RE: Paris 2012: Volkswagen Golf GTI concept

RE: Paris 2012: Volkswagen Golf GTI concept

Thursday 27th September 2012

Paris 2012: Volkswagen Golf GTI concept

If it's a concept where are the gullwing doors and jet packs then? Oh. It's not.



Volkswagen is officially calling it a concept, but then it's also saying that this Golf GTI will go on sale in Europe early next year, arriving in the UK next summer.

It’s still a 2.0-litre turbo, running a development of the EA888 direct-injection turbo engine (plus manual or DSG gearboxes), but producing 10hp more with a new output of 220hp. More interesting still, Volkswagen has also confirmed a ‘performance pack’ version, boosting power to 230hp.

Plaid interior? Check...
Plaid interior? Check...
How fast is it? The standard 220hp car takes 6.6 seconds to reach 62mph from a standstill, with the 230hp performance pack cutting 0.1sec from this and hoisting the top speed to 155mph.

More significantly, the performance pack model also gets 17-inch front discs, an inch larger than standard, plus a development of VW’s active front diff which engineering chief Dr Ulrich Hackenberg confirmed will significantly reduce understeer. VW calls it VAQ.

How potent is the performance pack variant? Well, it’s already been timed at 13 seconds quicker than the standard car around the Nurburgring. What was that about it being a mere concept again? Alas, VW hasn’t yet confirmed how the performance pack cars will be branded. We like the press pack suggestion of ‘stage 1’ and ‘stage 2’ though…

The world's least futuristic concept car...
The world's least futuristic concept car...
More sensibly, the Golf GTI is a more easily justifiable hot hatch, thanks to a big jump in fuel efficiency. The standard model averages 47.1mpg and emits just 140g/km CO2 – huge improvements on the current car which has been criticised for its thirst relative to newer rivals.

And the looks? Well, it’s a Golf GTI. You’ll know how it looks without even seeing it. Still, the Mk5-led differentiation continues here with plenty of GTI addenda, although we’re not quite sure about the extended red stripe on the headlights. OK, it references the wide grille of Mk 1 and 2 GTIs, but also looks a bit… odd.

Good job the rest of the car is so on the money.

Author
Discussion

Hellbound

Original Poster:

2,500 posts

175 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
I'd always choose a Golf over an A3. Don't really know why, it's just a default choice of mine.

Wish I was at the Paris show. One of the things I enjoy are the goofball choreographed shows that often come with car launches. Oh, and the fit lady dancers being very erm, impressive.







The 'red stripe through headlights' seems to be a crazy departure from the norm.



Edited by Hellbound on Thursday 27th September 13:21

nightwalker

3,553 posts

186 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
Hmm, not convinced with the looks at all.. The MK6 looks great, especially in the Golf R spec but this looks like a mini Toureg from the rear shot!

SprintSpeciale

432 posts

144 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
It becomes increasingly different to tell which is a Golf and which is a Polo. Save a packet and buy the smaller one.

Hub

6,413 posts

197 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
Subtle evolution rather than revolution - if it ain't broke etc

I see that more manufacturers are trying to get on board with the aftermarket tuning thing these days too.

astrsxi77

302 posts

220 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
I might paint the skirting board in the hall this weekend.

mmm-five

11,227 posts

283 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
Article said:
More significantly, the performance pack model also gets 17-inch front discs, an inch larger than standard
17-inch discs? That's bigger than the ones on a Veyron!

Hellbound

Original Poster:

2,500 posts

175 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
SprintSpeciale said:
It becomes increasingly different to tell which is a Golf and which is a Polo. Save a packet and buy the smaller one.
An AWD Polo R based on the S1/A1 quattro would be great.

Richard A

181 posts

175 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
Hellbound said:
I'd always choose a Golf over an A3. Don't really know why, it's just a default choice of mine.
I'm inclined to agree, somehow the A3 in its various guises has never quite looked right + I still think Audi's big mouth looks a bit silly and loads a lot of visual weight on the front of the cars that the elegant pre 'big mouth' Audis didn't have.

Having said that, although I may well plump for one of the performance Golfs in a year or so, I'm slightly underwhelmed. I had thought that the MQB architecture would have supported something a bit 'cleverer' in terms of weight loss and layout.

The German press have also been reporting the somewhat unimpressive 'Werkstuning' pack. Maybe the UK (traditionally the receiver of equipment bundling in the standard spec, when compared with the continent) might get 230PS from the off.

DeltaEvo2

868 posts

191 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
Look at that interior...

Hellbound

Original Poster:

2,500 posts

175 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
GreenPeace apparently disrupted the official unveiling of the Golf with a banner.


Regiment

2,799 posts

158 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
Hellbound said:
GreenPeace apparently disrupted the official unveiling of the Golf with a banner.

Reading some of the reports from the event, a few people thought that was part of the show. Why wouldn't Greenpeace like the Golf, it's boring and economical?

CDP

7,454 posts

253 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
astrsxi77 said:
I might paint the skirting board in the hall this weekend.
Plain white gloss?

Interesting. Like a Golf.

Changedmyname

12,543 posts

180 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
230hp has been out since the mk5 in the ED30,so nothing new here then.

Now 265hp in a Gti that is a lot better no?

Thicko

3,850 posts

225 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
Hellbound said:
GreenPeace apparently disrupted the official unveiling of the Golf with a banner.

An appropriately restrained banner for a restrained concept car.

I like it, though. The car, not the banner.

I did always think that these always made more than their headline figures. The one in the Fifth Gear fuel test made 235bhp on normal petrol while evo mag have recorded similar in the past

Twoshoe

847 posts

183 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
mmm-five said:
Article said:
More significantly, the performance pack model also gets 17-inch front discs, an inch larger than standard
17-inch discs? That's bigger than the ones on a Veyron!
Yes, I wondered about that. Are they mounted slightly inboard or something? Otherwise I don't understand how there would be enough room for the caliper 'within' the wheel.

steebo888

784 posts

197 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
The standard model averages 47.1mpg


from a 220 bhp 2.0 turbo? thats quite good if true

steebo888

784 posts

197 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
Twoshoe said:
mmm-five said:
Article said:
More significantly, the performance pack model also gets 17-inch front discs, an inch larger than standard
17-inch discs? That's bigger than the ones on a Veyron!
Yes, I wondered about that. Are they mounted slightly inboard or something? Otherwise I don't understand how there would be enough room for the caliper 'within' the wheel.
must have some bling bling 22 inch rims for that size discs

the-photographer

3,479 posts

175 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
Changedmyname said:
230hp has been out since the mk5 in the ED30,so nothing new here then.

Now 265hp in a Gti that is a lot better no?
That will be the motor in the recently released S3 (and forthcoming R).

E38Ross

34,946 posts

211 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
SprintSpeciale said:
It becomes increasingly different to tell which is a Golf and which is a Polo. Save a packet and buy the smaller one.
What a daft comment. Like saying the A4 looks like an A8 so buy an A8.

Steve vRS

4,836 posts

240 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
I really like that. It looks mean yet understated and the performance with the economy sound like an ideal daily driver package. Isn't the mk7 lighter than the mk5?

Shame it will cost £35k.

Steve