Volkswagen Shows The Car It Did Not Want You To Have: The Golf GTI

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Volkswagen Shows The Car It Did Not Want You To Have: The Golf GTI

When I helped Volkswagen launch its Golf GTI in 1976, Volkswagen wanted to make only 5,000. They wanted to make less, but 5,000 were needed for homologation as a racer. Volkswagen was convinced that no regular person would be nuts enough to buy a little car like that with a 110 hp engine. Boy were they ever wrong. It took well into the 80's for the Golf GTI to come to America. When I said "Americans love muscle cars," the answer was: "Haven't you heard? 55 miles an hour." Wrong again. Today, Volkswagen shows the seventh generation of the archetypical hot hatch. at the Geneva International Motor Show.

With 220 hp, it has twice the power of the first GTI. For the first time, you can have even a little more. The GTI Performance comes with 230 hp and a front axle differential lock. Both are powered by a turbocharged gasoline direct-injection engine (TSI).

In Germany, advance ordering for the new Golf GTI begins on the 5th of March. Prices start at 28,350 euros.

Facts overview:

Market launch in Europe: Initial markets starting May 2013.
Debut of first generation Golf GTI: 1976.
Engine: Four-cylinder TSI (turbocharged direct petrol injection); front transverse engine; displacement 1,984 cc; bore/stroke 82.5/92.8 mm; compression ratio 9.8:1.
Power: 162 kW / 220 PS from 4,500 to 6,200 rpm.
Torque: 350 Nm from 1,500 to 4,400 rpm.
Gearboxes / drive type: Manual 6-speed gearbox; automatic 6-speed DSG; front-wheel drive.
Brakes: Disc brakes front and rear, front 312 x 25 mm, ventilated; rear 300 x 12 mm.
Fuel consumption / CO2 emissions (manual): 6.0 l/100 km;
139 g/km CO2.
Driving performance (manual): 0-100 km/h in 6.5 s; V/max 246 km/h.
Unladen weight: 1,351 kg (base version including driver [68 kg], luggage [7 kg] and 90 % filled fuel tank; calculated as per RL 92/21/EEC.

GTI Performance:

Power: 169 kW / 230 PS from 4,700 to 6,200 rpm.
Torque: 350 Nm from 1,500 to 4,600 rpm.
front axle differential lock (VAQ).
Brakes: Disc brakes front and rear, front 340 x 30 mm, ventilated;
rear 310 x 22 mm, ventilated.
Driving performance (manual): 0-100 km/h in 6.4 s; V/max 250 km/h.