'Best We've Ever Seen:' Volkswagen Reveals More Details On The Next Golf

Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer is confident they will put a Golf on the road that 'will make a lot of people happy.'

Volkswagen Golf Mk9 Teaser

Photo by: Volkswagen

By: Javier Llorente

Translated by: Jeff Glucker

Apr 24, at 10:00am ET

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The Breakdown

Volkswagen confirms that development of the ninth-generation (Mk9) Golf is well underway.
The new Golf will draw design inspiration from the Mk4 Golf.
Volkswagen will offer the Golf with BEV, PHEV, and standard combustion powertrains, though the platforms will differ depending on the powertrain.

A few weeks ago, we got a first look at a design sketch of the upcoming Volkswagen Golf Mk9—the ninth generation of the iconic German compact. It is expected to be electric, but it won't arrive until at least 2028.

For now, very little is known about this new model beyond the fact that it’s already in development. So, taking advantage of a meeting with Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen, our colleagues at Motor1 Spain asked him a few questions about the new car, which, in the executive’s words, "is on the right track."

'The team is working on the car. Last year, in November, I was able to see the first full-size model, and all I could say was, 'Wow. It’s so beautiful.' It was just one of the ideas—not the final model, but one of those prototypes you continue to make decisions around. But at first glance it seemed very good to me.'

And from the sound of it, based on the Volkswagen CEO’s comments, he wasn’t the only one inside the German company who was surprised.

'At the end of the year, we had a senior management board meeting—an end-of-year wrap-up—where we reviewed results and looked ahead. There we showed the car on stage and everyone was impressed.'

Golf GTI Teaser

Photo by: Volkswagen

In a separate conversation with Kai Grünitz, the brand’s head of technical development, our colleagues learned even more about the future Golf Mk9. For example, its final design is already nearly finished.

'It’s reminiscent of the Golf Mk4, which was a big step forward. But it’s a modern-looking vehicle, a timeless-looking vehicle. I think you’re going to love it. From a design standpoint, our new electric Golf is already 96–97 percent done. We started with a proportions model with Andy [Mindt]. And it was already so good that Thomas Schäfer and I joined in and said, 'Hey, don’t touch anything.'

The brand’s development chief also confirmed that, after launch, there will be two Golfs on sale at the same time: the all-electric model and the current Golf, in electrified form.

'There will be two different platforms: one for the electric model and another for the combustion one. The MQB Evo will remain with plug-in hybrid models like the ones we know today, and then there will be a completely new, fully electric Golf on the new SSB platform.'

Volkswagen Golf GTI

Volkswagen Golf GTI

Photo by: Volkswagen

Taking cues from the Golf Mk4 in pursuit of that 'timeless' approach seems like good news for a model aiming to recapture the brand’s line of simple, recognizable designs. Based on the CEO’s statements, it sounds like the final design will meet expectations.

'I’m very confident about the launch of the Golf 9. It’s being developed in an absolutely correct way. And it’s incredible what you can do with a car where, you know, you think, how can you make it even better? But the team has created a design that has left all of us speechless: without a doubt, the best we’ve ever seen. So I’m very happy, and I’m sure we’ll deliver something that will make a lot of people happy.'

In that respect, Andreas Mindt plays a fundamental role. Until recently, Mindt was Volkswagen’s head of design. He's now been named head of design for the Volkswagen Group—and he's someone Schäfer speaks highly of:

'Andy is very important, because of his attitude and his positive thinking. He’s a unique guy, not a conventional designer. He always listens to every opinion, and he has solutions. His mindset and the attitude with which Andy works has changed the entire organization.'

2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI First Drive

Photo by: Volkswagen

In fact, back in 2024, Mindt himself had already hinted at what the new Golf would be like, saying that "a Golf will always be a Golf—now, or 20 years from now." He also offered a few clues:

'We want to create a very pure, very simple design—really commit to a clean design. Put all the essence into it, the best details from the Golf’s history. A Golf will always be a Golf; I promise you a recognizable Golf. And if we removed all the badges and left nothing on the car, you would recognize it as a Golf.'

Another important, related detail is why the ID.3 Neo wasn’t named ID. Golf—at a time when the German brand appears to be returning to recognizable, "proper" model names instead of numeric designations. And on this point, Schäfer is clear:

'We have a great plan for how we evolve toward proper names for each model. That said, the ID.3 is a special case where we looked at it and a lot of people said, well, let’s just call it Golf. We debated it, but it’s not a Golf. We’ve improved the car—it’s still an ID.3—but it needed a new name. And after thinking about giving it some artificial modern name, we ultimately decided we would call it what the show car was called: Neo.'

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This story originally appeared on Motor1 Spain

Motor1's Take: Volkswagen is fully aware it cannot afford to mess up a new Golf. Basing the Mk9 design on the Mk4 is a great place to start. It also sounds like buyers will have plenty of choice when it comes to powertrains. Even better? We hear the next GTI and R will remain combustion-only, which should keep VW fans quite happy.

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