GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: New Volkswagen Golf hot hatches previewed

Volkswagen has given us our first official look at the performance versions of the Volkswagen Golf Mk8.

This single pic of the new Volkswagen Golf GTD, released ahead of the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel hot hatch's launch at the Geneva motor show next month, provide visual clues for not only the forthcoming 2021 Golf GTI but the Golf R performance flagship.

Featuring a full-length LED light bar that that stretches from one side of the car's front-end to the other, the GTD's snout is dominated by a huge lower air intake that sports a hexagonal grille design.

Instead of dividing the air with additional blades, Volkswagen has favoured a 'clean' design that's not even interrupted by the fog lights that feature five individual LED light elements embedded within the grille.

Volkswagen hasn't released any more details regarding the Golf GTD, other than say its "significant increase in performance" is accompanied by the "lowest emissions".

This is thanks to the car-maker's latest Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) tech, which features double AdBlue injection that's claimed to slash NOx emissions.

It hasn't been revealed how powerful the new Golf GTD is, but thanks to a leak of what's believed to be an internal document, we know the turbo-diesel-powered hot hatch will produce around 147kW.

Like before, the GTD will be strictly front-wheel drive and available with either a six-speed manual or dual-clutch automatic transmission.

While the new new Volkswagen Golf GTD is unlikely to make it Down Under, it is expected to share its striking new look with the next Golf GTI.

Both hot hatches will be fully revealed at the Geneva motor show on March 3, before going on sale in Europe by June.

The new Volkswagen Golf GTI will be launched in Australia alongside the mainstream Golf 8 line-up in the fourth quarter of this year.