The Ultimate Guide to Volkswagen Golf MK8 2020 Styling Parts That Make a Difference

While motoring enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the new VW Golf, the current MK8 is still the company’s bread and butter model and when fitted with the now legendary four-cylinder EA888, a car ripe with serious tuning potential. Both the GTi and R are driver’s cars, blending sports-car thrills with everyday practicality. And both can be modded well past their respective 245/313hp power figures to rival exorbitantly priced performance machines for pace and street presence.

Stage tuning the EA888 gets interesting results. Cars with 500hp plus aren't uncommon, benefitting from faster spooling turbos, revised cooling systems, upgraded fuelling and changes to the timing to prevent the engine exploding into a fireball. To get that power down, Golf owners also modify the suspension, upgrade the brakes, install clutches rated for the torque and slap on low-profile tyres. Most also consider durable and easy-to-install Volkswagen Golf MK8 2020 styling parts to considerably increase downforce and traction, and prevent the car from becoming airborne.

Upgrading Your Golf with Aftermarket Body Kits 

Generally installed after stage tuning, aftermarket body kits consisting of front splitters, rear spoilers, side skirts and diffusers balance aero performance to produce a car that's more predictable in corners and at higher speeds. Parts work together to smooth turbulence and drag and create the downforce that ensures more control and stability, considerably improving braking distances, steering feel and tyre grip. This is a necessity in MK8 Golfs with considerable power modifications.

Aside from factory R and R-Line styling packs, or custom Oettinger kits available from Volkswagen at eye-watering prices, all MK8 and MK8.5 cars benefit from subtle changes to the bodywork with aftermarket body kits. This includes:

• Improved aerodynamics: Front lip splitters and wide-body bumpers channel oncoming air over and to the sides of the Golf, considerably increasing downforce at the front axle. This is a boon for the front-wheel drive GTi, but also delivers more steering feel in the AWD R. Additional benefits come from parts responsible for taming remnant air and preventing it from pooling in the undercarriage. Side skirts running the length of the wheel arches reduce lift, while rear diffusers and roof spoilers or wings steady the rear axle with increased downforce.
• Visual upgrades: Giving the car a longer, lower, and wider stance improves the MK8's visual appeal. Aero components meld seamlessly into the factory profile, but provide subtle motorsport cues. They can also be optioned in varied finishes and textures, ranging from smooth matte or gloss black or checkered carbon fibre. These are head-turning mods that easily differentiate your Golf from the thousands on UK streets.
• Paint and chassis protection: Body parts don't necessarily have to be expensive to protect the factory paint or panels. Affordable packages made of scratch and dent-resistant ABS and polyurethane (PU) attach to factory mounting points to keep grilles, engines, hoods, windshields, doors and boots clear of spraying road debris, gravel and parking mishaps. They also reduce the likelihood of discolouration and rust buildup.
• Reduced weight: Substituting metal factory panels with PU or ABS parts reduces weight while preventing deformation or cracking in minor impact. If weight reduction is a key priority and part of serious upgrades, choose pre-pregnated carbon fibre body parts. Full kits can shave off over 20 pounds of the MK8's kerb weight. Paired with other weight-saving mods, these are substantial gains for cars regularly doing track work.
• Easy fitment: Parts are made using advanced technologies. The MK8 is scanned with industrial infrared scanners and the collected data is imported into 3D CAD software. Each component is digitally sketched to conform to the factory surfaces and ensure alignment and tight tolerances. Prototyped parts are then 3D-printed or CNC-machined, run through virtual and road tests, and provide the templates for mass-produced body kits.

Buying Considerations

Materials, finishes and fitment are the key buying considerations for Volkswagen Golf MK8 2020 styling parts. Materials determine overall durability, how parts fare in collisions and overall weight. Finishes and textures are more about aesthetics, while proper fitment and mounting hardware ensure parts stay on, bring the expected aero benefits, and don't impede factory safety systems or damage adjacent parts.

Choose parts in ABS plastic for good impact resistance, decent flexibility under stress and affordability. The material absorbs minor hits and road scrapes better than comparable materials and provides the needed elasticity on impact without cracking. It is also lightweight and easy to shape and paint.

Polyurethane is the affordable choice for parts used on modified cars, seeing more track use. The material has higher elasticity and impact resistance than ABS and better absorbs impact, but the higher density also means it is considerably heavier. This restricts use in impact-prone areas, particularly bumpers and front lip splitters. It also requires more prep work in sanding and painting.

For superior rigidity, unmatched strength, and considerably better heat resistance, choose Golf MK8 body parts in carbon fibre. The material is considerably lighter than ABS or polyurethane, maintains shape under stress without flexing and resists deformation and warping when exposed to high heat. The woven, glossy texture provides high-tech appeal, often with an anti-static layer that is also more dust-resistant than engineered polymers.

Pairing Body Kits with Other Mods 

While body kits do stand out, there's more personalisation with matching aesthetic, performance and handling upgrades for the MK8. To fully benefit from the increased downforce, consider a lower centre of gravity with lowering springs or coilovers. These pair the aggressive stance of cars fitted with spoilers, splitters and diffusers with a slammed and race-ready look. They also improve handling by reducing body roll and tightening steering response in corners, as well as eliminating front dive and rear squat during hard braking.

For seamless aesthetics, go with larger-diameter aftermarket alloys in the same matte or gloss black finish as body kits. Choose mesh, split or multi-spoke wheel designs to accentuate complex geometries in splitters and spoilers while balancing form and function. New wheels additionally deliver better handling, ensuring quicker turn-in when dressed in performance, low-profile rubber, as well as more steering feedback and stability.

Lastly, add an auditory component to your modified Golf MK8. Performance exhausts in wider diameters free up exhaust flow from the EA888, reducing restrictions and producing a deeper, more aggressive growl. They also add a few more horsepower, aid the engine with faster turbo spooling and provide the foundation for more serious mods. Combined. aero kits, suspension upgrades, aftermarket alloys and performance exhausts are straightforward, affordable and functional additions that provide your Golf with a personal touch and get you a car you'll actually want to drive. 

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