Volkswagen has just released info on its new Golf, and connected car enthusiasts everywhere will be pretty happy with some of the advances in technology within the new model. 

From 2017, new VW Golf cars will have a next-gen infotainment system as well as city emergency braking with a pedestrian monitoring function and traffic jam assist. 

Over 33 million Volkswagen Golf cars have been sold around the world to date, making it easily the most successful model in the company's history. 

The car will also have an enhanced EA211 TSI engine family and new seven-speed dual clutch gearbox. Its aesthetic has had some improvement, too, with new halogen headlights, new interiors, new wheels and more external colours which freshen up its existing familiar design.

Volkswagen's range of infotainment systems will include larger touchscreens and, in the case of the top-of-the-range 'Discover Pro' system, gesture control.

Navigation info can be displayed in 2D or 3D and there are five different information profiles: Classic, Consumption and Range, Efficiency, Performance and Driver Assistance and Navigation.

Discover Pro will be the first Volkswagen infotainment system to offer both touch and voice-command operation with gesture control in addition to proximity sensors, and Volkswagen plans to introduce the systems in several other product lines during 2017.

Equipment offered with the Discover Pro  system also includes an amplifier with a 4 x 20 watt  output, a DVD drive, two USB ports (Apple compatible), two SD card slots, AUX-IN socket, a 10 GB SSD drive, the full range of music playback capabilities, a movie player, jukebox, podcast player, proximity sensor and voice control as well as navigation. Optional are a rear view reversing camera, DAB+, and up to two extra USB sockets as well as two mobile phone interfaces.

You can also use Volkswagen's infotainment interface for smartphone and tablets via its Media Control app, and using the WiFi hotspot system, passengers can connect their device to control the audio, video and navigation systems. 

Security and Service

This is the first time that Volkswagen has offered the Security and Service package in the Golf, which gives the driver mobile access to assistance.

This includes services such as Automatic Accident Notification, Breakdown Call and Service Scheduling, as well as online monitoring of doors and lights and information on parking position. In addition, you can choose to get an alert when the car leaves a certain area or as soon as a certain speed is exceeded.

The new Golf will also have an online anti-theft alarm, which will send you a notification via a smartphone app if anyone tries to break into your car.

There's a number of apps for the Discover Media system, including Google Street View, Earth and Online Map Update, as well as information on fuel, wehather, charging stations and online traffic information.

Assistance systems

The 2017 model of Volkswagen is also expanding the range of assistance systems, adding:

Traffic Jam Assist: This makes traffic jams safer, as the assistant helps the driver to avoid the rear-end collisions. By combining various assistance systems the Golf is, for the first time, capable of partially automated driving

Lane Assist: This provides the basis for this system with adaptive lane guidance even at speeds of below 60 km/h. Not only does the system countersteer to make corrections if the car is about to leave the lane, but, with adaptive lane guidance enabled, it also keeps the Golf in the middle of the driving lane or in the driver's preferred position.

Emergency Assist: As soon as the sensors detect that the driver is not making any steering, braking or acceleration movements any more, the system initiates various escalating actions to alert the driver, and if the driver remains inactive, it initiates an emergency stop

Front Assist: This is a system which warns the driver and brakes automatically in the event of an imminent collision and has a City Emergency Braking function. The latest version of the Front Assist function is not only capable of detecting other vehicles, but also pedestrians who are crossing the street. As soon as a pedestrian is at risk, the system warns the driver and slows the Golf down autonomously

Trailer Assist: This is designed to free the driver of the "complicated rethinking" needed when reversing with a car and trailer, whereby you have to turn the steering wheel to the left so that the trailer turns to the right – and vice versa.

Park Assist makes it possible to park in any parking space that is parallel or perpendicular to the carriageway semi-automatically, and the system can also exit from parallel parking spaces. In the case of perpendicular parking spaces, not only is parking in reverse supported for the first time in a Golf, but it is also possible to park in a forward direction semi-automatically

A full range of specs are available on the VW website, but it's safe to say it's going to be one of the most connected and personalised Golf models to date.