Volkswagen's Golf is arguably the most important vehicle in the automaker's lineup and a sales generating machine. So when spies caught the first glimpse of what looks to be the upcoming all-new, sixth-generation car, even a grainy, rear-shot only view of it caught our attention.
Early intel suggests the new Golf will be readied by late next year and will likely be a 2009 model. Given the push by VW in the U.S. to sell cars under $15,000, we'll probably have to wait until as late as the 2012 model year before we see a version of it, but expect a facelift of the present U.S. car shortly after the new Golf hits European streets.
Here is a very first photo of an almost undisguised prototype, which reveals some of the new styling, including a substantially re-worked rear hatch area. Final styling was reportedly overseen by Volkswagen's lead designer and rising star Walter de Silva.
According to chatter we've been receiving, the front end will move away from a small Passat look in favour of a narrow, four bar, front grille and updated headlights with LED elements. Besides using existing powerplants, expect Volkswagen to offer a BlueMotion diesel and a hybrid version of the new Golf, and most assuredly performance variants will be in the offing as well.