German Autobild just published some spy shots of the 6th generation VW Golf which is rumored to arrive earlier than expected, already in 2008.

As you can see the new generation will look quite different from the current model, with a distinctive edge at the side just above the door handle. Grille and bumpers will be more prominent, the back will receive some nice LED lights.

Source: Autobild via GermanCarBlog

Looks good, this will probably be our next car, so hope it's a good one!

for the mkvi, are we talking about a major (as in huge) facelift or is this a whole new platform? from what i can see (and thats not a lot considering the camo), it looks like its the same car with some cosmetic changes.

It looks more like a whole new body to me, than a facelift. The reports seem to indicate they're trying to make production less complex and less expensive.

The platform would probably be quite similar, or the same, since there haven't been any reports of it being bad.

IMO, from what I can see under all that camo, it looks even more hunchbacked and wagonlike than the Golf V. Not so good.

i guess vw is trying to make the golf look like the A3 with its more sloping back. i wouldn't mind the golf looking like the A3's rear shape just as long as we can still recognize it as a hatchback and not a small wagon (which the A3 looks like).

The platform will essentially be the same. Only minor modifications but the exterior will be completely different.

The 3 door will be sporty and agressive while the 5 door will look like Golf Plus.

I'm worried. They have a perfectly excellent Golf as it is now, and to match up with it with a new car barely just a few years after might be an uphill struggle. I don't know why they hadn't thought about fixing the production issues before actually mass-producing the car. This should have been rectified ages ago and not waiting for a few years before taking action.

The new Golf is coming March 2008 according to my information. One year earlier than initially expected. So when replaced it will be 5 years on the market.

I just found this article:

The sensational pictures in this week's mag show how the conservative look of the current Golf is enhanced by several dramatic styling cues. Aggression is key to the new front end, with headlights angled in towards a GTI-style honeycomb grille. In profile, the VW's waistline will become more pronounced, while the rear styling is inspired by the Concept A sports SUV, which debuted at March's Geneva Motor Show. The aim is to create a similar unmistakable shape to that of the original MkI Golf of the Seventies, while also incorporating a more upmarket Audi-style look.

The current car's basic platform will be carried over, but it will be tweaked to allow VW to employ the latest manufacturing techniques. As a result, the Golf should be cheaper to produce for the firm. Few who have driven the current Golf will question the improvement over its predecessor, but it hasn't been the sales hit in Europe that bosses hoped.

To increase the family hatch's showroom appeal, the MkVI will get a new dashboard which is expected to look more adventurous than the MkV's.

A top priority will be to incorporate new technology, with a dedicated dock for MP3 players in the armrest and provision for the latest wireless electronic gadgets. Under the bonnet, the current FSI petrol and TDI diesel powerplants will carry over, while the firm's supercharged and turbocharged TSI system will be applied to more engines.

The first TSI was a 1.4-litre unit, but larger capacity motors are set to employ the same set-up - a 2.0-litre version could even power the next Golf GTI. However, before the MkVI is even introduced, performance fans look set to be treated to a powerful flagship MkV.

A revised Golf Plus will also be available, while the range will grow to include the Cross-Golf 4x4. And designers are also rumoured to be considering a soft-top version, which will offer a cheaper alternative to the Eos coupé-cabrio.

Source: AutoExpress

Huck's impressions: