Quickest ever VW Golf GTI for Oz

We first saw it as a concept at Volkswagen's annual Worthersee fan meet in May 2015 and then as a production car at last September's Frankfurt motor show; now Volkswagen has confirmed its special 40th anniversary Golf for Australia.

Designed to celebrate four decades of the Golf GTI since 1976, the Golf GTI 40 Years edition follows special-editions to mark 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of the iconic German hot hatch, but it won't go by its European name, Golf GTI Clubsport, in Australia because HSV owns that nameplate here.

Nor will Australians have access to the three-door Golf GTI Clubsport sold in Europe -- or any other Golf three-door for that matter, as the five-door continues to be the only Golf sold in Australia.

However, Volkswagen's latest GTI special will be the most powerful Golf available when it arrives here in limited numbers from June.

With 195kW on tap, it's significantly more powerful than not only the standard Golf GTI (162kW) and the Golf GTI Performance (169kW), but also the range-topping Golf R, which is detuned from 221kW to 206kW in Australia because of our 'hot climate' status.

That's because, for the first time in a Golf, the 40-year edition's EA888 direct-injection TSI 2.0-litre turbo-four will come with a turbo overboost function that delivers peak power of 213kW and maximum torque of 380Nm for 10 seconds at a time.

That makes the front-wheel drive Golf GTI 40 Years edition significantly quicker than the Golf GTI Performance, with a 0-100km/h time of just six seconds in six-speed manual form, dropping to 5.9 sec in six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic form.

The all-wheel drive Golf R remains the fastest Golf, however, with a 0-100km/h time of five seconds, although the special-edition tops out at the same 250km/h.

Volkswagen Group Australia spokesman Kurt McGuiness said the initial local allocation of 40th anniversary models would be limited to DSG versions, but manual vehicles could also become available.

"We're working on how many cars we can get," he said. "Numbers will be limited and there's a chance we may get some manuals too. Customer demand always helps with the kind of allocation we get."

Apart from its guaranteed exclusivity, the 40th anniversary Golf will also offer outstanding value, with a price of $48,990 plus on-road costs for the DSG -- $2500 more than the Golf GTI Performance (from $46,490) but more than $4000 less than the Golf R manual ($52,740 plus ORCs).

For the money, the Golf GTI 40 Years also brings the same basic mechanical package as the GTI Performance, including bigger brakes, a sophisticated front differential lock, unique 19-inch alloy wheels and adaptive chassis control.

There's also a unique bodykit that Volkswagen says delivers more downforce, comprising a new front bumper with larger air intakes, a revised rear bumper with new diffuser and a two-piece rear roof spoiler, highlighted by a black body side stripe and the choice of traditional Tornado Red and Pure White paint.

Inside, there's unique anniversary ‘honeycomb’ seat upholstery featuring the GTI logo, decorative inlays and an Alcantara-covered steering wheel and door trim inserts.

Other unique features include the choice of gloss paint finishes with a contrasting black roof or metallic paint finish, black door mirrors, larger outboard exhaust outlets, darkened LED tail-lights like the Golf R's, extended side sills, traditional GTI-theme red stitching on wheel, seat belts and floor mats and front door sill strips with new GTI emblem.

Standard safety features will include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Front Assist with City Emergency Brake (City EB) and Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert. The only option will be a panoramic electric glass sunroof, for $1850 and the order book is open now.