These fresh spy shots of the VW Golf Mk.8 show the design of the new model virtually without any camouflage. 

Making the true shape of the headlights visible, which no longer, feature a simple rectangular shape like almost every VW today. 

GALLERY: Volkswagen Golf 8 spyshots

Instead, the unit shrinks around the high beams and has a pinch towards the back. It's pretty bold, for a Volkswagen and appears too small to ever allow for a basic halogen bulb.

                                                              Image: Automedia

Like its sister cars, the Golf 8 seems to have an unnaturally long nose and slightly shorter rear overhangs. There's no reason for this at present but VW is apparently leaving room for autonomous driving tech to be added in the future. 

In profile, things are quite like how they used to be. The windows are the same shape, only the rear shows narrower taillights and a slight slope in the roof that wasn't there before.

                                                                           Image: Automedia

Built on a revised version of the MQB platform, the new Golf will be powered by a combination of familiar and new engines. 

The 1.0 TSI and 1.5 TSI should form the bulk of its sales, though from what we understand, the 2.0 TDI will still be around. VW put a lot of work into developing a mild-hybrid assistance system to lower emissions further.

Rumours talked about a new base TDI, a 1.5-litre unit built using the TSI's architecture. The displacement has not been confirmed but falls in line with changes made by both Peugeot and Ford.

                                                                        Image: Automedia