VW to show revived Golf range

VOLKSWAGEN Group Australia will present a restructured Golf five-door range at the Melbourne motor show later this month.

Gone will be the GL and GLE, replaced by an S and SE. Specifications will be adjusted with entry level model pricing to drop below $25,000 from its current $25,990.

The engine line-up will still include the 1.6 and 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines.

The restructure of the mainstream Golf range comes a few weeks after the Beetle range was revamped with the ambition of virtually doubling sales to 2000 in 2002.

VGA's ambition with S and SE - the latter destined to get cruise control as part of the new specs package - is to hold the sales line against increasing European opposition over the next two years before the next generation Golf V arrives.

The new generation Polo also launches at Melbourne. It will be offered in three trim levels with pricing starting at $19,990, now including air-conditioning in the base model.

The W8 Passat has been pushed back until the end of 2002 because of delays at the factory while the luxury Phaeton arrives mid-2003 with pricing expected to be around $150,000.

The Sharan people-mover - which was looking a likely prospect late last year - has been shelved because of pricing and Australian Design Rule challenges.