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Petrol hot hatch isn't dead yet! VW Golf GTI and R will live on
Auto Express
|January 04, 2026
Brand is updating 2.0-litre turbo engine to meet new emissions regulations
VOLKSWAGEN will continue to invest in its petrol-powered hot hatchbacks as it seeks to update its established EA888 2.0-litre turbo engine for new emissions regulations. The project will run alongside the firm's rollout of electric GTI models, securing a future for both powertrain options into 2030 and beyond.
Asked whether the current Golf would be the last petrol GTI, VW's head of chassis development and driving dynamics, Sebastian Willmann, responded with an emphatic “No!” He admitted that while the tried-and-tested four-cylinder engine needs some work, it's all but certain to form part of the maker's future hot-hatch range.
This story is from the January 04, 2026 edition of Auto Express.
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