New range-topping Golf | New Release - Car News Mar 2020

13:16 Friday 06 Mar 2020

The Volkswagen Golf now has a new top-of-the-range model.

Priced from £26,140 on-the-road, the sporty R-Line trim has bespoke styling, 17-inch ‘Valencia’ alloy wheels, tinted rear glass, lowered sports suspension, Progressive Steering system, ‘Sardegna’ cloth-finished front sports seats with velour bolsters, R-Line embroidered head restraints, multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel, brushed stainless steel pedals, and ambient lighting with 30-colour personalisation.

These are in addition to the new Golf’s already extensive equipment list which includes Innovision Cockpit with 10.25-inch Active Info Display, 10-inch central infotainment screen, LED headlights and taillights, wireless smartphone charging, and App-Connect smartphone mirroring.

However, it is the new Golf’s cutting-edge Car2X system which is the car’s technological piece de resistance, allowing it to communicate with other Car2X-equipped vehicles and street furniture to pre-empt things such as road hazards and approaching emergency vehicles. This emergent technology is expected to become a common feature of most vehicles in the future, but the Golf can lay claim to being the first mainstream car to include it.

Another change to the Golf line up sees the new R-Line, as well as the existing Life and Style trim levels, gain the option of an eTSI mild hybrid powertrain. This system pairs Volkswagen’s 1.5-litre 150 PS TSI engine to a 48-volt lithium-ion battery and 48-volt belt starter generator. The generator acts as alternator, starter, and as a boost for pulling away. It enables the petrol engine to shut off and coast as much as possible for enhanced efficiency, with fuel economy and emissions levels improved by up to 10%.