Next VW Golf details revealed

The all-new Volkswagen Golf will get a global unveiling at Paris motor show in September, but fresh details show we can expect a sleeker, lighter car.

Volkswagen says the Golf has increased 56mm in length and 28mm in width, but has shaved 28mm off the height. The cabin gets a space boost with more length, leg and shoulder room, while a  top-up of 30 litres luggage capacity to bring the boot area to 380 litres – now accessed through a wider opening.

Thanks to a new lightweight platform and some revised production processes – coupled with more use of aluminium and even trimming strategies for components and wiring -- the 2013 Golf has also managed to shed around 100kg.

That means some good news on the fuel economy front, with Volkswagen claiming an improvement of 13.9 per cent across the range and with some models up to 23 per cent better than the outgoing ones.

The equipment list will include a choice of infotainment monitors, high-tech camera parking assistance, adaptive cruise control, lane assist, fatigue warning, emergency braking and a new system that adds more brake booster in a collision.

New petrol and diesel engines are on the menu. The petrols range from a turbocharged 1.4-litre mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to the 165kW turbo 2.0-litre destined for the golf GTI.

On the oilburner side there’s a 77kW 1.6-litre turbodiesel which VW claims returns 3.8L/100km.