in a much lighter, much stronger chassis than the Mk6. So, improving on that platform should only help the new car.
Unfortunately, none of this information has been officially confirmed by Volkswagen. However, we expect to learn a lot more about this next-gen Golf in the coming months leading up to 2020. Including, more information about styling, which is still a bit of a mystery.
Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for the latest news, views & real-world reviews and more information about the Mk8 Golf GTI.
While you wait for more info, why not see how the GTI compares to its bigger sibling, the Golf R:
