What's the news?
Volkswagen has announced that the Golf GTI will join the previously revealed GTD model on its stand at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. Looking largely similar to the 'concept' seen in Paris the new car will boast 220hp, but a factory fit performance pack is amongst the options.
Exterior
Styling wise the GTI will remain largely loyal to the concept that was shown at the Paris Motor Show with the signature red stripe running along the front grille and into the headlights. Further differentiating the GTI from the rest of the Golf range (and even the GTD) will be two chrome tailpipes either side of the rear diffuser, red brake calipers, 18-inch 'Austin' alloy wheels, smoked tail lights and sports suspension.
Interior
Fans of the GTI will rejoice with the news that the tartan 'Clark' sports seats make a welcome return and an interior that will be bathed in red ambience lighting. Trim wise the GTI will get a bespoke sports steering wheel, gear lever and instrument cluster, trim strips and stainless steel pedal caps while the specification is thought to include equipment such as 'Composition Media' DAB-equipped infotainment system with Bluetooth, and dual-zone climate control.
Mechanicals
The new GTI will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged TSI engine that offers 220hp, 350Nm of torque, a 0-100km/h time of 6.4 seconds and, thanks to the weight saving of the new Golf and standard fitment of stop-start, 47mpg (44.1mpg with DSG) and emissions of just 139g/km (148g/km with DSG). This would put the six-speed manual car in tax Band B2 - far ahead of the competition.
A performance pack that boosts power to 230hp, adds larger brake discs and replaces the electronic XDS system with a mechanical limited-slip differential does not, for the moment at least, look to be offered on the Irish market.
All told the Mk7 Golf GTI will be 18 per cent more frugal than its predecessor despite being noticeably quicker.
Anything else?
Volkswagen Ireland had annonced that the new GTI will arrive in Ireland in June priced from €33,595 - some €1,500 cheaper than the recently announced GTD model - with a five-door DSG-equipped car likely to tip the scales at €36,500.