By Stewart Smith on 2016-11-11 - Stewart was the former motoring editor of the Coventry Telegraph and is now a freelance contributor to Eurekar. He is based in Scotland and specialises in First Drive reviews.
Volkswagen takes
Golf techno
THIS is the uprated VW Golf Mark 7 which goes on sale early next year which will be followed in 2018 by an all new model.
The revised Golf doesn't have any dramatic changes to its outward appearance but design improvements include new headlights, front wing and bumper.
The main focus of the 2017 model is a completely new generation of infotainment systems.
As a world first in the compact car class, the top-of-the-range Discover Pro navigation and connectivity system can be operated by gesture control.
This is a completely new generation of infotainment systems and with its 9.2-inch screen it is a dominant feature of what VW calls its Active Info Display - also new to the Golf. In parallel to this, the range of online services and apps available has also been enlarged.
Data such as telephone contact images or CD covers can now be displayed.
The new Discover Pro set up will be the first Volkswagen infotainment system to offer both touch and voice-command operation with gesture control in addition to the proximity sensors first seen on the new Golf when it was launched four yeas ago.
Volkswagen plans to introduce the new systems in several other product lines in the course of 2017.
Safety and driver aids have been updated with the 2017 model year Golf expanding the range of assistance systems, adding traffic jam assist, a new pedestrian monitoring for front assist with city emergency braking, and trailer assist, the first time that a trailer manoeuvring system has been available in the compact class.
The proactive passenger protection system called PreCrash has also been improved.
Engine choice for the 2017 Golf are much the same as at present but there is a new offering of a 1.5TSI petrol engine with 150bhp and active cylinder management which makes its debut on the model.
For the Golf GTi version there is a 230bhp engine for the standard version and 245bhp unit for the hotter GTi Performance cars.
Also on offer on the latest Golf is a newly-developed seven-speed dual clutch gearbox (DSG) which will gradually replace all six-speed DSGs transmissions in the range
As well as the new display screen the interior also features new decorative trim panels in the doors, the dash and the centre console, as well as new seat covers.
The latest Golf is due to be available for delivery in February and its price is likely to be just above the entry level model which at the moment is £17,625.
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