To celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the most popular automotive icons in the world, Volkswagen unveils the restyling of its Golf 8. With it, ChatGPT is making its appearance, but also a plug-in hybrid engine which offers more than 100 km of all-electric range.
The Volkswagen Golf, the brand’s emblematic model, celebrates its 50th anniversary
anniversary with a restyling, integrating a revised infotainment system, a refreshed design and above all a new plug-in hybrid engine which promises more than 100 km of all-electric range.
A discreet facelift
The exterior design of the Golf Mk8.5 has been revised to offer a more modern appearance, but we will not talk about upheavals. Changes include new LED light signatures front and rear, a redesigned front bumper with a revised lower grille and an illuminated front badge. At the rear, the bumper has also been modified. Five new alloy wheel designs and four new metallic finishes complete these updates.
In the cabin, the changes are a little more significant with a new infotainment system. The base version has a 10.4-inch central touchscreen, while the higher-end versions use a larger 12.9-inch screen. The temperature and volume controls below the screen are now backlit, and the haptic-feedback touch buttons on the steering wheel have been replaced with physical buttons. Also present is the customizable Digital Cockpit Pro digital dashboard, featuring a 10.2-inch screen, and the option of a head-up display.
ChatGPT integrates IDA
In addition, the Golf now includes the latest infotainment system based on generative artificial intelligence, with the ChatGPT chatbot integrated into IDA. Presented at the beginning of January at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, this function provides access to an artificial intelligence database which can be linked to the travel destination, its history, places to visit. visit or any other information that ChatGPT is able to provide. Be careful, however, it seems (but the information remains to be confirmed) that this is only version 3.5 and not 4 of the chatbot, which would limit the relevance of some of its responses.
Two new driving aids are appearing. Park Assist Pro will be available for the first time on the Golf: it allows the vehicle to be guided remotely, using a smartphone, for example when parking in or out of a particularly narrow space. The Area View system, also new, generates a 360° view by merging the images from the four cameras and transfers it to the touchscreen of the infotainment system to better identify lane markings and curbs.
New plug-in hybrid engine
For the moment we do not yet know the price of this Golf, but whether in this PHEV variant or its mild-hybrid and GTi versions, it will arrive in spring 2024.
Source : Volkswagen
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