The front end of the 4.53 meter long and 1.78 meter wide Golf Estate was completely redesigned. Visually, it now follows the styling of the current Volkswagen "design DNA". Clear horizontal lines and bold styling of the headlights will now define its appearance. And so the bumper, radiator grille, engine bonnet and fenders and highlights were all transferred from the three- and five-door versions of the new Golf classic.
In contrast to the previous Golf Estate, the design is no longer characterised by a chrome radiator grille, rather by a black, horizontally styled grille and body-coloured bumpers. In its lower front section, the Estate also has an additional large air intake. Starting with the mid equipment version (Comfortline) chrome inserts are integrated in the radiator grille and lower air intake. In the case of the top Highline version, this also applies to the surrounds of the standard front fog lights with new static turning lights.
At the rear, the previous model's independent design has been upgraded in the new generation by modified taillights and bumpers whose lower area is also fully painted in body colour. From now on, TDI and TSI versions can also be recognised by their tailpipes, which are no longer covered by the bumper. In addition, Volkswagen developed a new range of wheels for the Golf Estate.
Perfection in details
The new Golf Estate also preserves the car body's excellent layout and high level of everyday utility. The development team focused on perfection in the details. Attaining the best possible acoustic properties on the new Golf was a top priority for Volkswagen. In this context, the body was equipped with new detailed solutions in a variety of areas. Highly effective acoustic damping is implemented in the front windscreen, which eliminates nearly all high-frequency noise in the three kHz range that is very typical in vehicles with diesel engines.
In addition, many secondary noises have been eliminated or reduced right at their source. In particular, this was achieved in all belt drives, the turbocharger and charge air distribution channels as well as in the heating and cooling blower. Quiet rolling tires and new engine bearings round out the noise reduction program. Independent of body-related modifications, noise comfort has been further improved by a new generation of turbo-diesels with common rail injection, as well as integration of TSI petrol engines that are known for their quiet operation.
PASSIVE SAFETY – HIGHEST LEVEL OF PROTECTION
The new Golf Estate is being offered with a seamless package of safety features as standard equipment. On the passive side, there is a further perfected safety body (including optimised pedestrian protection), six airbags and a patented head restraint system for driver and front passenger.
Front, side and head airbags
The driver and front passenger airbags (known as front airbags) and safety belt system together form a precisely coordinated front restraint system on the new Golf Estate. As before, the side airbags are still integrated in the backrests of the front seats. They protect the chest, abdomen and pelvis and have been optimally tuned to the car's more rigid side structure. Integrating the side airbags in the backrests assures optimal airbag positioning in relation to the driver and front passenger. Furthermore, Volkswagen is introducing standard head airbags that help to prevent high biomechanical loads to the head. Specifically, these airbags cover an area along the side windows extending from the A pillar to the C pillar and from the roofliner to the door sill. This results in maximum protection at all seating positions regardless of body size. That is because protection over a large area prevents the head and extremities from swinging out and prevents objects from penetrating into the car's interior. Since the head airbags remain inflated for a long time, they even retain much of their effectiveness in secondary collisions such as in the case of a rollover accident.
WOKS – head restraints help protect against whiplash
Accident-related hyperextensions of the cervical spine are known internationally as "whiplash syndrome". Volkswagen counteracts these types of injuries by coordinating movements of the head and upper body into the seat backrests and head restraints as synchronously as possible in the event of a crash. This is called the "Whiplash Optimised Head Restraint System", or WOKS for short. The latest generation of WOKS is now being implemented as standard equipment on the Golf.
In an effort to reduce injury risk, excellent protection is realised by defined deceleration of the upper body in the seat backrest, coordinated deceleration of the head in the head restraint, and balanced movements of the head and upper body. Crucial parameters here are the special contours of the head restraints and backrests as well as the hardness of the foam material that is used. The contoured shape of the head restraints is being patented by Volkswagen. In related studies, WOKS has demonstrated excellent protective potential with biomechanical values that are substantially better than those of many other active systems.