Report: Volkswagen Golf GTI and R will stay petrol

Despite electrification plans underway, Volkswagen is committed to continue producing petrol-powered hot hatches into the future, according to a new report, with development of its long-standing EA888 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine reportedly underway.

It means the enduring EA888 engine – which has featured in the Golf family for almost two decades and been plonked into other VW Group product including various Audi and Skoda models – will live on amid stricter Euro 7 emissions standards which come into effect this November.

According to Auto Express, Volkswagen’s head of chassis development and driving dynamics Sebastian Willmann, said although the four-cylinder engine needs work, the petrol-powered Golf GTI will live on.

The German car-maker will “bring the engine to Euro 7”, according to Willmann, although he wouldn’t detail what tweaks would be made to the four-pot.

It comes just in time for the hot hatch’s 50th anniversary celebrations, where a special edition Golf GTI Edition 50 will arrive as the fastest and most powerful VW GTI yet.

Willmann also hinted that the firm’s high-performance flagship R brand was safe, telling the UK publication there was “some room for improvement” in relation to a more potent Golf R to take on the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S and Audi RS 3.

“Let’s see what, over time, is possible,” Willmann said.

“In VW, we must deliver on all aspects. We need efficient cars, we need performance cars – like the Golf R or the GTI – and we need some cheaper cars and cars which are positioned higher.”

As carsales previously reported, Volkswagen’s ‘monster’ Golf GTI electric vehicle (EV) has already been locked in and is due on sale in 2029, retaining the iconic hot hatch’s front-wheel drive layout but with around 350kW on tap.

Before that, the smaller Polo GTI will be electrified and sold as the ID. Polo EV, with Willmann describing it as a “good first step” into electrifying the GTI sub-brand.

In Australia, Volkswagen’s current EV line-up consists of the ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs, and the ID. Buzz people mover and ID. Buzz Cargo.

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