Extensive changes coming to combustion farewell Golf 8.5 GTI

Ahead of the next generation’s move towards complete electrification in 2028, the incoming facelift eighth generation Volkswagen Golf GTI is reportedly set to undergo significant revisions when it debuts in 2024.

Name change

Already spied by a number of online publications undergoing testing, the GTI will follow the same route as the preceding Mk 7, which become the Mk 7.5, by becoming the Mk 8.5 when it premieres.

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Besides being the final Golf GTI to have a combustion engine, it will also be the last to offer a manual gearbox as a result of the Mk 9 becoming a EV.

Mk 7 Clubsport power

According to the latest claims by Britain’s Autocar, the revisions to the Mk 8.5 won’t be limited to its interior and exterior, but also underneath and to the venerable 2.0 TSI engine.

While set to remain front-wheel-drive, the Golf 8.5 GTI will become the recipient of a reworked chassis and the Dynamic Chassis Control Pro system from the new Passat and Tiguan, as well as a revised rear axle and possibly also sharper steering.

The biggest uptake though will be more grunt with the publication claiming a reported extract of 20 pferdestarke (PS) or 15 kW over the Mk 8, which will see power rise from the current 180 kW to the same 195 kW as the Mk 7 GTI Clubsport.

In addition, torque is anticipated to teeter on the 300 lb ft mark, which in converted form, comes to 407 Nm or 37 Nm more than the Mk 8 GTI.

The knock-on effect, again based on Autocar claims, is the 0-100 km/h time possibly dropping to six seconds and therefore within the range of the 5.5 seconds Honda claims for the new Civic Type R.

Possible manual backtrack?

While it remains unknown as to whether the Mk 8.5 GTI will feature electrical assistance in the form of a mild-hybrid system, what has been rumoured is that the relaxing of the Euro 7 emissions regulations, still set for implementation in 2025, could pave way for the manual gearbox to be retained one last time.

Not offered since the Mk 7 in South Africa, the three-pedal option has, since the introduction of the Mk 8, been dropped in another of other markets, but not the United States despite the recently revealed limited edition Golf GTI 380 being touted as its final encore.

Expected changes

Based on spy images uncovered by motor1.com of the prototype undergoing testing, as well as details by Autocar, the Golf 8.5 GTI’s subtle exterior tweaks won’t be replicated inside where more substantial revisions are expected.

Certain to be rolled-out on the “regular” Golf 8.5, the adaptations are set to consist of upgraded materials, the 10.4-inch digital instrument cluster, illuminated slider controls for the climate control display and a 12.9-inch infotainment system.

Whereas the latter is expected to receive Wolfsburg’s newest software and improved functionality by means of a better user interface, the much criticised touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel are also expected to depart in favour of a physical design after comments made last year by Volkswagen boss, Thomas Schäfer, on the matter.

Clock is ticking

For now, a date of reveal is unknown, however, expect the Golf 8.5 GTI to become available some months after the standard derivative in late-2024.

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