It’s finally time for the eighth-generation Golf to get a bit of a refresh, and our photographers have caught Volkswagen engineers testing what is potentially the most important member of the lineup: the GTI.
Sporting a series of minor, but considered changes, this will likely be a well-received update for the model. Starting at the front, the Golf GTI will get new, even slimmer headlights, as we’ve seen testing on other, less sporty members of the Golf family.
As before, a red line extends across the top of the front fascia, connecting the two headlights. Below it, the GTI badge is in a similar spot but rather than being placed within the piece of trim that goes between the lights, it sits half on, half off.
Read: Is The New VW Golf GTI Clubsport The Hot Hatch To Buy?
In addition, the lower grille will be replaced with this update. Although black tape at the edges of the honeycomb grille attempt to hide the change, a closer look reveals that the trim piece actually extends farther down, and then up into the grille, making it look more like an angry grimace.
Changes at the rear are harder to see, but some crinkling around the taillights suggests that VW may be employing camouflage. The biggest change of all will likely occur inside, though.
In previous spy shots, we’ve seen that VW has replaced the Golf’s old infotainment system with a new 15-inch screen. That promises to solve the biggest criticism reviewers had of the Mk8 Golf: its tricky user controls and buggy user interface.
It’s not clear if VW has any updates planned for the GTI’s powertrain. Currently, the model is offered with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that makes 241 hp (180 kW/245 PS), while the Clubsport model makes 296 hp (221 kW/300 PS) in Europe.
No official launch date for the updated Golf has yet been announced, but the Volkswagen is expected to reveal it in 2024.
