VW Golf Mk VI official pics.

[Galaxy]

Some one broke the embargo and now the flood gates are open.








Looks a bit like a Seat from the back and dare I say van like.

More info on the 6th.

[ifcar]

I don't like it. They sharpened it up from the rounder IV, and now they've smoothed out all the edges again. It doesn't seem to share anything with other VWs, except the Touareg taillights and the shape of the V (and there only because it's carrying over).

[S204STi]

I agree with Ifcar, I'm not diggin' it.  They took an aggressive styling theme in the front end and softened it, much like they ruined the Scirocco on its way from concept to reality.

[Vinsanity]

I like it better than the current model. Looks wise, at least.

I'm digging that seat upholstery color, too.

[Danish]

Yeah I think it looks better than the current model also

[Galaxy]

I don't like it. They sharpened it up from the rounder IV, and now they've smoothed out all the edges again. It doesn't seem to share anything with other VWs, except the Touareg taillights and the shape of the V (and there only because it's carrying over).

This is the first car that was heavily influenced by the new head of design Walter de Silvia, whom Martin Winterkorn yanked with him when he became CEO of VW AG.  All VWs in the near future will get this design language.

There is an extended interview with him in the current edition of Auto Motor und Sport. This is what he said about the different Golfs (my translation).

Hartmut Warku? achieved a design (the MK IV), whose lines and surfaces where perfect. We looked at the Golf IV with awe because it was an almost perfect sculpture, a compact formal form without interruptions. The car is logical. I felt emotions for this clarity. I do not want to criticize the other Golf designs, they where all cars which had big market success. But they did not have the same precision and  quality. The shapes and the lines where not as exact as they where with the Golf IV.         

[Galaxy]

I do agree with de Silvia about the Mk IV. It may be aged now, but when I first saw it at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1997 I looked at the car and in the first second loved the design.

[nickdrinkwater]

I don't like it. They sharpened it up from the rounder IV, and now they've smoothed out all the edges again. It doesn't seem to share anything with other VWs, except the Touareg taillights and the shape of the V (and there only because it's carrying over).

I disagree.  I see a lot of Scirocco influence, both inside and out.

The only thing that concerns me is whether it is bigger than the current car.  I can't really tell from the pictures.

It is an improvement over the MkV in looks, but doesn't have the magic of the MkIV unfortunately.  OTOH, everyone who has seen the Scirocco seems to think pictures don't do it justice.  Maybe this car will be the same, like the new Ibiza.

[sportyaccordy]

MKIV was oogly (outside of the R32)

MKIII was the beauty of the line

This new one looks like a minivan/crossover

[280Z Turbo]

I like it.

[2o6]

This is a new Generation? How Lazy. They sharpened the edges, and gave it a Shairocacco (sp.......) face. If was just called a facelift, then it'd be different.

[Vinsanity]

This is a new Generation? How Lazy. They sharpened the edges, and gave it a Shairocacco (sp.......) face. If was just called a facelift, then it'd be different.

how would you have designed it?

[2o6]

how would you have designed it?

A lot different. The General Shape is exactly the same........the Proportions.....everything. It looks more like a facelift of the car, rather than a new car.

[280Z Turbo]

how would you have designed it?

He would have made it look like a dustbuster van from the 90's.

[CALL_911]

Very nice. I like it.

[Raza]

I like it.  It adds in some of the Scirocco elements to the front end. 

[93JC]

MKIV was oogly (outside of the R32)

MKIII was the beauty of the line

You been dipping into my stash of crack?

Mk. III was easily the oogliest. Mk. IV was boring but not particular oogly.

[the Teuton]

+3.  I like it as well.  It looks like a Mk. V with some modern flair.  I liked the 5 more than the 6.

Am I getting these numbers right?

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

He would have made it look like a dustbuster van from the 90's.

[ifcar]

You been dipping into my stash of crack?

Mk. III was easily the oogliest. Mk. IV was boring but not particular oogly.

I thought that was a pretty sharp version, particularly for 1993. It may be my pick for best-looking Golf, too.

[JYODER240]

I like it and I'm not usually a big fan of hatches.

[cawimmer430]

It looks really sporty whereas the current one looks so bland. The headlights remind me of the this generation Golf:



Subtly aggressive yet also classy in a subtle way. 

[AltinD]

A lot different. The General Shape is exactly the same........the Proportions.....everything. It looks more like a facelift of the car, rather than a new car.

The 6th generation was not rushed prematurily to production because the previous one was a failure, but because they needed a flexible car, both in structur and during the manufacturing process.

It's all about cost cutting.

[93JC]

So, uh... Is this or is this not a facelift of the current car? It looks like a facelift.

[AltinD]

So, uh... Is this or is this not a facelift of the current car? It looks like a facelift.

No, it's not a facelist ... it's a brand new generation.

[93JC]

[ifcar]

That's a Ford-style redesign: change the front and rear end and leave the middle the same.

2008 Taurus
2008 Escape
2007 Expedition
2006 Explorer
2004 Freestar
2000 Taurus

[93JC]

To be fair the Mk VI body panels don't look exactly alike, and probably don't swap over. The doors look completely different at the rocker panels, for instance.

The shape and proportions look pretty much the same though, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's a complete re-skin of the Mk V chassis.

So it's more of a GM-, Toyota- or Honda-style redesign: keep the underlying mechanics of the old car, slap a new body on it and call it brand spanking new.

[ifcar]

It looks the same to me. I think the GTI photo's colors are just obscuring things.



But even if there is minor skin change, the shape of the entire midsection is the same. Honda or Toyota may keep some platform components, but the car is going to be completely reshaped.

[S204STi]

Meh, the only good looking VW ever was the MkI Rabbit GTI anyway.