VW ends manual transmission for 2025 Golf GTI & R, reveals electric transition

Volkswagen discontinues the manual gearbox for Golf GTI & R from 2025, teases electric future and remains silent on US-spec power upgrades.

In a notable appearance at CES in Las Vegas, Volkswagen teased the automotive world with a camouflaged version of the 2025 Golf GTI, only to officially unveil it in Europe shortly thereafter. Despite this unveiling, the version destined for the United States market remained under wraps until it made a discreet appearance at the F.A.T. Ice Race in Carbondale, Colorado, clad in minimal disguise. This sparked curiosity about the future of Volkswagen’s emblematic sports compact in the US market.

Inquiries to Volkswagen of America shed light on a significant shift for the beloved Golf GTI and its sibling, the Golf R; the traditional six-speed manual transmission is set to be discontinued post the 2024 model year. Jerohn Anderson, a spokesperson for Volkswagen of America, confirmed this development in correspondence with Motor1, indicating the end of an era for manual transmission enthusiasts of the Golf GTI and R models.

Despite previous speculations of a possible reprieve for the manual transmission owing to more lenient Euro 7 regulations, the European-spec Golf GTI made its debut sans manual option, a decision mirrored for its American counterpart. This move marks the conclusion of the manual transmission’s journey in the US with the GTI 380 special edition serving as its swan song.

The rationale behind phasing out the manual transmission in the US is tied to its dwindling sales, which accounted for a mere five percent of the total Golf GTI sales in 2023. With the majority of demand stemming from markets outside North America and the Euro 7 regulations not being relaxed in time to influence the development of the Golf Mk8.5, Volkswagen decided to streamline its offerings.

While the manual transmission was not an option for the Golf R in Europe, US enthusiasts had the privilege of choosing it. However, this option will also be phased out from the 2025 model year onwards. Nevertheless, certain markets will still have access to more affordable versions of the Golf equipped with manual transmissions, paired with either 1.5 TSI gasoline or 2.0 TDI diesel engines.

The discontinuation of the manual transmission is poised to disappoint many fans of the GTI and R models, especially considering the significant take rate for manual versions in 2023, with half of GTI buyers and forty percent of R buyers opting for the three-pedal setup.

Amid these changes, questions also arose about potential performance enhancements for the 2025 Golf GTI in the US market, specifically regarding a possible increase to 261 horsepower to match updates seen in European models. However, Volkswagen of America has not confirmed these speculations.

Looking ahead, Volkswagen has teased the upcoming revision of the Golf R with a camouflaged prototype showcased at the Ice Race in Zell am See, Austria, with a world premiere expected in the summer. It remains to be seen whether this update will include a power boost or the continuation of the Golf R wagon in Europe.

These updates are particularly noteworthy as they represent the final iterations of the GTI and R models in the era of internal combustion engines. Volkswagen is set to transition the Golf lineup to an all-electric format, with future performance models bearing the iconic GTI and R designations expected to embrace electric powertrains, as hinted by a newly trademarked «GTI» logo featuring a thunderbolt.

Source: Motor1