Volkswagen delays new Golf model until end-2008

Volkswagen (VOWG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research), the world's fourth-largest carmaker, will delay a new generation of its flagship Golf model until near the end of 2008, a company spokesman said on Saturday, confirming a report in German trade magazine Automobilwoche.

"The current model is doing so well that we're not under time pressure," the magazine had quoted VW development executive Ulrich Hackenberg as saying in an interview.

Numerous small design changes demanded by new VW Chief Executive Officer Martin Winterkorn had delayed the sales start from the spring 2008 target planned by Winterkorn's predecessor Bernd Pischetsrieder, the magazine said.