Volkswagen will launch its third generation Golf Variant (station wagon or estate car) at the Geneva motor show next week.


Over 1.2m units of the previous two model generations were sold since launch in 1993.


The latest Variant has a cargo capacity of 690 litres with the back seat up and 1,550 litres with it down and is 4.56 metres long.


At launch, it will be available with two petrol and two diesel engines. The Petrol engines are the 1.6-litre FSI 75kW/102HP and 103 kW/140 HP 1.4-litre TSI – the latter is the new VW motor with both turbo and super charger and will come with a choice of six-speed manual or DSG automatic gearboxes.


The diesel engines are a 1.9-litre 77 kW/105 HP unit and a 103 kW/140HP two-litre.