VW continues to roll out next-generation Golf model variations and powertrains in Europe, while American enthusiasts wait for the Pueblo, Mexico, plant to transition to the new car for 2005. The latest addition to the range is a naturally aspirated diesel engine fitted with a highly efficient unit injector system to provide extreme fuel economy in a land where wine is cheaper than petrol. This 2.0 SDI engine joins six other powertrains, which include the 140-hp 2.0 TDI diesel and 150-hp 2.0 FSI direct-injection gasoline engine expected for the U.S. market. This latter engine boasts a marked significant power increase over the current, long-running 2.0-liter I-4 and is paired with a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed Tiptronic transmissions. Longer, wider, and taller than the MkIV it replaces, the new Golf is expected to eventually spawn convertible, sport/utility vehicle, and crossover wagon variants.
