U.S. mk7 Release?

[Ntrdr00]

Hello all,

I'm very interested in purchasing a new golf tdi, but I'm having trouble deciding whether to purchase now, or wait for the US release of the mk7. From what I could find online, the introduction will be at the Paris auto show this fall, with a European release soon after. I could wait to fall or early winter, but wouldn't want to wait a year or more for a US release, like what happened with the mk6. any thoughts, suggestions would be appreciated, thanks!

[kimilein]

Hello all,

I'm very interested in purchasing a new golf tdi, but I'm having trouble deciding whether to purchase now, or wait for the US release of the mk7. From what I could find online, the introduction will be at the Paris auto show this fall, with a European release soon after. I could wait to fall or early winter, but wouldn't want to wait a year or more for a US release, like what happened with the mk6. any thoughts, suggestions would be appreciated, thanks!

It would probably be a year after the European release before you'd see the MK7. The MK5 didn't show up until 2 years after the European release. If you want a car within the next year, I'd go ahead and get the MK6 or find an alternative, I wouldn't hold my breath for the MK7 getting here any time soon.

[hussdog426]

It won be here for at least 2-3 years

[Spatzle]

Not to thread jack here.

But why is it we in North America always wait 2 years. None of the other European car companies do that to us that I am aware of consistantly?

They have a factory in mexico so I do not see the point of alienating potential buyers with last generation cars.

[kimilein]

Not to thread jack here.

But why is it we in North America always wait 2 years. None of the other European car companies do that to us that I am aware of consistantly?

They have a factory in mexico so I do not see the point of alienating potential buyers with last generation cars.

VW has a clear distinction between its European and North American focus. The Jetta has always been Volkswagen's best seller in the US while the Golf is niche product. In the EU its directly opposite. The Golf is by far VW's most important product in Europe. The Jetta is always introduced and hits the American market first while the Golf starts in the EU first. Loyal customers who go against the grain to buy the Golf in the first place are going to buy a Golf anyway, it's not like VW is missing out on conquest volume buyers. They funnel those customers towards the Jetta.

Also, the Golf is built almost exclusively for and consequently in Europe. AFAIK, the Golf for the past two or three generations has been built only in Wolfsburg. The Jetta is built in Mexico, even the European market vehicles. The Mexican factory is already at capacity making the Jetta and Beetle, so it wouldn't make sense for VW to cut down productions of its most important product in North America to build small batches of a niche product.

There are plenty of BMW/Audi/Mercedes/VW products you never even see in America. At least we even get the Golf, two years late or not.

[hussdog426]

In Europe they started 3 years before us and when they get something we got to wait as it has been like that since the beginning

[Ntrdr00]

Vw confirmed a late 2013 release for the all electric golf for the U.S., Europe will supposedly be getting the vehicle the same time. Seeing they will be receiving the mk7 before then, isn't it a possibility we will also?

[ocellaris]

In Europe they started 3 years before us and when they get something we got to wait as it has been like that since the beginning

The MKVI Golf came to the states in something like 6 months from when it was unveiled for Europe. Definitely not three years.

Also if VW thinks the car will sell and has a higher profit margin than the current Golf (which is almost certainly will), expect to see the VII in the states ASAP.

[hhaller]

I thought I had read somewhere (C&D, maybe?) that the MK VII would be available in Europe this summer. So I was hoping that it would be available to the N.American market by Fall of 2012, which wouldn't be unreasonable as a 2013 offering. I wouldn't expect we'd get the new engine lineup right off the bat though.

[kimilein]

I thought I had read somewhere (C&D, maybe?) that the MK VII would be available in Europe this summer. So I was hoping that it would be available to the N.American market by Fall of 2012, which wouldn't be unreasonable as a 2013 offering. I wouldn't expect we'd get the new engine lineup right off the bat though.

No, Europe is getting the new Golf this winter, in November.
http://www.vau-max.de/inside/inside_...handel/id=1849

[batman25]

Winter 2013 as a 14 will make the mkvi a four year run. Is that the vw norm.

[kimilein]

Winter 2013 as a 14 will make the mkvi a four year run. Is that the vw norm.

Basically. The Golf 5 was released in fall of 2003 and the Golf 6 in October 2008. 5 model years and it's not really a 4 year run if the successor doesn't replace it until late into the last model year. The Golf 6 is getting replaced early because it was really more of a Golf 5.5 and a tweak than a completely new car.

[mediumbluemetalic]

Basically. The Golf 5 was released in fall of 2003 and the Golf 6 in October 2008. 5 model years and it's not really a 4 year run if the successor doesn't replace it until late into the last model year. The Golf 6 is getting replaced early because it was really more of a Golf 5.5 and a tweak than a completely new car.

x2

The Golf V was somewhat of a sales disaster; customers just couldn't overlook its looks despite its handling accolades. Its lifespan was drastically reduced compared to every prior generation, and thus this Golf "VI" facelift was born out of an existing model.

The Golf VII is the first all-new Golf since 2003.

[DasCC]

It won be here for at least 2-3 years

that makes me sad.

[XM_Rocks]

x2

The Golf V was somewhat of a sales disaster; customers just couldn't overlook its looks despite its handling accolades. Its lifespan was drastically reduced compared to every prior generation, and thus this Golf "VI" facelift was born out of an existing model.

The Golf VII is the first all-new Golf since 2003.

From what I have read the MK6 was born due production cost cutting.

The MK5 was selling like hotcakes in Europe and was selling on par here in the US.

[Travis Grundke]

Golf VII launch is in September at the Paris Autoshow, that much is already known. I'd expect Euro sales to start about 3 months after that (~December). With that in mind, expect a US launch in the spring for sales to start in autumn 2013.

[OEM 3PLUS]

The info on the new GTI hasn't been released to us yet, and the vehicles are not in the ordering system. 2014 is what it's looking like for the MkVII.

[feels_road]

The info on the new GTI hasn't been released to us yet, and the vehicles are not in the ordering system. 2014 is what it's looking like for the MkVII.

So, you believe there will be no Golf/GTI for an entire year, in the US?

[kimilein]

So, you believe there will be no Golf/GTI for an entire year, in the US?

If the gap between the Golf 4 and the Golf 5 is anything to go off of? It's likely.

[XM_Rocks]

I believe its already been stated that the 2013 Golf/GTI will be a MK6 here in the US.

What the theory is the MK7 will be a 2014 model introduced between Sept 2013 - Feb 2014 here in the US.

[Hajduk]

MK6 production ends this summer in Wolfsburg. VW could stock pile a year's worth of Golfs for the North American market but that's about it. So, I expect the Golf 7 here next September and the GTI a little after that.

[TurbochargedDirectInject]

I believe its already been stated that the 2013 Golf/GTI will be a MK6 here in the US.

What the theory is the MK7 will be a 2014 model introduced between Sept 2013 - Feb 2014 here in the US.

This is consistent with what a dealer told me this week in Minnesota. They are receiving the Mk6 2013s towards the end of July, early August. There are going to be very few changes made (if any) it's just to hold them over to the Mk7. The manager of the dealership is down at regional dealer meeting right now and he was going to give me any details he finds out on Mk7 news. I can pass it on when I speak with him again.

[SHIPARCH]

This is consistent with what a dealer told me this week in Minnesota. They are receiving the Mk6 2013s towards the end of July, early August. There are going to be very few changes made (if any) it's just to hold them over to the Mk7. The manager of the dealership is down at regional dealer meeting right now and he was going to give me any details he finds out on Mk7 news. I can pass it on when I speak with him again.

I wouldn't believe what the dealer says. VW will not release any information on the MKVII until we see it on the net as well.

I'm sure we will see the MKVII mid 2013 towards the end of the year, Golf along with the GTI at the same time. Seeing how VW treated the launch of the 2013 CC I believe we will have the MKVII at the same time our European friends if not a few weeks later.

[feels_road]

MK6 production ends this summer in Wolfsburg. VW could stock pile a year's worth of Golfs for the North American market but that's about it. So, I expect the Golf 7 here next September and the GTI a little after that.

Of course they can and typically do stockpile a few thousand to sell cars in the September-December time frame. But for an entire year? That makes no sense - it's way more expensive to put these cars into extensive storage than to simply divert a small number of US/Canada bound cars, in batches, as they usually do. Yes, first production has always been for Europe, but I see no compelling reason why VW would wait an entire year before making shipments to the US.

[feels_road]

I'm sure we will see the MKVII mid 2013 towards the end of the year, Golf along with the GTI at the same time. Seeing how VW treated the launch of the 2013 CC I believe we will have the MKVII at the same time our European friends if not a few weeks later.

The published schedule is that Europe will see the MkVII by the turn of the year - either December or (more likely, judging by the past) January next year.

[kimilein]

Of course they can and typically do stockpile a few thousand to sell cars in the September-December time frame. But for an entire year? That makes no sense - it's way more expensive to put these cars into extensive storage than to simply divert a small number of US/Canada bound cars, in batches, as they usually do. Yes, first production has always been for Europe, but I see no compelling reason why VW would wait an entire year before making shipments to the US.

Because they simply don't have to. Especially if they're producing at capacity to meet european demand for the first couple months.

[feels_road]

Because they simply don't have to. Especially if they're producing at capacity to meet european demand for the first couple months.

Again, I complete agree with the "first couple of months" time frame to meet initially high European demand, coupled with better profit margins. However, to not sell a Golf, TDI, or GTI in the US for an entire year is simply bad business practice for many reasons. For one, even otherwise loyal buyers will turn away from VW and start exploring options from other manufacturers. Also, while not as popular as the Jetta, the Golf is still iconic here in the US for Volkswagen. VW is on its way to sell of the order of 50,000 Golfs this year in the US. That's not small change. In fact, using an average transaction price of $24,000 (including TDI, GTI, and R), that's a volume of $1.2 billion lost business opportunity.

[kimilein]

Since when did VWoA start shying away from bad business practices?

[XM_Rocks]

MK5 was on sale in Europe a full year before the US.

Also there wasn't a year gap between the US MK4 and MK5.

Dealers were sent crappy 2005 Model 2 Door 1.8T GTI's with mostly auto up till September 2005.

MK5 GTI was launched as a 2006 model in February 2006.

[Hajduk]

Again, I complete agree with the "first couple of months" time frame to meet initially high European demand, coupled with better profit margins. However, to not sell a Golf, TDI, or GTI in the US for an entire year is simply bad business practice for many reasons.

When did the MK6 make it to North America? Wasn't it in October of 2009? Almost a year after its European debut.

[stewek01604]

When did the MK6 make it to North America? Wasn't it in October of 2009? Almost a year after its European debut.

The 2013 GTI is a Mk6. the Mk7 will be available in the states Sept '13.

[EUROBORA8V]

It would probably be a year after the European release before you'd see the MK7. The MK5 didn't show up until 2 years after the European release. If you want a car within the next year, I'd go ahead and get the MK6 or find an alternative, I wouldn't hold my breath for the MK7 getting here any time soon.

3, almost 4

[mediumbluemetalic]

From what I have read the MK6 was born due production cost cutting.

The MK5 was selling like hotcakes in Europe and was selling on par here in the US.

It did cut costs, but I clearly remember reading that it was less popular than the fourth generation. I want to say that the Golf even briefly stopping being the best-selling car in Europe during this generation. It wasn't the massive sales flop there that it was in the US, but as a whole, it didn't sell well. It may have sold like "hotcakes" because it is one of Europe's most popular cars, in the most popular size, in the most popular variant (hatchback), but the fourth and sixth generation that sandwiched it sold like super-hotcakes.

[feels_road]

3, almost 4

That was a different situation - the MkIV continued to be built in Brazil and Mexico while the MkV was built in Germany and sold in Europe. The US-destined MkVI is only made in Germany, so production ceases altogether, this fall.

[davest]

Several posters here have mentioned that VW is set to unveil the Mk VII at the Paris auto show in September, but some sources say that's just the Golf, and that the GTI won't debut until six months later, at the Geneva show in March. That's not to say that the Golf and GTI couldn't both go on sale in the US in the fall. But another source says the GTI won't be available (presumably in the UK) until the end of 2013.

Did previous GTIs lag behind Golfs here in the US?