Volkswagen defends Golf GTI

When the head of Hyundai's N division, Albert Biermann, told Australian journalists that "everything" on a Volkswagen Golf GTI would melt after a couple of track laps, it sent social media into a meltdown.

The claims made by the boss of Hyundai N -- whose inaugural model, the upcoming i30 N, will be a direct rival for the iconic Golf hot hatch -- didn't go unnoticed by Volkswagen Australia's managing director, Michael Bartsch, who has fired back.

Bartsch has essentially called the claims made by Biermann, BMW M division's former chief engineer, rubbish.

"Extraordinary claims are being made for supposed rivals that are not yet on sale," stated Bartsch, a former Porsche head honcho.

"While any skunkworks can turn out a track day special, the expertise and experience required to engineer a GTI or an R – cars that also excel in the real world -- is rather more hard won."

This rebuttal came in response to the Hyundai N division boss's claim that "after two laps the fun is over" in a Golf GTI.

The feud is unlikely to be concluded until an independent party, such as motoring.com.au, takes the Hyundai i30 N and track tests it back-to-back with a similarly specified and priced Golf GTI.

Due on sale in April, Hyundai's front-wheel drive i30 N will be available in two specifications, but with just one transmission (manual) and one bodystyle (five-door hatch), although pricing is expected to undercut the Golf GTI's and Hyundai is expected to add a dual-clutch automatic version -- and a hotter all-wheel drive model to tackle the VW Golf R.

The front-drive GTI, meantime, is available with two body styles (three- and five-door hatch, plus a wagon for the Golf R), two transmissions (manual and DSG) and three equipment grades.

The Hyundai i30 N Performance model has a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that belts out 202kW and 353Nm, rising to 378Nm with overboost.

Its price has not yet been confirmed, but Hyundai executives have told motoring.com.au the price will be "competitive with the market leaders."

The most powerful front-drive Volkswagen Golf is the GTI Performance Edition 1 ($47,990), which bangs out 180kW and 370Nm.

However there is now a Golf R Grid Edition ($47,490) available exclusively in Australia as a full-time model in the range -- an all-wheel drive hot hatch that pumps out 213kW and 380Nm, which is closer to the i30 N Performance output.

The timing of the expansion and also price reductions in the Golf GTI and Golf R range late last year came just months before the launch of this year's i30 N.

The expanded Volkswagen Golf hot hatch range now starts at $37,490 for the Golf GTI Original, a three-door manual, and maxes out at $59,990 for the Golf R Wolfsburg wagon with a seven-speed DSG automatic.

The Volkswagen Australia boss went on to say: "When you've owned a GTI or an R, it’s difficult to settle for anything less.

"Volkswagen offers not only the most accomplished fast and fun compact cars in the world, it provides the world's widest range.

"There is now a performance Golf for everyone."

2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R pricing:
GTI Original three-door manual -- $37,490
GTI Original three-door DSG -- $39,990
GTI five-door manual -- $41,990
GTI five-door DSG -- $44,490
GTI Performance Edition 1 three-door DSG -- 47,990
R Grid five-door manual -- $47,490
R Grid five-door DSG -- $49,990
R Grid Wagon five-door DSG -- $51,990
R five-door manual -- $53,490
R five-door DSG -- $55,990
R Wagon DSG -- $57,990
R Wolfsburg five-door DSG -- $57,990
R Wolfsburg Wagon DSG -- $59,990