Volkswagen may unveil a facelifted Golf GTI at the beginning of the next year. Rumors are claiming that the car will get minor chassis and engine power improvements, but will most likely cease to be available with manual transmission. If these reports are trustworthy, the current-gen GTI may get one final update before the entire lineup goes electric.
According to anonymous sources, the car will retain its 2.0-liter turbo four-pot, but with a slight performance boost. Volkswagen is already shipping its new Passat with a 265-PS (261-hp / 195-kW) version of the same engine, while the Golf GTI makes do with 20 less horsepower. The catch is that the upgrade may only be possible with a seven-speed DCT for the transmission.
Like the new Tiguan and Passat, the Golf GTI may wind up with chassis and suspension improvements as well. For example, it may take advantage of the latest DCC Pro suspension featuring dual-valve shocks for better, sportier handling and enhanced comfort at lower speeds.