Wolfsburg, Germany  - Volkswagen is to launch its eagerly awaited new Golf 6 model in October, Europe's biggest carmaker said Tuesday.

Following its introduction in Europe, the company's top-selling car will be sold in Africa, Asia, Australia and North America.

VW chief executive Martin Winterkorn said the company hoped to sell 600,000 of the new model during its first full year of production in 2009.

Last year, VW sold 580,000 of the current Golf 5 model.

In Germany, the cheapest version of the Golf 6 will cost 16,500 euros (25,570 dollars), some 200 euros more than the current model.

Volkswagen has sold more than 26 million Golf cars worldwide since the first model rolled off the production lines in March 1974. (dpa)