VW is reportedly planning to put the new Golf Mk8 into series production at their Wolfsburg factory by the end of the third quarter, with an official reveal scheduled for October ahead of a market launch in February.
AutoNews cites multiple sources from within the company, saying that VW’s original plan was to reveal the new Golf at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, but chose not to in order to iron out software glitches caused by the model’s advanced infotainment system.
The move will also allow the automaker to focus solely on the Frankfurt reveal of the production version of the ID hatchback, the company’s first all-electric model in its new EV sub-brand.
VW’s focus with the new Golf is to set the benchmark for connectivity in its segment. The German compact best-seller will offer advanced services such as a digital key and cockpit, an always-online infotainment system and the ability to “talk” to other cars and transportation infrastructure.
The new Golf will offer features such as a lane-keeping assist, LED headlights, a multifunction steering wheel and a fully digital cockpit with an 8.25-inche touchscreen display on the dashboard as standard. The model’s infotainment system will make use of “Volkswagen We” apps and be compatible with over-the-air updates.
VW’s engineers are currently working on sorting out software bugs, with the Golf Mk8 currently going through its pre-production phase. The new model features a number of ECUs in order to offer all those high-tech features.
“Sometimes when you solve one, two more appear in its place,” said one senior electrical engineer in diagnosing the Golf’s issues. “We have to become world champions in integration.”