Our spy photographers caught the eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf out and about winter testing. Despite the heavy camouflage, we can tell the small car has undergone some significant design changes.

Starting with the front end, the Golf receives new headlights that look slimmer than before, but perhaps more important, they appear to be placed much lower on the front end. The hood drops downward at a sharp angle to meet them and the grille. It appears that the body has grown in overall length as well, and may also be wider. The placement of the camouflage wants us to believe the shape of the taillights has changed dramatically, but we're not convinced.

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Last year, Volkswagen gave late June 2019 as the timeline for the Golf entering production. That means the small car will make its first public appearance soon—perhaps at one of the big upcoming  European auto shows. If not there, expect it to be unveiled at a private event away from the show circuit.

The Golf is expected to sit on a lighter version of the MQB platform. Expect a range of variants again, including a GTI, R, and GTE plug-in hybrid. The main production site for the Golf will remain the Wolfsburg plant in Germany, although it will also continue to be produced at other plants around the world.

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