Volkswagen has equipped the Golf 8 with an innovative light design for the digital generation, further underlining its character as a popular vehicle. It is highlighted by the PLEXIGLAS molding compounds from Röhm which underline lighting elements and other details on the front of the new VW Golf.

Some models in the Golf 8 family – GTI, GTD, GTE and the topline model – are equipped with an LED light strip spanning the width of the front of the car. This bar is an illuminated link between the LED headlights and the VW emblem positioned in the center of the radiator grille.

The Golf 8 with its new Volkswagen front light signature.

For the Golf 8, the choice consisted of two innovative PLEXIGLAS molding compounds with special properties for use in the vehicle front. “The trend towards individual lighting design, especially for the front ends of vehicles, is expanding the freedom of design,” says Siamak Djafarian, Head of the Molding Compounds business unit at Röhm GmbH.

The cover of the LED light strip on the Golf 8 is made of PLEXIGLAS Resist AG 100, an extraordinarily impact-resistant molding compound with increased heat deflection temperature, as well as a good UV and weather resistance, which retains the outstanding optical properties.

“PLEXIGLAS Resist AG 100 and PLEXIGLAS Hi-Gloss NTA-5 molding compounds represent a new class of modified impact-resistant materials which offer greater performance than other types of the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) brand,” states Uwe Löffler, Head of Automotive in the Business Unit Molding Compounds at Röhm GmbH.

PLEXIGLAS Resist AG 100 for the LED strip and PLEXIGLAS Hi-Gloss NTA-5 for the high-gloss trim and the emblem on the Golf 8 GTI.

The reason why PLEXIGLAS Resist AG 100 has been chosen is for several reasons: The front of a vehicle is subjected to enormous stresses over its life. Dirt and small stones kicked up by vehicles ahead can make life difficult for the material over time, and excellent impact resistance is essential here if the component is to last for a many years. Then there is the additional strain caused by chemicals such as cleaning and de-icing agents. To withstand all of this, the material must feature excellent stress cracking resistance.

An additional demand on the material is its weather resistance, in particular when it comes to UV radiation. This causes many plastics to turn yellow and become brittle. While other plastics have an additional coating applied to achieve a comparable UV resistance, it is possible to produce components made of the durable PLEXIGLAS Resist AG 100 in a single process step, which saves time and costs during production.

A highly effective contrast to the light line on the Golf 8 GTI, GTD and GTE is the black, high-gloss trim made of PLEXIGLAS Hi-Gloss NTA-5, which runs parallel to the LED strip. The black background of the emblems at the front and back is also made from a molding compound from the PLEXIGLAS Hi-Gloss series. And because PLEXIGLAS Hi-Gloss NTA-5 specifically features high impact-resistance, it is also ideally suited for lower body parts.

Volkswagen has equipped the Golf 8 with an innovative light design for the digital generation, further underlining its character as a popular vehicle. It is highlighted by the PLEXIGLAS molding compounds from Röhm which underline lighting elements and other details on the front of the new VW Golf.

Some models in the Golf 8 family – GTI, GTD, GTE and the topline model – are equipped with an LED light strip spanning the width of the front of the car. This bar is an illuminated link between the LED headlights and the VW emblem positioned in the center of the radiator grille.

The Golf 8 with its new Volkswagen front light signature.

For the Golf 8, the choice consisted of two innovative PLEXIGLAS molding compounds with special properties for use in the vehicle front. “The trend towards individual lighting design, especially for the front ends of vehicles, is expanding the freedom of design,” says Siamak Djafarian, Head of the Molding Compounds business unit at Röhm GmbH.

The cover of the LED light strip on the Golf 8 is made of PLEXIGLAS Resist AG 100, an extraordinarily impact-resistant molding compound with increased heat deflection temperature, as well as a good UV and weather resistance, which retains the outstanding optical properties.

“PLEXIGLAS Resist AG 100 and PLEXIGLAS Hi-Gloss NTA-5 molding compounds represent a new class of modified impact-resistant materials which offer greater performance than other types of the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) brand,” states Uwe Löffler, Head of Automotive in the Business Unit Molding Compounds at Röhm GmbH.

PLEXIGLAS Resist AG 100 for the LED strip and PLEXIGLAS Hi-Gloss NTA-5 for the high-gloss trim and the emblem on the Golf 8 GTI.

The reason why PLEXIGLAS Resist AG 100 has been chosen is for several reasons: The front of a vehicle is subjected to enormous stresses over its life. Dirt and small stones kicked up by vehicles ahead can make life difficult for the material over time, and excellent impact resistance is essential here if the component is to last for a many years. Then there is the additional strain caused by chemicals such as cleaning and de-icing agents. To withstand all of this, the material must feature excellent stress cracking resistance.

An additional demand on the material is its weather resistance, in particular when it comes to UV radiation. This causes many plastics to turn yellow and become brittle. While other plastics have an additional coating applied to achieve a comparable UV resistance, it is possible to produce components made of the durable PLEXIGLAS Resist AG 100 in a single process step, which saves time and costs during production.

A highly effective contrast to the light line on the Golf 8 GTI, GTD and GTE is the black, high-gloss trim made of PLEXIGLAS Hi-Gloss NTA-5, which runs parallel to the LED strip. The black background of the emblems at the front and back is also made from a molding compound from the PLEXIGLAS Hi-Gloss series. And because PLEXIGLAS Hi-Gloss NTA-5 specifically features high impact-resistance, it is also ideally suited for lower body parts.