Despite the Volkswagen Group embarking on a massive push towards electrification of its range, combustion engines, and diesel ones in this instance, are set to remain part of the lineup for a few more years yet.
The diesel-burning sporty Golf GTD will get a new outing at the Geneva motor show as it joins the eight-generation Golf range. Question marks remain over the long-term future of the Golf as the brand switches to electric models and its MEB platform, with cars like the ID.3 set to play a significant role in the coming years. So far the company has introduced petrol and diesel versions of the Golf, including a mild-hybrid petrol carrying the eTSI badge. A plug-in hybrid GTE model will follow and, of course, there will be a GTI, and a harder-edged GTI TCR model as well as a more potent Golf R.
For now, Volkswagen is keeping schtum on performance figures, saying that it will feature a "significant increase in performance" and will be accompanied by CO2 emissions that have been cut even further. It will stick with a turbocharged four-cylinder setup and will likely be offered with both six-speed manual and automatic DSG transmissions. Like the petrol-powered Golf GTI, the GTD will get some unique styling touches that are likely to include front and rear bumper designs and badging along with a unique version of the famous tartan seat upholstery that Volkswagen adds to its performance models.
One of the cleanest diesel engines Volkswagen has produced
To keep ahead of increasingly stringent emissions regulations in Europe, the new Volkswagen Golf GTD will employ a twin dosing SCR setup with double AdBlue for its exhaust system to reduce NOx emissions as much as possible. Volkswagen says that not only will it emit less than the previous Golf GTD, but it will also be one of the cleanest combustion engines currently on sale.