New Golf GTI - In Depth

Press Release

Contents:
GTI Fascination
Body
Chassis
Engine
Double-clutch Gearbox
Interior
Standard Equipment
Feature: GTI Seedbed
History of the GTI
The First and Fifth GTI Generation Compared

The Original is Back

• Fast: The Turbo FSI used in the Golf GTI allows it to reach up to 235km/h.
• Unique: GTI nose, GTI sports seats, GTI wheels, GTI cockpit.

The new Golf GTI is coming. Dealers have been taking advance orders since 30 September. Customers can look forward to a GTI of the first order, a real sports Golf, a GTI with the character of the first generation launched in the midseventies. Murat Günak, Volkswagen design chief, sums it up: "This Golf GTI comes full circle - it unites the origins and future of an ingenious idea."

GTI Roots. In June 1976, a 182km/h Volkswagen ruffled a few feathers in the establishment because it democratised Germany's autobahnen. This compact, wild young racer loomed up the rearview mirrors of fast sports cars and big saloons cruising in the fast lane. The first Golf GTI was originally planned as a limited series of 5,000 cars. However, the GTI was simply destined to be a best-seller and quickly became synonymous with nifty sporty compacts. Now the abbreviation GTI no longer denotes a model, but instead a marque. Today 93.2 percent of all Europeans know the GTI. GTI is the Golf for them and the Golf is Volkswagen. Indeed GTI is Volkswagen. The success of these so-called product brands is still a phenomenon despite the simple formula. Its myth seems to be revered. That makes it valuable, fascinating and unique. If you drive a GTI, you do not have to explain anything as you drive the statement, the original, the icon of all sporty compacts that sold over 1.5 million times.

GTI Fascination. The Golf GTI has therefore long become a cult object. GTI stands for driving fun, dynamics and vehicle perfection. Just like in 1976, this applies more than ever with regard to the new GTI. The new model is striking, delivers 147kW/200hp, provides powerful propulsion in low rev ranges (280Nm from 1,800rpm), has a growling engine noise and a chassis that keeps it on track without electronic gimmicks.

GTI Performance. Take one look at the main performance figures and you will soon realise how vehemently the turbo engine breathes GTI fire into this Golf. Equipped with the standard six-speed gear box, the front-driven Golf GTI accelerates to 100km/h in just 7.2 seconds. Furthermore the 235km/h GTI just needs 7.5 seconds to accelerate from 60 to 100km/h in 5th gear. The average consumption is an economic 8.0 litres per 100 kilometres. The version with automatic double-clutch gearbox allows the Golf GTI to sprint from 0 to 100km/h even faster.

The decisive fact is that the Golf GTI vehemently moves forward in virtually any situation. The car responds immediately to the accelerator pedal. It can, of course, be easily dosed to avoid fast starts when driving through towns and in slow-moving traffic. The clutch is light and the double-clutch gearbox is available as an option if you prefer an automatic. TCS helps the car pull away, the respective six-speed gearbox distributes the power and the electro/mechanical steering keeps the car on course.

The only hectic component on board the new Golf GTI is the rev counter needle when you accelerate because it has to indicate the camshaft speed for a new gear every few seconds. At the same time, the speedo needle stoically follows its path towards the top speed. In second gear, the needle advances to 100km/h. Third gear pushes the Golf GTI up to 140 km/h, fourth is active up to 180 km/h, fifth up to 220 km/h and sixth takes care of the rest.

Things are swifter if you chose the DSG instead of the manual gearbox. Free of any traction interruptions, it forms a drive package with the FSI turbo engine that is unmatched outside Volkswagen Group. The Golf GTI is also an excellent cruiser. If you prefer a quiet drive, leave the Volkswagen in sixth gear at the recommended autobahn speed of 130km/h and at 3,000 rpm.

In any case, the harmonious interaction of engine, gearbox and chassis make the GTI particularly exciting. In addition, there are the components that originally defined the first generation of the car, i.e. the stylish sporty exterior and interior. Both have taken a new direction on the new Golf GTI.

The New Golf GTI Body

Any child will immediately recognise this Golf as being a GTI from almost any angle. This applies in particular to the front. For the first time in the almost 30-year history of the GTI, the nose is different to the other Golf models as it has its own radiator grille design. The front features a distinctive GTI look. That means a black radiator grille with a red frame.

GTI Front. The new radiator grille is made up of a honeycomb structure. The same applies to the lower right-hand and left-hand radiator grille sections and fog light mountings that resemble extra air intakes. The bottom and top parts of the radiator grille are divided by a gloss black U-shaped section that forms a smooth connection. The Golf GTI stands firmly on the asphalt with this all-new, powerful design, the integrated front spoiler and the suspension lowered by 15 millimetres. Further GTI styling features include the darkened headlight bezels (bright chrome for Xenon) and, of course, the GTI badge integrated in the radiator grille.

GTI Rear. The striking roof spoiler, the twin exhaust tail pipes (diameter: 2 x 70 millimetres), newly designed lower bumper section and again the GTI badge show that this Golf is a real sports car. The larger rear spoiler in comparison with the Golf Trendline, Comfortline and Highline has (like the front spoiler) a clear aerodynamic function as it increases the downward pressure of the 235km/h Golf GTI on the road.

GTI Profile. GTI trim and design elements also characterise the profile of the car. The standard 17-inch alloy wheels (type "Denver") with 225/45 tyres (optionally available with similar design: 18-inch "Detroit" wheels), the aforementioned 15-millimetre lower chassis, the red brake callipers on the 16-inch brake system combined with ESP, the black widened sill panels and the black high-gloss B-pillar trim all convey the GTI flair when you look at the car from the side.

GTI Colours. The Golf GTI comes in ten colours. "Tornado Red", "Black" and "Diamond Black (Pearl)" as well as "Candy White" are very special. Of course, it is a matter of taste. White was very popular for the first Golf GTI. The new Golf GTI is also available in the colours "Coastal Blue (Pearl)", "Reflex Silver (Metallic)", "Ink Blue", "Steel Grey (Metallic)", "Shadow Blue metallic" and "Laser Blue (Pearl)".

GTI Dimensions. The GTI is a Golf. Therefore it is almost the same length, height and width as all Golfs. There are, of course, differences due to the new nose design and the lowered suspension. While the Trendline, Comfortline and Sportline versions of the Golf are 1.759 metres wide, 1.485 metres tall and 4.204 metres long the Golf GTI has the following dimensions: the width is the same, the height has been reduced 19 millimetres to 1.466 metres and the length has been increased 10 millimetres to 4.216 metres.

GTI Safety and Quality. A millimetre here, a millimetre there: The Golf GTI body has exactly the same safety features as all Golfs. One important aspect of this "five-star car" (EuroNCAP crash test) is the considerable improvement in stiffness compared with the previous GTI model. The dynamic stiffness of the body has been increased 15 percent in terms of torsion and 35 percent in terms of stiffness under flexure. The static torsional stiffness (25,000Nm/°) has even been improved by 80 percent (!) and therefore represents the top value in the segment. On every metre of road, you can feel that the body is not subject to any form of intrinsic movement.

Furthermore, despite the comparatively hard suspension, there is no unpleasant noise or movement in the body. The innovative body-inwhite structure also sets new standards in terms of the noise level. Only the resonant sound of the GTI exhaust can be heard. Also the high body stiffness - in addition to the reconfigured sports chassis - forms the basis for the balanced and agile handling characteristics of the Golf GTI.