Bargain-priced VW Golf 'GTI'

We recently reported on one of the wacky creations turned out by Swiss tuning house Sportec (more here here), but the Zurich-based concern has now conjured up something altogether more sensible.

The vehicle pictured alongside is a Mark VI Golf 1.4-litre TSI (more here) with Sportec’s latest handiwork, a Stage 1 ECU upgrade package that boosts performance to Golf GTI-rivalling levels.

In standard form the turbo/supercharged 1.4-litre TSI engine produces a respectable 118kW and 240Nm, enough to merit 'warm hatch' status, but not enough to elevate performance junkies' pulse rates.

This is where Sportec comes in, as a recalibration of the fuel, ignition timing and boost pressure settings via an extensively proven ECU remap sees power output leap to 149kW at 5000rpm and 286Nm at 1800rpm -- right up there with the latest-gen Golf GTI, which ekes out 155kW and 280Nm.

The company claims the power/torque hike slashes the 0-100km/h sprint from the standard 1.4-litre TSI Golf's 8.2sec split to a much more palatable 6.8sec.

The 0-180km/h dash is also claimed to be dispatched 3.2sec quicker, although the company has neglected to quote the actual figure.

Emissions compliance is retained, claims Sportec, as is the 1.4-litre TSI’s excellent fuel consumption, which increases slightly from 6.3L/100km to 6.7L/100km -- although the conversion does require the use of higher-octane unleaded fuel.

On paper, the Sportec ECU upgrade kit seems like the performance bargain of the decade, as it costs the equivalent of just $1100 in Europe, and the price includes installation and road testing.

The company offers a range of other go-faster goodies and cosmetic add-ons to supplement the engine upgrade kit, and these include free-flow exhausts and beefed-up suspension and brakes.

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