Volkswagen has reiterated its commitment to the combustion-powered hot hatch, a commitment that will extend into the next decade. The EA888 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that powers the Golf GTI and Golf R (among other VW products) is being developed to conform to new emissions regulations in Europe. This development project will run concurrently with Volkswagen's rollout of new all-electric GTI models, reports the U.K.'s Auto Express. The publication spoke with VW's head of chassis development and driving dynamics, Sebastian Willmann, who said that while the engine needs some updates, VW is working hard to "bring the engine to Euro 7 [standards]." And those updates may come with more power.
VW Needs to Work Fast to Keep Combustion Alive
Willmann did not reveal what changes the EA888 requires to be compliant with the new regulations, but VW will have to act quickly to implement whatever improvements the new rules require because they come into effect in November of this year. Such an overhaul can bring the added bonus of more power, and when talking about the Golf R and its 328-horsepower maximum, he acknowledged that there is "some room for improvement," adding, "Let's see what, over time, is possible." With Mercedes-AMG's A 45 S and Audi's RS 3 both playing in the 400-hp ballpark, a new Golf R could do with a bump, as long as the price isn't too high for a VW-badged product.
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Regardless, the fact that the company does not need to develop an all-new engine is good for everyone, even if the manual transmission has departed Wolfsburg forever. "[At] VW, we must deliver on all aspects," said Willmann. "We need efficient cars, we need performance cars — like the Golf R or the GTI — and we need some cheaper cars, and cars which are positioned higher."
Hybrid VW Hot Hatches Seem Inevitable
Around the middle of last year, Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer already confirmed that there would be a "strong presence" of combustion-powered vehicles in the 2030s, adding that they will be "probably a little bit electrified." The company boss did not explain whether this would mean plug-in hybrids or mild-hybrids, but it would make sense for larger vehicles like the Tiguan to feature the former setup. In smaller vehicles like the Golf GTI and Golf R, where space is minimal and deft handling is paramount to the experience, the latter approach seems a shoo-in. Whatever the case, expect future VW hot hatches to take on styling elements from the upcoming ID. Polo GTI, arriving in European markets before the end of the year.
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