VW Golf 2020: New-gen hatch nearing official unveiling in Spring

Volkswagen has provided a glimpse at its new-generation Golf hatchback, releasing an official image of a camouflaged prototype. 

The German manufacturer says that the eighth-generation model, or Mark 8, is in its final testing phase, and will be officially unveiled sometime in the next three months.

Performance-focused GTI and R variants are expected to break cover next year.

According to previous reports, the new Golf was originally set to be revealed at the Frankfurt motor show, but was postponed as to not steal the limelight from VW’s ID 3 electric car debut.

Despite the camouflage livery, the new image suggests Volkswagen designers have not strayed too far from the familiar Golf formula.

The body appears to sport a more rounded silhouette, with an adjusted A-pillar design, and with potentially longer rear doors and squared C-pillars. This could suggest a stretched wheelbase, and overall dimension changes.

As expected, its badge has been masked, as it'll be the first car to go on sale wearing Volkswagen’s redesigned logo, which has yet to be officially revealed to the public.

Details of the cabin are slim, although previous design sketches suggest the interior has undergone significant updates, and a new dual-screen display setup takes up instrument and mutlimedia duties.

In a recent press release, Volkswagen hinted towards a number of technological enhancements.

“The design and digital innovations launch this bestseller – of which more than 35 million been built – into a new age,” an official statement reads.

“The era of electrified drives, a digitised and connected interior world, assisted driving and online-based functions and services. 

It is expected that the new Golf range will hit Australian showrooms in the latter half of 2020.