The seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf has received some sleek modifications, which the carmaker hopes will help the model retain its position as the best-selling compact car and help the company with its goal of surpassing General Motors and Toyota in worldwide sales. In 2011, global results revealed that GM was the largest carmaker in terms of sales with 9.05 million units, followed by the VW Group with 8.27 million vehicles, and Toyota with 7.95 million. The VW Group is aiming to achieve 10 million in global vehicle sales by 2018. As for the Golf, it is facing an uphill battle against cheaper and premium models, as carmakers continue to suffer from Europe’s economic crisis and China’s sluggish growth. VW, however, managed to post record deliveries and higher profits, in contrast to its rivals who are struggling to achieve higher sales.
Analysts, however, remarked that the Golf may not be enough to keep VW on posting sales success. According to Stefan Bratzel, head of the Center of Automotive Management, the success of the new Golf is absolutely critical to VW's expansion targets. He noted that the new version of the Golf will be competing in a tough environment. The seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf is expected to be fitted with features aimed at tempting consumers away from cheaper rivals made by Hyundai, Skoda and Seat as well as from models produced by PSA/Peugeot-Citroen, Opel, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
VW has yet to announce the pricing for the new Golf, which will be sleeker and over 100 kilograms lighter than its predecessor, mainly due to the increased use of ultra-strong steel. The seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf is powered by a 140-hp gasoline engine that emits 112 grams of CO2 per kilometer, in line with European Union emission targets.
