10 Jul 06
Don't worry if this sounds technical and confusing, because all the driver needs to do is look at the boost gauge to see that the turbo and supercharger are doing their bit. The only other clue to this engine's character is that, when moving off, you hear the faint click of the magnetic clutch as the supercharger drivebelt engages.
From standstill, the Golf GT will breach 62mph in 7.9seconds and storm on to 137mph - this betters VW's 148bhp 2.0-litre FSI engine, which can only manage 8.9secs and 128mph. Economy for the TSI is 38.2mpg on the combined cycle, compared to 35.3mpg for the 2.0-litre. So unsurprisingly, VW has dropped the 2.0-litre FSI from the Golf's line-up in favour of the TSI.
Driving the GT is a very interesting proposition. You're always thinking that there's only 1.4-litres of engine under the bonnet, but in reality you're chuntering along at a pace that belongs to a much bigger-engined car.
There's no surge of power when the supercharger kicks in, nor any noticeable difference in the power delivery when the supercharger stops working and the turbo takes over, just a smooth surge of power all the way to the redline. Maximum torque is delivered from 1,750 to 4,750rpm so you don't need to continually shuffle between gears to get the most out of the GT.
