The 7th generation of the VW Golf aims to please

What's up guys? This is Antuan Goodwin at CNET.com. On the floor at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, and we've got the 7th Generation Volkswagen Golf behind me here. Now, there's not of ton of changes on the exterior, you'd have to be a golfer [unk] to really sort of notice the small differences in the headlights and the bumpers and whatnot. But underneath the surface, there's a whole new vehicle. It's built on VW's new MBQ platform, that's the modular traverse matrix. Don't ask me how that translates in German. It's their new front-wheel drive platform that's gonna underpin most of the new front-wheel drive vehicles from VW say Audi, Skoda, etc. Through a lot more use of high-end ultra thin file steel, VW has actually managed to get the weight of the golf down by 220 lbs. over the last generation. And while it's done that, it also managed to stretch it by about 2 inches and some change, so it's lighter and bigger that translates into a little bit more elbow room on the inside particularly in the backseat where they've managed to free up about half an inch of shoulder space. So you've actually got a couple of different options in the engine bay. We've only really got specs on the European models right now. The top of that line is gonna be a 1.4 liter TSI engine that's got turbo charging technology. It opens about 140 horsepower and gets you about 49 miles per gallon on the European test cycle. Now, the entry level there is a 105 horsepower 1.6 liter diesel engine that's gonna get you 62 miles per gallon on the European test cycle, that's your fuel sipper. And inside of the cabin, there are a couple of new technology options starting with the dashboard. All Volkswagen Golf of the 7th Generation are gonna come with a 5.8-inch color touchscreen for their basic infotainment package. But the new have also got an 8-inch color touchscreen, that's a lot larger that's gonna get you the premium navigation system. That's gonna come with a lot of the bells and whistles that we come to expect from our premium navigation systems but admittedly details are a little bit shady on whether or not we'll actually get that system here in the United States. Well, that's been the 7th Generation Volkswagen Golf on the floor at the 2012 Paris Auto Show. I'm Antuan Goodwin with CNET.com.