Features you'd like to see on the Mk8

[JoeGTI]

Ha ha dream on matey. The Mk8 will be out sometime in 2017. VW moved onto 5 year cycles in 2012.

The Mk6 was just 4 years after the Mk5.

Mk5 was first unveiled in late 2003. The MK6 didn't arrive until late 2008 / early '09.

[Brenbo]

I suspect it will be a case of those countries which opened order books for Clubsport, first would adopt the facelift first which may be the speculated date being banded around.  I would suspect if they say late 2016 early 2017 this will most likely be when Germany would see it.  I would expect if it happens so soon before the MK8 we will see it later than Germany and other early adopting countries.

I am still wondering if the MK8 will be the facelift and they delay the facelift a little with this in mind. The Clubsport was suppose to be available to order beginning of 2016.  In reality we were not able to order in UK until April.  With this in mind the same will probably happen for the facelift and MK8.  I can say now it happened when I ordered my GTI when the MK7 was launched. 

I also have a feeling the Golf R400 may end up being the MK8 Golf R.  If they do release the Golf R400 I suspect it will be so expensive a lot of us will not get near being able to afford one.  The Clubsport is a lot more expensive with the extras (i.e. Bucket Seats) being an extra cost rather than standard like we were lead to believe they might be.

[Daz Auto]

Mk5 was first unveiled in late 2003. The MK6 didn't arrive until late 2008 / early '09.

my mistake... I meant the Mk7 was released just 4 years after the Mk6.

What I find really confusing is that some websites are saying that the Mk7 facelift will be out 2016/17 and the MK8 will be out 2017/2018.

Example...
https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/Volkswagen-Golf-Mk8-2017-price-specs-and-release-date-2367

"With the current Volkswagen Golf (Mk7) due for a facelift in 2016, we’re expecting a new model to be launched sometime in 2017. It will keep the current car’s platform underneath, but everything else will change to uphold the Golf’s reputation as a class leader."

Why bother with the facelift?

As Abraham Lincoln once said, "you can only believe 85% of what you read on the internet."

[fredgroves]

It won't just be a cosmetic external facelift, there definitely will be some base components that will be uprated and almost certainly there will be a swathe of new optional extras in the tech area - traffic jam auto mode, maybe HUD, maybe digital clocks, maybe the new DSG box, maybe LED lights, MIB3 gesture control etc etc.

Mechanically will it be different? Probably not very much.

[mjh_056]

It won't just be a cosmetic external facelift, there definitely will be some base components that will be uprated and almost certainly there will be a swathe of new optional extras in the tech area - traffic jam auto mode, maybe HUD, maybe digital clocks, maybe the new DSG box, maybe LED lights, MIB3 gesture control etc etc.

Mechanically will it be different? Probably not very much.

Think you just look at the Audi A3 face lift due in May and transpose to Golf in 2017 - Be getting my next one before then but do not feel that will be missing out on much aside from some minor lifts in functions, engines, cosmetics. The major lift for some will be virtual cockpits but they genuinely do not excite/bother me

The integrity of the Golf will be at least 95% of what it is now.

[fredgroves]

The next time you'll see something really radical will be with next gen engine/gearbox and chasis.

That won't be the "facelift", that will all come with the replacement for MQB, which nobody is saying is the next step.

Whether they call the "facelift" a Mk8 or not probably doesn't add up to much, except that a distinct model number will make them more sales and effect everyone's resale vale.

Wasn't the Mk6 effectively a facelifted and tech-lifted Mk5?

[mjh_056]

The next time you'll see something really radical will be with next gen engine/gearbox and chasis.

That won't be the "facelift", that will all come with the replacement for MQB, which nobody is saying is the next step.

Whether they call the "facelift" a Mk8 or not probably doesn't add up to much, except that a distinct model number will make them more sales and effect everyone's resale vale.

Wasn't the Mk6 effectively a facelifted and tech-lifted Mk5?

The A3 version changes are by the chassis, outside of that they are just called face lift A3 some minor some greater like the one coming in May.

The Golf versions are by the model and not chassis and so my expectation is the MK 8 will be in same vein as the A3 face lift thats occurring next month - sharper lines, better engines, wider range of tech

Agree with whoever said that new engines, maybe greatly improved hybrid and standalone electric technology may lead in the next radical version though for me electric tech needs to address the charging issue of access to charging points as vast majority have no drives and the sporadic charging points will not cut it - perfect resolution would be petrol station type centers with 5 min charging but we a long way from that on battery tech and having been in hybrid Lexus recently really not sure about electric silence, kinda soulless.

[fredgroves]

Fuel Cell for the win!

100% analogous to petrol/diesel - fuel station fill up from a hose, drive on.

Infrastructure already in place, carbon emissions (at point of burn, but same as electric really!) zero. Running costs negligible, taxation easy to carry over.

I don't really understand why fuel cell isn't a reality yet... I guess a lot of big money wrong footed...

[Mk7-GTD]

Can't believe nobody has said 450bhp and 4wd

[GTD1414]

240PS Bi Turbo GTD with 4Motion.

Also just noticed the Octavia VRS 184 is now available in 4WD. Not fair