Facelifted versions of the Volkswagen Golf – including the GTI and R hot hatches – will hit Australian shores during the second quarter of 2025, the company has confirmed.
The German manufacturer released its 12-month product plan for Australia this afternoon, revealing the entire Mk8.5 Golf lineup will touch down sometime between April and June of next year.
“In Q2, [Volkswagen Australia will launch] the updated Golf and Golf GTI,” said Daniel DeGasperi, the product and PR communications manager for Volkswagen Group Australia.
“We can also announce that we will introduce the upgraded Golf R in Q2 next year.”
Golf R Black Edition
In addition to the standard Golf R, Mr DeGasperi confirmed the new Black Edition will also be sold in Australia.
The Mk8.5 Golf R retains the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine which has featured under its bonnet for almost 15 years, but it now produces more power than ever – 245kW of power and 420Nm of torque. That’s an increase of 10kW and 20Nm over the outgoing model.
Volkswagen claims its Mk8.5 Golf R can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds, shaving two-tenths off the sprint time of its predecessor. Top speed is quoted at 270km/h for cars equipped with the optional Performance Pack, which also adds ‘Drift’ and ‘Special’ drive modes.
There’s no change to its seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission nor its all-wheel drive system.
Overseas model shown
Few tweaks have been made to the exterior of the Golf R, although the central grille logo is now illuminated.
The interior of the updated Golf R features a 10.25-inch digital instrument and a 12.9-inch infotainment system running the brand’s latest software, with illuminated volume and climate control sliders to address customer feedback about the original Mk8.
As you’d expect, the Golf R Black Edition is a blacked out take on the formula, with darkened badges and headlights, black brake calipers, black 19-inch Estoril wheels and black exhaust tips, as well as the Performance package as standard.
“It’ll be a great choice for our buyers,” Mr DeGasperi said. “Those who want the silver wheels and the matte silver detailing… but also, as announced overseas, the Black Edition provides an alternative design choice that we’re going to offer to Australian buyers as well.”
Overseas model shown 
The Mk8.5 Golf GTI brings the same 2.0-litre engine tuned to deliver 195kW, as well as exterior styling tweaks, a revised steering wheel with physical button controls, and Volkswagen’s new ChatGPT-based voice assistant which will be rolled out across the range.
Mr DeGasperi is confident that both performance models will be popular among Australian buyers.
“Buyers love these cars. Just last month, I was talking to our sales team and we sold 90 Golf GTIs in a month, and 90 Golf Rs,” he said.
“When you look at Golf sales, and they’re somewhere in the 300s, that’s an extraordinarily high level of hot hatch share among Golf sales. We expect that to continue with the [Mk8.5 range] in Q2.”
Further details about the updated 2025 Volkswagen Golf range – including a full pricing and specifications breakdown – will be announced closer to the facelifted model’s launch in the new year.
Overseas model shown
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