THE NEW GOLF GTI is on its way. The first of the new Golfs powered by a 147 kW / 200 PS turbo engine are due to be delivered this autumn. The new model is a thoroughbred GTI following the sporting tradition of its original GTI ancestor, which was unveiled in 1976. Although almost thirty years separate the first and the current fifth generation, the standard remains the same: to give uncompromising driving pleasure.

Like the pioneering original, the present day Golf GTI, available with two or four doors, is dominated by an unmistakeable sports look inside and out, a very dynamic engine and extremely taut suspension.

The GTI letters are an absolute phenomenon: 93.2 percent of all Europeans and 98.5 of Germans associate them with the Golf. GTI = Golf = Volkswagen. Volkswagen has now started the fifth chapter of its GTI success story. The GTI based on the fifth generation Golf takes cues from its ancestor, but reinterprets typical GTI values with fascinating drive and running gear dynamics and a design which combines power with aesthetics.

GTI Engine -To power the Golf GTI, Volkswagen is using a newly developed 2.0 litre FSI turbo engine. The 147 kW / 200 PS direct injection petrol unit with a high-compression ratio of 10.5:1 makes an ideal GTI engine thanks to its dynamic torque curve (280 Nm between 1 800 und 5 000 rpm). With a standard six-speed gearbox, the four cylinders accelerate the Golf GTI to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 7.2 seconds. The GTI goes from 60 km/h (37 mph) to 100 km/h in 5th gear in only 7.5 seconds and reaches its maximum at 235 km/h (146 mph). The Euro 4 engine has an average fuel consumption of a frugal 8.0 litres per 100 kilometres. The extremely quick dual clutch gearbox (DSG) for uninterrupted power in gear changes is available as an option. It enables the Golf GTI to charge to 100 km/h in under 7 seconds (6.9).