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Not only is the Golf celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, but it's also celebrating another year at the top of the Irish sales charts (well, so far this year - there's still time for a late burst from the Perodua Kenari...) and Volkswagen has decided to mark both achievements by improving the spec of various models in the run up to the 2015 number plate.
So, the basic Golf now gets a €400 price cut to €19,995 and gains a leather steering wheel and centre armrest. The BlueMotion model also gets a cut of €430, now starting at €25,295, but now also gets front fog lights and a leather, multi-function steering wheel as standard, which Volkswagen says is worth €410.
Comfortline models now start from €22,755 and come with 16-inch alloys, front fog lights and a leather steering wheel with multi-function buttons. Volkswagen claims that the added spec and a small price cut add up to the model being around €1,000 better value than before.
Highline models are now starting at €25,105 - that's actually €290 more than before but Volkswagen says that the car now has €2,250 of extra spec including 17-inch 'Dijon' alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, Park Distance Control front and rear, Adaptive Cruise Control and tinted rear windows.
Keeping up so far? good. Now, the performance models have also been granted some improved spec. The GTI gets 18-inch 'Austin' alloy wheels, bi-Xenon headlights, dual-zone climate control, Park Distance Control front and rear, Adaptive Cruise Control and tinted rear windows.
The GTD now starts from €37,705, with an extra €4,215 of specification added as standard for only a €1,200 increase in the recommended retail price. These include 18-inch 'Nogaro' alloy wheels, bi-Xenon headlights, dual-zone climate control, Park Distance Control front and rear, Adaptive Cruise Control and tinted rear windows.
At the top of the range the Golf R has come down in price by €9,515, plus has an added specification of €2,040 - now gaining 19-inch 'Cadiz' alloy wheels, Park Distance Control front and rear, Adaptive Cruise Control and, yes, you've guessed it, tinted rear windows.
There will also be two new special edition models in the Golf range in 2015, the first of which is the Edition-R, which sits between Comfortline and Highline and will be positioned as a sportier alternative to the Golf Highline. This trim level features R-Line exterior styling, 17-inch 'Salvador' alloy wheels, tinted rear windows, front sport seats, 'Mel Stripe' upholstery and sport suspension. Prices start from €24,600 for the Edition-R spec.
To celebrate 40 years of the Golf there is the very luxurious Golf Edition-40, which costs from €30,455 and comes with the choice of either a 1.4-litre TSI 150hp engine, or a 2.0-litre TDI 150hp engine. This grade will sit above Highline, focussing on luxury rather than sportiness. Standard equipment over the Highline includes 17-inch 'Singapore' alloy wheels, 'Discover Media' navigation system, a panoramic tilt/slide sunroof, heated front seats and unique 'Edition-40' interior styling that includes Nappa leather/Alcantara seats in 'Volcano Brown', imprinted with the 'Wolfsburg' crest. There are also 'Milano' decorative inserts.
What about finance?
All of these updated models are available with PCP finance rates of between 1.9 per cent and 3.9 per cent and all of them get three years' servicing for free.
For up to date news check out CompleteCar.ie