With the first generation of the Golf GTI, Volkswagen presents a Golf of the purely sporty type. Despite originally only being planned as a limited series of 5,000, the GTI was simply destined to be a bestseller and quickly became synonymous with nifty sporty compacts. The Golf GTI is no ordinary car – it is also an automotive perspective on the world.Since the debut of the first and the discontinuation of the fifth generation, more than 1.7 million buyers made the GTI to the world’s bestseller. In 2004, the fifth Golf GTI brought back this legend more powerfully than ever before.
Now this is being followed up by the sixth GTI, even sharper and more confident than all of the others before it. A GTI whose chassis systems – with standard electronic transverse differential lock (XDS) – redefines behaviour in curves and traction. A 240 km/h fast GTI that is more fun to drive with its powerful 155 kW / 210 hp turbo engine and yet only consumes 7.4litres super unleaded (0.7 l/100 km improvement). A GTI that delivers audible dynamics with a sound generator and new exhaust system design (two tailpipes, one left and one right).A GTI that successfully transfers the tradition of the original version to the future.
Performance of the GTI
When it comes to emissions and fuel economy, the new 210 hp engine has advanced far ahead of the two previous GTI four-cylinder engines with 200 and 230 hp. To be specific, the 1,984 cm³displacement TSI on the new GTI is content with just 7.4litres fuel per 100 kilometres on average. On the 200 hp GTI, fuel consumption was 8.0 litres, and the 230 hp GTI came in at 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres. So the theoretical range of the sixth GTI is about 750 kilometres between fill-ups.
At 170 g/km, the engine also shows marked improvement in CO² emissions. And the new GTIsucceeds in bridging the gap between a serious business car during the work week, and a competitor on the Nürburgring on the weekend. In this context, it should be noted that the first Golf GTI in 1976 had a power of exactly 81 kW / 110 hp and a top speed of 182 km/h, and at that time it was also one of the few cars to perform this balancing act.
The new GTI successfully addresses these aspects while attending to the property of most interest to GTI buyers – besides the car’s appearance – which is its dynamic performance. At a low 1,700 rpm, the engine already develops its maximum torque of 280 Newton-metre. And this reserve torque is available as a constant value – exhibiting an ideal plateau in the torque curve that is not really a curve any longer – up to 5,200 rpm. In practice, this means impressive power in all of life’s situations. The maximum power of the sixteen-valve engine with 9.6:1 compression ratio can be tapped over a speed range from 5,300 to 6,200 rpm.
Volkswagen has recently launched the 2011 Golf GTI 35 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the iconic sporty company, developed for the momentus occasion – with 173 Kw/235 PS, it is the most powerful GTI ever.
The Golf GTI Edition 35 utilises the engine of the all-wheel drive Golf R, its power adapted to the front-wheel drive. The model outputs the cited 235 PS (25 PS more than the “normal” GTI) and can move at 247 km/h; 6 kg/PS power density. Sporty performance and fuel economy are no contradictions here – and that is how it has always been with the GTI. The standard fuel consumption of the exclusive Golf GTI Edition 35 is just 8.1 l/100 km; shifted by DSG, fuel consumption even improves to 8.0 l/100 km. This makes the Golf GTI Edition 35 one of the most fuel-efficient sports cars in its power class.
The resulting package delivers enormous propulsive force; the car completes its acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.9 seconds, and the new Golf GTI handles a 1,000 meter sprint from a standstill in 27.3 seconds. Just as impressive is the engine’s elasticity. In fifth gear, the Volkswagen accelerates from 80 to 120 km/h in just 7.5 seconds. Even in sixth gear it only takes 9.5 seconds. Not until 240 km/h is a balance reached between air resistance (cw = 0.324) and power. The tachometer indicates 5,900 rpm at this top speed.
Like the previous model, the new GTI has al 6-speed dual clutch transmission (DSG).. In this case, the Golf delivers a top speed of 238 km/h (at 5,920 rpm). Like the manually shifted GTI, the DSG version also accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds. Its average fuel consumption of 7.4 litres (173 g/km CO²) nearly matches the excellent value of the manual transmission (7.4litres).
Yet the numbers themselves only tell half of the story about the dual clutch transmission. The DSG is incredibly fast and precise, and the way in which the Golf GTI with DSG automatically double declutches when downshifting is a joy for any sports car driver. Interesting is the fact that the pedal position on the very first GTI, and of course also on the normal Golf, was laid out so that well-versed car drivers could double declutch properly.
Interior of the GTI
If there is such a thing as total ergonomic perfection, then it is to be found in the new GTI. The ambiance lacks nothing that a person would have in a luxury sedan, nonetheless, the interior is uncompromisingly sporty. The seats offer a high degree of long touring comfort and are equally fit to run a 24-hour race. The GTI is super comfortable, super ergonomic.
The Golf GTI is equipped with standard sport seats, which – as once before – are upholstered in a tartan fabric pattern (“Jacky”). Leather seats (“Vienna”) are available as an option. A lumbar support integrated in the seats is positioned by a lever on the side of the seat. For safety, whiplash-optimized head restraints (WOKS) are also on board. The head restraints precisely counteract whiplash in case of an accident. The GTI logo has been worked into the WOKS material.
Additional features: Naturally, this Golf also has pedals with brushed stainless steel caps, a customized GTI gearshift lever in aluminium look, a leather steering wheel with grip recesses and GTI emblem; naturally there are decorative red seams on the steering wheel, gearshift surround and leather parking brake grip; naturally the roof liner is black, and so is the pillar trim. The decorative inserts in the doors and instruments are also customized with “Black Stripe” style elements – black, high-gloss accents in metallic look. The GTI breaks through class boundaries with its high-end surfaces and features that are pleasing to the touch and the eye. The impression made by the materials and their workmanship, details like brushed chrome accents and elegant round instruments give the impression of actually sitting in a car of the next higher class, or in a far more expensive sports car. In contrast to most sports cars, however, the Golf GTI offers ample space for five persons. Its cargo capacity of between 350 and 1,305 litres also ensures that GTI drivers can handle nearly all of the challenges of daily life with confidence.
The new Golf GTI is now available at all Volkswagen partners in the Middle East region.
