That comes with many caveats, of course. Volkswagen unveiled an updated Golf — known briefly in U.S. showrooms as the Rabbit — in August 2008, but a U.S. Golf didn’t show up stateside until the 2010 model year. Bloomberg’s report focused on the European Golf, whose weight-saving production process will extend to some 40 small and midsize cars built by the Volkswagen Group. The reduced weight should translate to cost savings, which Bloomberg News says VW will plow into R&D for in-car multimedia systems.
We asked U.S. Volkswagen spokesman Corey Proffitt about the implications for the stateside Golf and its turbocharged sibling, the GTI.
“The U.S. will benefit from advancements made for the seventh-gen model, such as improved fuel economy, more efficient aerodynamics and weight improvements,” Proffitt said. “Exact specs, powertrains and features won’t be available until closer to market launch, however.”
Stay tuned for more coverage when the new Golf breaks cover.