GTI: fastest, fitter and more frugal

Faster and fitter than ever before, the new Volkswagen GTI looks set to throw the cat amongst the hot hatch pigeons. And though it may not have the sheer horsepower to lead the segment, Volkswagen is determined the new performance small car icon will top the class with a mix of efficiency and all round ability.

The new GTI builds on the refinement, safety, chassis and powertrain advanced of the latest Golf 6. To be launched in Australia in late 2009, the car was premiered in St Tropez on the French Riviera this week and goes on sale in Europe in early April.

With 'just' 155kW, the new Golf betters the outgoing Golf 5 GTI's 147kW but is still 14kW behind the limited edition Pirelli GTI currently offered Down Under. Though this power figure would suggest a tweaked version of the existing 2.0 TFSI powerplant, according to VW's boffins, the engine is a development of the new 'EA888' four-cylinder TSI series.

"This engine -- optimised for transverse mounting in the new GTI -- has new components such as modified pistons and piston rings, a regulated oil pump, a new vacuum pump, a new high-pressure fuel pump and a new mass airflow sensor," VW's launch blurb states, confirming the powerplant has more in common with the Audi A4's four-cylinder petrol turbo engines than the rest of the Golf range.

At a claimed 7.3L/100km in European testing the new six-speed manual GTI is 0.7L/100km more economical than the outgoing 147kW model and nearly a 1.0L/10km more frugal than the Pirelli GTI. The six-speed DSG is rated at 7.4L/100km thanks to Euro legislation that penalises 'automatics' say insiders.

That doesn't mean the GTI's lost sight of its performance role, however -- more an indicator of the efficiency of the new package. With its 280Nm peak torque produced as low as 1700rpm and held through to 5200rpm, and peak power available from 5300-6200rpm, the six-speed manual GTI and its DSG equivalent (also a six-speeder) both knock off the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.9sec. This compares to 7.2sec for the current manual model and is unchanged for the DSG version.

Top speed is now 240km/h, with the DSG-equipped variant a shade slower.

VW claims the real secret of the car's on-road performance, however, is its midrange grunt. In fifth gear, the manual GTI accelerates from 80-120 km/h in 7.5sec. The same bracket in sixth takes just 2sec more. Peak torque is developed earlier than the Golf 5 version and stays longer -- the result is a car with a lusty midrange. And one that's faster than it feels.

A final verdict on how the car will compare to the 190kW heft of the new Mazda 3 MPS and the 165kW-plus of the Focus XR5 will have to wait until we can get our hands on a car(s) Down Under. VW's 'Mr Golf', Technical Project Manger for the Golf program, Rolf Trump is not perturbed by the horsepower deficit, however.

"The GTI is about offering an overall package rather than addressing a horsepower shortfall," Trump commented.

Lighter than the car it replaces (-18kg) and safer (in the latest revised Euro NCAP testing, Golf 6 received the highest overall rating of any vehicle), the new GTI remains front-wheel drive only and features a lowered and retuned version of the revised MacPherson strut front/multilink IRS rear that debuted in the Golf 6 'cooking' models.

It also boasts a specially tuned version of VW's Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC). An option in Europe, DCC could yet be fitted as standard equipment Down Under -- the decision is still to be made Volkswagen Australia officials say.

Standard, however, will be XDS. An electronic transverse 'differential lock', XDS takes the place of the mechanical limited slip differentials fitted in hot hatches like the Megane RS and special MINI Cooper S models. Using the brakes to apportion drive (the diff itself is 'open'), the system also 'communicates' with the GTI's standard stability control system.

VW says XDS endows the GTI with manners that are "significantly more precise and neutral" -- an opinion we'd endorse after sampling the tight and twisty roads near St Tropez.

The company also states XDS produces characteristics which it says drivers perceive "more like the handling characteristics of a car with all-wheel drive than those of front-wheel drive". Certainly understeer is well controlled, but the limits of the system could be approached reasonably readily on the perfect bitumen we encountered. According to GTI ambassador and former F1 and sportscar star, Hans Joachim Stuck, the stability control system is not able to be completely switched off. (More on this in our launch drive).

The new GTI gets a bespoke exhaust system that's specially tuned to be sporty, without irritation on longer tours, says VW. The car also uses a "sound generator" to ensure "that the sonorous engine acoustics are perfectly 'mixed' in the car's interior as well".

Key GTI cues are present in the new 6, and though overall its styling is derivative of the car it replaces, it is a new car inside and out. The trademark red-lined grille returns though in the context of the new VW 'face' as pioneered in last year's Sirocco coupe and reinforced in the latest Polo. Gloss black front-end detailing also sets the GTI apart from lesser Golfs, though not to the extent of previous generations.

At the rear there's a punchy, functional diffuser, enlarged hatch-top spoiler and big bore twin exhausts. Rear park assist will also be standard and there's a reversing camera that 'hides' under the rear centre VW logo on high-spec versions.

Inside, tartan trim is a GTI must, though most Aussie GTIs will no doubt be delivered with the safe and sane, but sombre, full leather option. The higher levels of fit and finish rolled out in the Golf 6 range generally are honed even further in the GTI -- and yes, the silly flat-bottomed steering wheel has returned.

The GTI will feature seven airbags as standard and like the other 6s a much wider range of optional convenience equipment will be offered on the new GTI (for more check out our international coverage of the main Golf 6 range here). As well as the abovementioned DCC, an auto park function, active cruise control, active headlamps and a host of features normally found in cars a class higher than the Golf will be available -- at a price!

With the latest Golf 6 range competitively priced at the entry-level but more expensive at higher spec levels (more here), the question mark over the GTI is whether Volkswagen Australia will be able to retain its current pricetags.

With no three-door manual model in the launch line-up (see below), the sub-$40K sticker goes out the window.

Currently the cheapest Mk5 GTI five-door kicks off at $40,490. Therefore we'd expect by year end the new model could be up to $2500 more expensive when it lobs in quarter four.

The GTI currently accounts for around a quarter of all Golf sales Down Under -- the lion's share DSG-equipped models, with five-door variants accounting for the majority of purchases.

Volkswagen Australia's General Manager Press and PR, Karl Gehling, confirmed that the GTI will launch as a five-door-only Down Under.

"We'll launch with five-door only, however, we have offered three-door GTIs and we're not going to rule out that a three-door won't join the range in the future.

Gehling said it was "too early" to speculate on pricing on the Golf 6 GTI.

Look out for our full launch review of the new Golf GTI soon.