ICONIC HOT HATCH The Golf GTI concept looks production ready

By Justin Lee

A MONTH AFTER the sixth generation Volkswagen Golf was unveiled comes the GTI variant albeit in concept form. The car will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October.

Powering the GTI concept is a 2.0-litre TSI engine developing 210bhp – a gain of 10bhp over the 200bhp produced by the fifth generation GTI’s 2.0-litre unit. The GTI concept’s 0-100km/h is achieved in 7.2 seconds and its top speed is pegged at 238km/h.

The GTI concept gets modified strut type front and multi link rear suspension which are adopted from the Golf. Specially tuned springs, dampers and anti-roll bars are joined, for the first time on the GTI, by the optional Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC) which comprises adjustable pneumatic dampers. With three settings ranging from comfort to normal to sport, the ACC system is able to remap the car’s steering and throttle response.

It has clear visual links with the first GTI that was launched in 1976 and this is apparent in the red grille surround that echoes the one found on the original, along with the horizontal grille fins and headlights that feature individual lamp pods behind a translucent cover. At the rear of the GTI concept, there are smoked rear lamps, a diffuser and a pair of chrome exhaust pipes.

The car is shod with 18-inch ‘telephone dial’ alloy wheels from the outgoing GTI. It is finished in milled silver with gloss black inserts.

Inside, there are features such as a flat-bottomed steering wheel finished in black leather with contrasting red stitching, a set of sports seats finished in grey tartan cloth, unique instruments and gloss black dashboard and door trim inserts framed by silver highlights.

The GTI concept is equipped with a high level of standard equipment including seven airbags, climate control and Electronic Stability Program (ESP).

Production of the sixth generation GTI will start early next year.