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Golf GTD R under consideration
Volkswagen's MQB architecture sharing could see BiTurbo TDI power under the Golf's bonnetOne of the upsides to Volkswagen's modular MQB architecture is that engine sharing — both up and down the model range — is now more practicable than ever before.
Speaking at the launch of the eighth-generation Passat this week, Volkswagen head of powertrain development, Hanno Jelden, told motoring.com.au that not only would the Passat receive turbocharged petrol power from the Golf R, but that the direct-injected BiTurbo 2.0 TDI found in the new Passat could also work in the Golf.
"It is possible, of course," Jelden said enthusiastically. "The engine will fit, because of the MQB architecture, but the issue is that is it the heaviest engine currently used in the platform."
The news suggests that Volkswagen could look to reprise the Golf GTD (pictured), which was last sold locally with the Golf Mark VI. Though with 176kW and 500Nm on offer, a twin-turbocharged diesel Golf VII would out-power the current Golf GTI (162kW/350Nm) and Golf R (206kW/380Nm) by a considerable amount.
It would also be the most powerful diesel engine to ever be offered in a production series Golf, out-gunning the previous Golf VI GTD by a staggering 51kW and 150Nm.
Like other R models, a diesel-powered GTD of such magnitude would of course need all-wheel drive, though with "4MOTION in the toolkit", the idea is not as far fetched as it may seem.
"The issue would be with weight," Jelden cautioned. "It is heavy, and in Passat this works, with 4MOTION this works, but in the Golf..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but in discussing the possibility of a new Golf GTD the engineer has planted the seed that the idea is certainly under consideration.
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Written byMatt Brogan
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