Volkswagen Golf Mk7 production set to start
Production of the new Volkswagen Golf Mk7 will commence early next month at the German brand's Wolfsburg and Zwickau factories.
Industry journal Automotive News Europe reports the factories will convert to modular transverse matrix (MQB) platform production processes during a three-week summer break.
The all-new Golf will be the second MQB-based Volkswagen Group vehicle built following the new Audi A3. The flexible platform will be used as the base for cars across Volkswagen Group's many brands including Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Seat, and is even beneath the Bentley EXP 9F SUV concept.
The new car is expected to be lighter than the current Golf while continuing to offer a variety of body styles including three- and five-door hatchbacks, a wagon and a Cabrio.
A number of new petrol and diesel engines are set to feature, ranging from a new 55kW 1.0-litre three-cylinder to a 165kW 1.8-litre four-cylinder for the Golf GTI.
The new Golf will debut at the 2012 Paris motor show in September ahead of its European launch in November and its Australian showroom debut in 2013.