Leaked: 2009 VW Golf

WOLFSBURG, Germany — Dutch and Belgian Web sites this weekend leaked the first official images of the redesigned Volkswagen Golf , which VW had planned to release on Wednesday ahead of the car's public debut at the 2008 Paris Auto Show.

The images, leaked at autoblog.nl and autogids.be, show that VW's designers were relatively timid in pushing the styling envelope on the Golf VI. The basic silhouette seems little changed from that of the fifth-generation Golf, although the revised face has more in common with the new Scirocco.

The cabin appears to measure up, in style and materials, to VW's usual high standards and is likely to remain a benchmark in the class, at least in Europe.

In Germany, the new Golf is expected to offer a wide range of four-cylinder gas and diesel engines from 1.2 to 2.0 liters, as well as a choice of manual, automatic and DSG gearboxes. VW also is working on a diesel plug-in hybrid variant and expects to introduce new stop-start technology as well.

A high-end turbocharged 2.0-liter engine will be reserved for the new GTI.

Despite persistent rumors to the contrary, VW of America continues to certify the new Golf for sale in the U.S.

What this means to you: Early look at a car that apparently will be coming here