A statement from Kai Grünitz, the head of technical development at Volkswagen Group, indicates that unless alterations are made to Euro 7 emission standards, the manual version of the VW Golf will cease to exist by the time the new law is ratified in 2025. As reported by Autocar, even the GTI, which has offered a manual transmission option since 1975, is included in this.
VW’s data suggests that the manual Golf GTI emits two additional grams of CO2 per kilometer compared to its automatic counterpart, a relatively small difference. However, Euro 7 is exerting significant pressure on car manufacturers to reduce both exhaust emissions and particulate matter emissions from tires and brakes.
It’s worth noting that Euro 7 is still undergoing revisions. A coalition of European countries, excluding Germany where VW is based, has voiced opposition to the current form of the regulations. If put to a vote in the European parliament today, these eight nations have adequate influence to block the implementation of Euro 7.
Volkswagen
Many countries in the coalition are aiming not to completely eliminate Euro 7, but rather to postpone its enforcement. In this scenario, it becomes a matter of timing, not if the manual VW Golf will phase out.
It is improbable that VW, in its quest to simplify the lineup offerings, will continue selling a manual GTI in the United States. As part of cost-reduction efforts, it has already removed the standard Golf model from its range. Similarly, the company aims to discontinue slow-selling vehicles like the Arteon and concentrate on larger cars and electrification.
The negotiations around Euro 7 are ongoing. Until the regulations are finalized or until VW announces a formal decision, the exact timing of the manual Golf’s discontinuation remains uncertain.
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