Volkswagen has confirmed it plans to develop next-generation versions of core combustion-engined models such as the Golf, despite the shift in focus towards electric vehicles.
The Wolfsburg-based firm said in a press release it planned to “rapidly accelerate the global e-campaign once again”, announcing it would bring out “at least” one new battery electric model every year until 2030.
Things will start with the all-wheel-drive ID.4 GTX in the first half of 2021, with the ID.5 and the China-only ID.6 X following later in the year. Plans for an entry-level electric car under the ID.3, meanwhile, have been pushed to 2025.
So, what about the German firm’s petrol- and diesel-engined models? Well, VW confirmed its “combustion engine fleet will also be developed further in parallel to the acceleration of the e-campaign”, adding “all of the core models, including the Golf, Tiguan, Passat, Tayron and T-Roc, will get another successor”.
That means we will see a Golf 9, a third-generation Tiguan, a new Passat, a second-gen Tayron and a follow-up to the T-Roc. Interestingly, no mention was made of the Polo.
Volkswagen CEO Ralf Brandstätter furthermore suggested these next-gen models would gain plug-in hybrid tech.
“We will still need combustion engines for a while, but they should be as efficient as possible, which is why the next generation of our core products – all of which are world models – will also be fitted with the latest generation of plug-in hybrid technology, with an electric range of up to 100 kilometres,” Brandstätter said.
In May 2020, a VW executive hinted the Golf nameplate would end with the ninth generation, suggesting the hatchback would not have a future alongside the fully electric ID family … in some markets, at least.
