Autoblog

Fans of the Volkswagen Golf in the U.S. had to wait a long time for this day, but today at the Chicago Auto Show, their wait ended as VW showed off the first U.S. spec examples of its Mark V Golf that has been on sale in Europe for quite some time now.

Set to go on sale this summer, the new Golf will feature a more robust 2.5L five-cylinder base engine that develops 150 hp. VW is touting it as a pure “German” car in both its engineering and driving dynamics. Aiding the latter will be the car’s new fully independent front suspension, as well as an optional six-speed auto with Tiptronic to divvy up the engine’s power delivery.

More live pics and press shots of the Mark V Golf, as well as VW’s press release, after the jump...

VOLKSWAGEN SHOWS FIRST U.S.-BOUND ALL-NEW GOLF MODEL AT THIS YEAR’S CHICAGO AUTO SHOW

CHICAGO – Volkswagen of America, Inc. has chosen Chicago—one of the German automaker’s best metro markets in the country—to debut Europe’s best-selling car, the new Volkswagen Golf hatchback.

While the reveal of the first U.S. specific Golf comes as news to many U.S. car buyers, those who have a genuine affinity for European models already know this fifth-generation Golf is a significant automotive accomplishment. It is hands down the most popular motoring choice for drivers on the other side of the Atlantic, and it is renowned—as its predecessors all have been—for its appeal that transcends both status and social class. To the purist, the Golf epitomizes an authentic German car built for a wide group of buyers who share a stringent set of Teutonic standards for motoring.

The new Golf goes on sale this summer in both a two door- and four-door version. Volkswagen said it will announce official pricing later this year. Standard items on all new Golfs will include an advanced ABS braking system, traction control, active headrests (front), front and rear head curtain protection, front side airbags, manual climate control and anti-theft alarm system with remote locking.

Throughout Europe and in many parts of the world, Golf owners chose this model for its unique and inherent value. First and foremost, the Golf is an authentic German car. This key trait translates into superior automotive engineering, high build quality, use of top-notch materials, comfort, utility, uncompromised safety and an overriding attention to detail in the design and development of what is simply one the world’s most important and popular cars. The Golf’s model history dates back to 1974, with all-time sales nearing 24 million, making it the second best-selling car in world history. To put that number into perspective, you need to imagine that nearly 2,100 Golfs are built every day around the world.

The new Golf shown for the first time in North America at the Chicago auto show is a completely revised version from the Golf sold last year. Major new features abound; however, perhaps the most important technology resides within the confines of the all-new sheet metal and behind the prominent new grill. The new Golf, referred to internally and by enthusiasts as the Mark V for its 5th generation, is a premium car in Germany and throughout the world for sound German engineering and development.

This fifth-generation Golf platform is renowned for its solidity and sophistication that make it one of the best-selling models in the world. Built in Wolfsburg, Germany, the home of Volkswagen, the Golf benefits from Volkswagen’s high-tech production process that includes industry-leading robotics in its assembly technology and sequences.

Improved from an already solid predecessor, the new Golf records double-digit improvements in its overall structural rigidity. Such firm stature is achieved partially through the use of more high-strength body panels, intelligent design, and the exacting precision that is German automotive engineering. As stated earlier, production also plays a major role: for example, rivets are replaced by advanced laser-welding systems that require a new-generation of robotics and elaborate laser-driven measuring check points. The result is a dramatic increase in precise laser-welded seams, normally reserved for cars in much higher segments of the market. The net benefit of the Golf’s laser-welding process is a class-leading fit and finish, heightened body strength, crash protection, dialed-in driving dynamics, and reduced interior noise—all key components that set the Golf apart as a premium compact car.

Drivers of the new Golf will enjoy the model’s first fully independent suspension system that uses a multi-link rear and optimized front axle, a new powerful base engine with a larger displacement of 2.5 liters and five-cylinders generating 150 horsepower and a new optional six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic (five-speed manual standard).

Also among the most impressive new driving advancements are a standard high-tech electro-mechanical steering system, an optional advanced electronic stability program (ESP), and new-generation ABS all-disc brakes.

The new Golf adds more interior room than ever with a larger hatch and hatch opening. Legroom has also increased in this new version.

For added assurance, the new Golf will come with 24-hour Roadside Assistance for four years with unlimited mileage and new vehicle warranties including:

•Five-year/60,000 mile (whichever occurs first) Powertrain Limited Warranty

•Four-year/50,000 mile (whichever occurs first) New Vehicle Limited Warranty with wear and tear items and adjustments excluded after the initial 12 months/12,000 miles

•12 year unlimited distance Limited Warranty against corrosion perforation

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen of America and its affiliates employ approximately 3,000 people in the United States and are responsible for the sale and service of Audi, Bentley, and Volkswagen products through retail networks comprising in total more than 900 independent U.S. dealers.