Volkswagen up to date the Mk8 Golf for the 2025 mannequin yr, bringing the anticipated visible tweaks and what seems to be a much-improved inside. All good issues, however sadly, the Mk8.5 GTI and Golf R misplaced their guide transmissions with the facelift. US fans responded by shopping for extra guide Golf fashions final yr whereas they nonetheless may.

VW reported a 48.6% year-over-year gross sales improve for the GTI and a 29.6% improve for the Golf R. The automaker additionally advised Motor1 that the take charge for the guide was 41% within the GTI and 52% for the Golf R, will increase over the 38% and 45% of 2023, respectively. This is how that interprets into whole gross sales:

Clearly, it isn’t that many automobiles within the massive scheme of issues: The Tiguan outsold the Jetta, Golf GTI and R, and Arteon mixed final yr. However it’s clear there’s demand for guide fanatic automobiles. VW additionally provided “Version 380” variations of the GTI, commemorating the final yr of the stick shift.

So why is VW killing the guide GTI and Golf R? VW sells a good quantity of guide sizzling hatches within the US, however globally, only a few clients go for the six-speed. It made extra sense for VW to simplify its manufacturing by killing the guide. It additionally wanted to put money into getting the Golf to satisfy the very strict Euro 7 emissions requirements, making the guide an much more tough proposition.

To its credit score, VW is not ditching the guide totally, providing a six-speed within the newly up to date Jetta GLI, which is not bought in Europe. VW tells us guide Jetta gross sales total went down from 9% to six% in 2024—presumably as a result of the automaker discontinued the bottom guide Jetta and Jetta Sport partway by the yr—however guide GLI gross sales rose from 33% to 38%. Given the GLI is now the one guide providing for the US, it isn’t onerous to think about its take charge going up. Clearly, some folks nonetheless need sporty stick-shift VWs.