Volkswagen’s diesel scandal is far from resolved, but the brand still must sell cars even as it deals with a maelstrom of its own creation. Indeed, VW is fighting to get back on its feet in the U.S. market while also maintaining its huge volumes and leadership roles in Europe and China. Here’s what we know about what’s coming?and what won’t be coming?from Volkswagen in the near term.

GOLF: VW’s global bestseller will debut its long-expected facelift in late 2016, and the updated Golf hatchback will arrive in the U.S. in early 2017 for the 2018 model year. VW’s focus will be on keeping ambitious contenders like the much-improved Opel Astra, the new Chevrolet Cruze, and offerings from Japan and Korea in the rearview mirror. To that end, the most important changes pertain to the user interface: The Golf will be available with a full TFT gauge cluster similar in concept to that on the new Audi TT and R8 as well as the Europe-market Passat. This premium feature will be able to be configured to show a wide, three-dimensional navigation map. And we are told that connectivity will be further improved. Visually, changes will be relatively modest, but they will help the car appear fresh. VW will fix the flimsy-looking bumpers, and there will be new head- and taillights. The optional bixenon units will be history; VW is going LED. Beyond the new instrumentation, there also will be new upholstery choices and materials inside.
Few changes wil...