A NEW Volkswagen Golf has been unveiled and the line up includes a plug-in hybrid model with an emission-free range said to be up to 80 miles.

As it marks its 50 anniversary the Golf has been brought up to date with sharper styling front and rear and a new infotainment system as well as new powertrains.

The facelift of the Mk 8 model sees the car get an illuminated VW logo and new-look headlights with the top-of-the-range IQ.Light LED matrix headlightsnow incorporating a high-performance main beam with a range of up to 500 metres.

Inside, the series features a newly developed, intuitive infotainment system with a free-standing touchscreen measuring up to 12.9 inches with illuminated touch sliders for temperature and volume control at its base. There's also a new steering wheel.

An upgraded voice control system which uses the artificial-intelligence-based chatbot ChatGPT enables users to have certain content read out to them on the move while also recognising natural voices.

The plug-in hybrid set up has a quick-charging function while mild-hybrid and TSI versions remain as do TDI models.

VW says the GTI will get more power and further derivatives are in the wings. The changes also apply to Golf estate models.

Thomas Schafer, chief executive of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, said:"The Golf has been at the heart of the Volkswagen brand for half a century now, offering affordable mobility for all at the highest technical level. This is precisely what we are now building on with the new evolutionary stage- with even higher efficiency, comfort and quality and a new operating concept. The Golf does not get any better than this."

Since its debut in 1974 more than 37 million Golfs have been sold across eight generations.

Prices for the new Golf are still to be announced but the current model starts from £26,945.