Volkswagen seems determined to keep the Mk8 Golf in the game until 2035, giving this generation a potential 15-year lifespan. While it wouldn't be the longest-lived Golf, it certainly stands out in the modern automotive landscape.

The plan is to transition the Golf to an all-electric future, with the EV version expected to hit the roads closer to the end of the decade. However, this doesn’t mean the current combustion engine model is on its way out anytime soon. Kai Grünitz, head of technical development at VW, suggests the Mk8 could remain in production for another 11 years, coinciding with the European Union's sales ban on new cars with harmful emissions in 2035. Even post-2035, internal combustion vehicles could remain in showrooms if they’re compatible with carbon-neutral synthetic fuels.

It’s worth noting that the Mk8’s MQB platform has roots dating back to 2012 with the Mk7. This is reminiscent of the Mk6, which was essentially a heavily facelifted Mk5. The Mk6 had a lengthy run, especially if you count the Golf Cabriolet, which stayed in production until 2016. By 2025, the MQB platform will have matched that 13-year life cycle.

Grünitz refers to the Mk8 as "MQB perfection," asserting there's no pressing need to develop an entirely new model. The current Golf had a rocky start due to software issues, but VW claims these have been resolved, affecting sister models like the Skoda Octavia, SEAT Leon, and Audi A3 as well.

The Golf recently received a facelift, but if VW plans to keep it around until 2035, another refresh is likely in the cards. Enthusiasts are hoping for a return of the manual gearbox in the GTI and R models, and perhaps even the introduction of the R wagon to the US market. More physical buttons would also be a welcome change for many drivers. While these ideas might just be wishful thinking, it’s worth noting that the regular Golf versions outside the US still offer a six-speed manual gearbox.

There’s a chance the Golf could be retired before 2035, not necessarily due to emissions regulations. For example, VW Group's Porsche axed the Macan and 718 Boxster/Cayman in the EU because they didn't comply with new cybersecurity laws. The cost to bring these models up to code was too high, prompting Porsche to cease production. VW could face similar decisions if future regulations become too costly to meet.

Even if the Mk8 sticks around until 2035, its 15-year run won't surpass the longest lifespan for a Golf. The original Mk1, launched in 1974, was succeeded by the Mk2 in the 1980s, but an Mk1-based Citi Golf was produced in South Africa from 1984 until 2009. This gives it an impressive 25-year production run, or 35 years if you consider the original Golf’s entire lifecycle. 

So, the Mk8 Golf could very well become a classic in its own right, holding its ground in an ever-evolving automotive world.