SPY PHOTOS: VW Golf Variant

Here it is now - the long awaited, all-new Volkswagen Golf Variant!  Wolfsburg was long hesitating about actually building the car as they referred to the Golf Plus and wanted to replace the conventional station wagon by this wanna-be MPV.  Customers, however, were strongly demanding the so-called Golf Variant and put a lot of pressure onto dealers by looking at cars of their tastes from Opel, Ford and other competing makes.  In the end, VW had to start developing the Golf estate and will now release it at the Frankfurt Show later this year - long after their strongest competitors - the Opel Astra Caravan and the Ford Focus Turnier whom have reached the market.

With petrol engines between 102 (1.6 litre) and 150 bhp (2.0 litre FSI) and two diesels with 105 (1.9 TDI) and 140 bhp (2.0 TDI), the new estate will be similarly powered than its predecessor. A less-performing 1.9-litre 90-bhp TDI might be offered later.

Interior will be characterized by increased flexibility including an adjustable, foldable and removable rear bench, a variable loading space, numerour small-item compartments, fixing points and other features typical for estates.