With immediate effect the new Golf can be ordered (in Europe) with the second generation of the innovative 4MOTION four-wheel drive with electronically controlled Haldex coupling.

The new Golf now has permanent four-wheel drive available with both high-torque turbo diesels (TDI) with 105 bhp (77 kw) and 140 bhp (103 kw). A 2.0 litre direct petrol injection model with 4MOTION-drive will follow later.

The 17 available engine-gearbox combinations (in Europe) give the new Golf a unique spectrum in this class of vehicle.

The second generation of this four-wheel drive technology - first featured in the Golf in 1998 and since then selling over 100,000 in this class - has been extensively revised in the areas of ease of maintenance, service intervals and noise level. Four-wheel drive technology is particularly beneficial in the wet, ice and snow: the engine's torque can be adjusted to the road surface and the torque can be variably distributed to all four wheels with 4MOTION - a genuine plus for safety and driving pleasure.

This quality is particularly tried and tested when towing a trailer, for example a caravan. Up to a gradient of 8 percent, the new Golf 4 MOTION has a proud towing capacity of 1800 kilograms, up to 12 percent the capacity is 1500 kilograms (2.0 TDI: 1600 kilograms). And so the four-wheel Golf can get to places, with or without a trailer, which front or rear-wheel drive only vehicles simply cannot reach. Volkswagen can also provide as an option an engine protection plate for the Golf which protects the engine and underbody against branches and stones thrown up from the road. A rough-road package is also available with harder suspension and a 20 millimetre higher ground clearance.

The Golf TDI with four-wheel drive is easily distinguishable from the outside because of the 4MOTION lettering on the rear and a visible twin tail pipe.

The heart of the 4MOTION  drive train is an axially engaged multi-plate clutch running in an oil bath. Adjustment of the clutch pressure varies the level of torque transferred to the rear wheels. The clutch steplessly controls the torque from zero to full transmission corresponding to an equal distribution of torque between the front and rear wheels. Depending on the friction coefficient ratio it is even possible to transmit 100 percent of the drive torque to the rear axle.

The Golf TDI 4MOTION is equipped as standard with a six-speed gearbox and special gear knob and is available in the equipment levels Trendline, Comfortline and Sportline.

The first European retail sales of the Golf TDI 4MOTION will be carried out in August, the third model type with direct petrol injection(FSI) will follow in the northern autumn this year.