Thursday 7th September 2023

Up to 190hp and 145mph for Golf Black Edition

New trim level unites mid-tier 2.0-litre TSI with 4Motion for sleeper-grade performance

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Sometimes it can feel like the only news out of VW right now is momentous shifts in direction. New names, new segments, new powertrains, new everything. Calming things down just a tad is the Black Edition, nothing more than a new member of the Golf lineup that does exactly what it says on the tin. Look elsewhere today for shock and awe; fans of safe and steady VW, right this way…

Because seemingly no model range in 2023 is complete without a Black Pack, Line, Kit, Badge or whatever, the Edition offers up more of what seemingly so many customers want. Note the black 18-inch Bergamo wheels - unique to this model, not that you can see that - a Black Style Package (including black mirror caps) and tinted glass. Even the colour palette is sombre: Moonstone Grey, Pure White, Urano Grey, Dolphin Grey Metallic and Deep Black Pearl. No surprises in the spec at least. Additional equipment for this model that sits between R-Line and GTE includes front sports seats, interior ambient lighting, R-Line body-coloured bumpers and LED Plus headlights.

There’s a little more intrigue in the powertrain department. Because alongside a pair of 1.5s (a standard ICE with a six-speed and a mild hybrid with DSG, both 150hp strong), there’s an engine and gearbox combo unique to the Black Edition. That’s the 190hp 2.0-litre TSI with seven-speed DSG and 4Motion, capable of 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds and 145mph. This isn’t far off GTI pace, thanks, no doubt, to superior traction off the line. Don’t forget how tuneable that TSI is, either - there’s certainly some sleeper potential in the Black Edition, given it looks just as unassuming as models further down the hierarchy.

VW says that the extras for this car should add £2,900 to the price of an R-Line, yet is offering it for just £1,500 more - or from £31,985. The 190hp car comes in at £36,320, making it more than £3k less than a GTI. If straight-line performance is a priority (or you're convinced the weather is about to take a catastrophic turn for the worst) there’s surely something to be said for the new Black Edition. It’s on sale from today.

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• First electric VW GTI revealed at IAA
• 2021 VW Golf R Performance Pack (Mk8) | PH Review

[Motormouth88]

That’s a bit of a yawn fest

[kambites]

Well I suppose at least it's actually black, unlike most other manufacturers' "black editions".

[grudas]

alexa "draw me a car"

[theicemario]

Boring car, boring spec. Result

[pb8g09]

I’d have this with a remap over a GTi.

Shoot me

[T1berious]

Or take that 36k and get an M2 Competition? Agreed its not comparing like with like but that sounds like a deeply dull way to spend that sort of cash.

[pb8g09]

T1berious said:

Or take that 36k and get an M2 Competition? Agreed its not comparing like with like but that sounds like a deeply dull way to spend that sort of cash.

Or buy a used MX-5/Boxster/Cayman/Z4 and a 280 4x4 Superb…

You’re opening Pandora’s box here. Hope it closes asap before the thread descends into chaos!

[fantheman80]

pb8g09 said:

I’d have this with a remap over a GTi.

Shoot me

Is it the E888? 36K plus £400 for map, see about 240bhp with 4wd - interesting. No warranty of course..

[Shiv_P]

T1berious said:

Or take that 36k and get an M2 Competition? Agreed its not comparing like with like but that sounds like a deeply dull way to spend that sort of cash.

or get an Audi S8, L405 Range Rover, Escort Cosworth, 205 GTI used, etc

[AmyRichardson]

Looks like a mildly buffed lump of coal.

[theicemario]

AmyRichardson said:

Looks like a mildly buffed lump of coal.

Imagine thinking a black on black 5 door Golf is cool

[C5_Steve]

Think this belongs in the "...a bit council" thread......

Not a great look for some reason.

[corcoran]

God, it's ugly.

[Water Fairy]

Darker than the Black Hole of Calcutta, slightly less cramped, but just as undesirable

[flukey5]

As if the golf already wasn't a car for NPCs, they made the official NPC edition.

Gotta give them credit for knowing their demographic.

[CKY]

Can't wait for the usual "Aww i'd remap dat brooo, tek it down Revo and get a stage 4.20 chop n-e-fing this side of a GTR man"

[Honourable Dead Snark]

Looks like a shoe. Not a particularly exciting shoe either.

[nismo48]

grudas said:

alexa "draw me a car"

[konster296]

Nice to see that VW are doing this. I quite like these sleeper trim models. Reminds me of the time when they use to put the 2.0 TFSi in the A3. I think I would have this over a 220i coupe which is roughly the same money new.

[BrownEaredDog]

grudas said:

alexa "draw me a car"

Spot on