| What can you say about the VW Golf that hasn't | | | | a vehicle, for better or worse, is mired in its own |
| been written a thousand times before? The perennial | | | | self-importance. The Golf has created its own |
| favourite of boy racers and middle-class males alike | | | | holding-pattern, a plan from which it cannot deviate. If |
| has been re-modelled, re-calibrated and re-launched | | | | the designers alter it too much, the purists will throw |
| from the German home of VW, Golfsburg. The drum | | | | they hands up in the air and declare it an unmitigated |
| rolls built up, the curtains were drawn and the | | | | disaster. If, on the other hand, they sit back and do |
| expectant chatter drastically changed to a gasp. The | | | | nothing, you'll get the other new car fanatics waving |
| result was, well, frankly disappointing. | | | | their hands in despair and demanding more ingenuity. |
| Much to the chagrin of every VW Golf enthusiast, the | | | | This is the conflict that all car designers fight on a daily |
| new Golf was pretty much an identikit version of the | | | | basis; either choice likely to end in core groups of |
| previous model. Sure, a few neat little touches had | | | | customers feeling cheated. So how do VW engineers |
| been made. The VW badge at the rear now became | | | | get themselves out of this conundrum? Build a concept |
| the boot handle and the interior was full of all manner | | | | car to distract people is how! |
| of bells, whistle and gadgetry, but there was absolutely | | | | The Golf Concept that appeared at the show was |
| nothing for the Golf-purists who wanted to see a | | | | essentially a VW Golf that contained an engine more |
| re-imagining of the time-honoured classic. Nothing. | | | | comfortable in a Bugatti Veyron (also manufactured |
| But is that a 'bad' thing? I certainly thought the previous | | | | by VW) than vastly smaller Golf regulars. This rather |
| VW Golf was an excellent example of how a | | | | blatant diversionary tactic managed to pull considerable |
| family-sized hatchback should be. To deviate from | | | | focus away from the regular Golf and had large |
| perfection would surely be some kind of destructive | | | | groups of VW fans gasping for breath. What |
| behaviour that would result in bankruptcy. Obviously | | | | Volkswagen has (very cleverly) achieved, was |
| the VW designers shared my opinion also. | | | | creating the world's largest white rabbit. Well, I say |
| So the unveiling tarnished the good VW Golf name, | | | | largest. The Concept Golf was actually very similar in |
| which was further reinforced by the world's | | | | size to the regular Golf, it just happened to house an |
| automotive media sharing the same opinion. I, however, | | | | engine capable of more than 700 Bhp under the |
| remained stoic in my opinion that the Golf, new or | | | | bonnet. |
| otherwise, had achieved its goal of being the perfect | | | | Ever since then, every time I see the brand new |
| hatchback and was quite vociferous in this matter. | | | | Volkswagen Golf I don't see the world's best |
| Essentially, all the arguing and cogitation will solve | | | | hatchback (which it is), I see the world's biggest |
| absolutely nothing. The Volkswagen Golf has become | | | | diversionary tactic. |