Volkswagen ups price and spec for Golf 7.5

VOLKSWAGEN Australia has increased pricing for its refreshed Golf 7.5 range that lobs in July, but the facelift ushers in more standard spec, more powerful engines and an expanded wagon line-up.

The German car-maker has confirmed that the hi-po Golf R wagon will be offered as a permanent member of the range early in 2018 after initially being sold here in limited edition Wolfsburg guise in 2015.

The Golf R Wolfsburg edition will return in both hatchback and wagon body styles, with just 300 examples offered to the Australian market.

Pricing for the Wolfsburg and the R wagon have been held back until closer to their respective launches, but ‘standard’ Golf R hatch prices remain static at $52,990 for the manual and $55,490 for the dual clutch.

The number of jacked-up four-wheel-drive Golf Alltrack variants has increased from one to three, with VW adding an entry-level 132TSI version from $34,490 plus on-road costs, while the previous 132TSI variant now adds the ‘Premium’ moniker for $38,490 – a $150 increase.

A diesel-powered Alltrack 135TDI flagship is also new, priced from $40,990 and using a 135kW/380Nm four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, which VW says is the most potent oil-burning Golf to date.

Aside from the additional variants, the line-up remains much the same as the outgoing model and it now starts from $23,990 for the 110TSI hatch with a six-speed manual, representing a $1150 price hike over the outgoing equivalent.

Opting for the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) adds $2500 to the price.

The 110TSI Trendline is up by $650 to $24,990 for the manual or $27,490 for the DCT, while the wagon – which is an auto-only option – adds $1500 to start at $28,990 as the entry-level load lugger.

Auto-only Comfortline has risen by $650 in hatch and wagon guise, while all versions of the Highline are up by $1150 apiece.

Highline grade variants are offered with the 110TSI turbo-petrol and the 110TDI turbo-diesel in and range in price from $34,490 for the petrol hatch to $38,490 for the diesel wagon.

The GTI price has gone up by just $150, bringing the manual to $41,490 and the DCT to $43,990, while the just-announced three-door GTI Performance Edition 1 kicks off from $47,990, with just 150 examples slated for sale Down Under.

As reported, the 110TSI variants use a 110kW/250Nm four-cylinder 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine, while the 110TDI has a 110kW/340Nm turbo-diesel unit.

The Alltrack 132TSI is powered by a 132kW/280Nm 1.8-litre turbo-petrol four-pot or a 135kW/380Nm 2.0-litre turbo diesel in the 135TDI.

The front-wheel-drive GTI uses the 169kW/350Nm turbo four-cylinder paired with the manual or DCT, unless you snap up one of the exclusive DCT-only three-door Performance Edition 1s that boosts outputs by 11kW/20Nm to 180kW/370Nm.

Golf Rs use a 213kW/380Nm 2.0-litre four-pot, driving all four wheels via a six-speed manual or the seven-speed DCT.

As well as the usual standard fare at this level, the base Golf 110TSI features as standard autonomous emergency braking, an 8.0-inch audio system, App-Connect and Bluetooth, rearview camera, LED tail-lights and daytime running lights, driver fatigue detection system, multi-collision braking system and 16-inch alloy wheels.

The Trendline grade adds auto headlights and rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror as well as black roof rails and a luggage partition net for the wagon.

Comfortline variants add dual-zone climate control air-con, a higher-grade 8.0-inch audio and sat-nav system, 17-inch alloys, more luxurious front seats, a 12V outlet in the luggage compartment and a storage drawer under the front seat.

The Highline gains front foglights, sports front seats, leather-appointed upholstery with heated front seats, electrically adjustable driver’s seat with memory, keyless entry and start, power folding door mirrors, panoramic electric sunroof and LED headlights.

Alltrack variants feature LED tail-lights, AEB and a leather multi-function steering wheel among other things, while the Alltrack Premium adds leather-appointed upholstery, heated front seats, Media Control, dynamic cornering LED headlights, a colour multi-function display, and carpet floor mats.

The GTI features dual-zone climate control air conditioning, Discover Media 8.0-inch navigation system with App-Connect, LED interior ambient lighting, a rearview camera, 18-inch Milton Keynes alloy wheels, adaptive chassis control with driving profile selection and AEB.

The Golf R will be offered with a Discover Pro 9.2-inch navigation system with App-Connect, gesture control, voice control, Active Info Display digital instrument cluster, Vienna leather appointed upholstery, tinted rear and rear side windows, metallic/pearl effect paint, 19-inch Spielberg alloy wheels, premium LED tail-lights with dynamic indicators, LED headlights with dynamic cornering lights and adaptive chassis control with driving profile selection.

Limited edition Wolfsburg variants gain metallic grey 19-inch Pretoria alloy wheels, carbon-fibre exterior mirror housings, Nappa leather-appointed upholstery, Dynaudio 400W premium audio system, adaptive cruise control, lane assist and blind spot monitor with a rear traffic alert.

A suite of options packages are available, with prices dependent on the variant. Packages include Driver Assistance, Infotainment, R-Line, Luxury and Sport Luxury.

The non-performance versions of the Golf hatch and wagon, including the Alltrack, will go on sale in July.

2017 Volkswagen Golf pricing*

Hatchback
110TSI	$23,990
110TSI (a)	$26,490
110TSI Trendline	$24,990
110TSI Trendline (a)	$27,490
110TSI Comfortline (a)	$28,990
110TSI Highline (a)	$34,490
110TDI Highline (a)	$36,990
GTI	$41,490
GTI (a)	$43,990
GTI Performance Edition 1 (a)	$47,990
R	$52,990
R (a)	$55,490
Wagon
110TSI Trendline (a)	$28,990
110TSI Comfortline (a)	$30,490
110TSI Highline (a)	$35,990
110TDI Highline (a)	$38,490
Alltrack
132TSI (a)	$34,490
132TSI Premium (a)	$38,490
135TDI Premium (a)	$40,990