We’ve driven the base model, spied the “concept” and drooled over a smattering of leaked images, but now it’s finally here: the full low-down on Volkswagen’s latest hot hatch flagship, the Golf GTI.
Styling is classic GTI, and is virtually identical to that of the GTI concept that was unveiled in Paris last year. Red-rimmed honeycomb grille? Big rotary-dial alloy wheels? GTI trainspotters will be able to see this one coming from miles away.
They’ll be able to hear it from a distance too. The GTI’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four pot is hooked up to a acoustically-tuned exhaust system which exhales through a pair of tailpipes, while a “sound generator” transfers the engine’s note into the cabin.
But it’s not all about looks and noise. With 155kW and 280Nm the Mk VI GTI certainly isn’t lacking in punch, and the car’s 6.9 second 0-100km/h sprint time and 240km/h top speed certainly speak for themselves.
The torque curve is perhaps even more impressive, with the full 280Nm available from 1700rpm to 5200rpm. That translates to a 80-120km/h dash time of 7.5 seconds - handy when overtaking Grey Nomads on those rural highways.
Environmental performance is also good. The Golf VI GTI chews 7.3 litres of petrol on the combined cycle, and emits just 173 g/km of CO2. Thanks to a host of minor mechanical and electronic revisions, the new GTI’s engine is also Euro V compliant.
A six-speed manual is the standard transmission, although a quick-shifting six-speed DSG twin-clutch is also on offer. The DSG-equipped GTI boasts the same 0-100 time as the manual model, although top speed is down by 2km/h and economy is slightly worse at 7.4 l/100km.
The seven-speed DSG that’s available on lesser models of the petrol-slurping Golf range is not available for the time being, most likely due to the higher torque and power output of the GTI’s engine.
Handling-wise, the new GTI should be a pearler. Electronically-adjustable dampers are standard kit, and the suspension is lower, tauter and more resistant to roll. VW’s XDS electronic LSD is standard too, but being an ESP-based pseudo-LSD it probably won’t thrill Sunday racers as much as a proper mechanical LSD would.
Like the exterior, the interior is chock-full of GTI goodness. Tartan trim, black headliner, a leather steering wheel and red stitching are all standard, and look pretty fetching to boot.
Glossy black trim, alloy pedals and a plethora of GTI emblems are also included, but the rest is standard Golf fare - which is a definite plus, considering the huge leap in interior quality that’s been ushered in by the sixth-gen Golf.
The 2010 Volkswagen Golf GTI will be making its German sales debut in a matter of days, with European deliveries commencing after Easter. The Asian and North American markets will begin receiving their GTI’s in the second half of this year, however it’s uncertain just how long we’ll have to wait for an Australian allocation.
The official word from Volkswagen Australia is that we won’t see it on our shores before the year is out, but we’ll keep pestering them for a solid date. Until then though, check out the full details on the sixth-gen Golf GTI in the press release below.
2010 Volkswagen Golf GTI: Tech Specs, More Pics Released
The Black Hawk
on wheels!!!!
Originally Posted by shakespeare
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