HERNDON, VA – Volkswagen showed the seventh generation of its Golf, which will eventually make its way to the U.S. as a 2014 model, at a press conference in Berlin last week. The new vehicle is built on a lighter weight platform, up to 220 lbs. lighter than the outgoing model, and is the first VW vehicle built on the automaker’s new MQB architecture, the company stated.

To drop those 220 lbs., VW focused on a range of vehicle components, from the electrical architecture through to the engines and the body-in-white (when the vehicle’s sheet metal components have been welded together but no moving parts added). The automaker reduced the weight of the air-conditioning unit by 6 lbs., the seats by 15 lbs., and the body-in-white by 51 lbs. The automaker stated it was able to reduce the body shell’s weight by using high- and ultra-high strength steels, increasing the percentage of high-strength steel from 66 to 80% and ultra-high-strength steel from 6 to 28%.

The new edition of the Golf is 2.2 inches longer than the outgoing model, at an overall length of 167.5 inches. The wheelbase increased by 2.3 inches to 103.8, and the vehicle is 0.8 inches lower and 0.5 inches wider than the previous model. Inside, the Golf provides more passenger and cargo room, with a 0.6-inch longer passenger compartment and 0.6 inches of more knee room. The automaker also increased shoulder room by 1.2 inches in the back and front of the vehicle.