MK8.5 already?
No, it’s normal practice for VW to ‘tweak’ the spec of their cars every year for the next model year (MY), so that equipment levels remain competitive compared to other car manufacturers products. Any MY changes that are being introduced now are just minor tweaks for next year’s model year, and those tweaks can sometimes be cost cutting spec reductions!
VW’s main MY changes used to always be from build week 22 and in some years, there were further small changes from build week 45, but since the WLTP debacle it seems to be a bit more random when MY changes are introduced. Sometimes, VW don’t make any MY changes, especially early in a car’s lifecycle when the original spec is still ‘fresh’.
Usually, the facelift doesn’t happen until mid way through a model’s life cycle, so assuming the mk8 Golf has an 8 year lifecycle, then the mk8.5 facelift won’t be due until sometime in 2024. Facelift changes are usually more than just spec upgrades and normally include minor external design changes as well (e.g. bumpers, alloys, light clusters), and sometimes engine bhp increases to help maintain customer interest and sales volumes through to the end of the model’s life cycle.
So a MY change does not necessarily mean an 8.5 it can just be a slew of additions or even removals, (such as in past the under seat drawer)
Agree.