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During a works council meeting yesterday, trade union IG Metall revealed the first official teaser image of the next-generation Volkswagen Golf, which will be underpinned by VW's SSP architecture. Athough at first glance there appears to be little to glean from the solitary photograph, the silhouette is a clear evolution of that of the current eighth-generation hatchback, while also taking inspiration from the ID. GTI concept. Furthermore, the image's file name includes the words "ID. Golf," confirming that VW is abandoning alphanumeric names for its EVs in favor of nomenclature that is both more traditional and more memorable. Indeed, the ID.4 is expected to become the ID. Tiguan, and now it's clear that the electric Golf will similarly evoke its gas-powered sibling, which, for the record, isn't going anywhere.

Electric Golf Will Coexist with Gas Hatchback

Last year, Volkswagen confirmed that the gas-powered Golf will continue to exist well into the next decade, and that includes the hot GTI and R variants. While some reports have suggested that the electric Golf has been delayed to the end of the decade, others have claimed that it will arrive in 2028. Either way, the eighth-generation VW Golf arrived in 2019 and was already facelifted once in 2024, which means that the gas-powered hatchback will be pretty old by the time the EV alternative arrives. Therefore, another facelift is likely when the ID. Golf debuts, though it may be substantial enough for Wolfsburg to call it a new generation.

With increasing pressure from Chinese rivals taking market share in Europe's EV space, Volkswagen has tight constraints within which to work, and prolonging the existence of an aging gas-powered hatch by updating interior tech and refining the engine is far better than not offering one at all. With uncertainty as to how the next decade's market demands will look, investing in an all-new platform for the combustion-powered Golf would also be risky.

Related: Volkswagen’s Tiguan R Targets Toyota’s RAV4 GR Sport With 300+ HP

When that happens, we expect a whole new interior setup, with the return of physical buttons and the addition of customizable gauge cluster displays, likely including some retro themes that will call the Mk.1 Golf to mind. If the gas Golf shares the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) with the EV, we might see hybrid powertrains being introduced, too.

Golf Production Site Set to Change