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2020 Volkswagen Golf Mk8 teased: Production changes detailed

The new Golf will be revealed later this week. While we wait, the company has released details of some of the changes its made at the Wolfsburg plant in the lead-up.


The countdown to the official reveal of the eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf continues, with the German brand detailing the extent of its manufacturing efficiencies ahead of the new small car's reveal later this week.

Volkswagen claims it will be producing the new Golf Mk8 at a rate "one hour faster than its predecessor", thanks to "numerous process improvements" despite the vehicle being "much more complex".

"Because the Golf 8 belongs to the second-generation of MQB products, we achieved a significant reduction in production investments," said Andreas Tostmann, Volkswagen brand board member for production.

"Our platform strategy is delivering. The team in Wolfsburg have given their all for the Golf 8. Production processes have become more efficient overall."

According to the company, investments in the Wolfsburg plant and processes have been cut by more than half due to "greater standardisation", to the "mid three-digit million euro range".

Volkswagen says 80 per cent of the existing body shop plant and equipment can be used for the Mk8, thanks to the use of an updated MQB platform, while productivity of the revised plant up a claimed 40 per cent compared to that of the Golf Mk7.

In the lead-up to production commencing, the German brand analysed approximately 700 work steps at over 400 workshops to "leverage existing efficiency reserves".

The new Golf has more than 2700 individual parts and components, including 962 wiring systems with 1340 metres of cable – 31 wiring systems and "just under" 100m more cable than the seventh-generation model.

During its 69km journey along the assembly line (starting with delivery of the first steel sheet), there are 8400 employees at the Wolfsburg plant that will work exclusively on the Golf.

Volkswagen plans to introduce new automated transport systems in 2020 to facilitate the faster supply of materials throughout the factory process, with new transport robots in the body shop claimed to bring a 7.0 per cent improvement in productivity.

There's also new equipment for the Golf 8's side panels, which feature a "striking tornado line".

Volkswagen will reveal the all-new Golf at 6:00pm CEST on October 24 (3:00am October 25 AEDT).

First deliveries globally will commence in "early December", with Germany and Austria being the first markets to launch the eighth-gen small car.

Australia, meanwhile, will have to wait nearly 12 months for the new Golf to reach showrooms, with the local division expecting the first examples to hit our shores during the fourth quarter of 2020.

The core range and GTI hot hatch are tipped to be first to hit Australian roads, with the flagship R performance hero expecting during Q1 2021.

Stay tuned to CarAdvice for our coverage of the Golf's reveal later this week.

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