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Volkswagen Golf GTI Gallery
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Return to greatnessIt was curious, what happened to the Golf GTI. Versions one and two, from the model's 1976 invention to 1991, were at the top of their game, honed hot hatches that pretty much defined their genre. Then, as we all know, things went soft and the lowest-level Mk4 GTI was barely worthy of the name. In fact it was only called GTI in the UK, the land most loyal to the breed. Elsewhere it was a Trendline. Nasty.
"Yes, we had a little bit decaffeinated the GTI," says Jörn Hinrichs, Volkswagen's marketing head. But he and his colleagues know that times have changed, buyers are fed up with being browbeaten by car-haters and green guilt, and the hot hatchback is cool again. And this time the GTI, using as its template the Golf Mk5, is just what we'd hoped it would be: a proper, driver-focused, loud'n'proud pleasure machine with all the core GTI values intact.
Its 2.0-litre, turbocharged, FSI engine delivers 200bhp. It also develops exactly twice the torque of the original 1.6-litre Mk1 GTI's engine, while most of the time consuming no more fuel. It has a six-speed gearbox, or rather a choice of two: manual or double-clutch sequential DSG. With the latter transmission the GTI hits 62mph in under seven seconds thanks to the faster shift speed.
The visuals are anything but apologetic; this time it's as easy as it was two decades ago to spot a GTI version of the Golf. The nose section is unique, with a honeycomb grille and a trio of deep air intakes, and there's black edging to the body's lower surfaces. Big five-hole wheels and proud exhaust pipes emphasise the message, and inside there's a black headlining and seats trimmed in a more sober version of the Mk1's tartan plaid. There are no Golf badges, just seriffed GTI ones as seen on the first three generations.
Naturally, the suspension is lowered and stiffened and the electric power steering is designed to feel more 'connected'. A 160bhp 2.0 TDI version is slated to join the range later. For now, though, join us at a very wet Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France, and the roads around and about, to discover if the new GTI has inherited the right genes. The weather dried out later, by the way.
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