Successor to Volkswagen Golf Plus makes Frankfurt debut

Volkswagen has revealed the first images of the Golf Sportsvan Concept, the successor to the Golf Plus, which will make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The new model is based, like the multi-award-winning Golf hatchback, on the MQB platform, and incorporates all the advanced technology of that car, but in a larger, even more practical body style. Its exterior design clearly follows the look of both the Golf, and Volkswagen's more generic 'DNA'.

At 4,338mm long, the new Sportsvan is 134mm longer than the Golf Plus, and 83mm longer than the Golf.  It is 224mm shorter than the Golf Estate. The Sportsvan is also 80mm wider, at 1,870mm, and 126mm higher, at 1,578mm (excluding roof rails). Inside, the rear seats (60:40 split bench) can slide forwards and backwards by up to 180mm, to increase either passenger or luggage space as required.

As well as this versatility, the Golf Sportsvan also offers extra space.  Compared with that of its predecessor, boot capacity is increased by 74 litres to 498 litres (versus the Golf's 380 litres), with the back seats at their rear-most position. Moving the rear seats forwards increases the luggage capacity to 585 litres, while folding the rear seats liberates up to 1,512 litres of room. The front passenger seat can optionally fold fully forward, creating a load space which is up to 2,484mm long.

A first for the Golf Sportsvan is a Blind Spot Monitor, with an assistant for exiting parking spaces. This monitors the area behind and to the sides of the vehicle, ensuring easier and safer egress when reversing from a parking bay.

Powering the Sportsvan will be a range of petrol and diesel engines, all of which conform to Euro 6 emissions standards and incorporate Stop/Start and battery regeneration systems. There are four turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engines with 85, 110, 125 and 150bhp and three turbodiesels: a 2.0-litre 150bhp, a 1.6-litre 90bhp and a 1.6-litre 110bhp for the Sportsvan BlueMotion.

The Golf Sportsvan is expected to go on sale in the U.K. in mid-2014. Naming will be confirmed closer to launch as it will not use the Sportsvan name in the U.K.