Volkswagen has unveiled the new 2013 Mk 7 Golf GTI hot hatch ahead of its full Geneva Motor Show debut next month. The new GTI is near-identical to the thinly-veiled GTI Concept that was revealed at the Paris International Motor Show last year. The grand-daddy of hot hatches will go on sale in Europe in the coming months, but Volkswagen South Africa has confirmed to us that the local debut for the Mk 7 GTI will be, “…early in the third quarter,” pegging it around July / August.
Volkswagen will start taking orders for the Mk 7 Golf GTI in early March in Germany, and May for Europe. Prices in those markets are starting from €28 350 or R327 500 in a direct currency conversion, although we do expect the Volkswagen Golf 7 GTI to cost a lot more by the time it arrives on South African shores. We sincerely hope it doesn’t cross over the R400 000 price barrier (without options atl least -Ed.).
All the glorious styling tweaks that discern the Mk 7 GTI from a standard Mk 7 Volkswagen Golf are in attendance. Cast your eye over the iconic red garnish and GTI badging, the lower and wider sports body kit (with pseudo rear diffuser), the smoked LED tail-lights and bigger alloy wheels. Standard features in European trim include 17-inch ‘Brooklyn’ alloy wheels wrapped in 225/45 rubber, as well as red-painted brake calipers.
Twin chrome exhaust tips also help discern the Mk 7 GTI, as does the lowered, sports-tuned suspension package. The new alloy wheel pattern is the most obvious difference between the Mk 5 and Mk 6 GTIs that have come before it and we hope the wheels can be inched up a bit to 18-inch or even 19-inch offerings on the options list.
What’s happening inside the GTI cabin? Well, there’s a new ‘Clark’ tartan pattern (yes, we like that retro-nod very much), black headliner, red ambient lighting, a reshaped sports steering wheel, GTI badging, stainless steel pedals and special trim inserts. Automatic climate control is standard, along with Park Assist, a touchscreen infotainment system and, depending on the market, heated front seats.
What about what’s under the bonnet? Well, for the first time in the VW GTI Golf’s 37-year history, the iconic German hot hatch will be offered with a higher-spec ‘GTI Performance’ version, over and above the conventional GTI. Both variants are still powered through the front wheels by a 2.0-litre direct-injection turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine, and although we’ve heard mixed reports of the absolute power figures, we can expect in the region of 162 – 164 kW for the standard GTI, with 169 – 172 kW for the GTI Performance model.
The Volkswagen Golf 7 GTI will be offered with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed dual-clutch (DSG) transmission. The standard Volkswagen Golf GTI produces its power between 4 500 – 6 200 r/min and maximum torque of 350 Nm between 1 500 – 4 400 r/min. The result is a 0 – 100 km/h benchmark sprint of around 6.5 seconds for the three-pedal version, with combined cycle fuel consumption of 6.0 L/100 km.
These figures make the Golf 7 GTI more than four-tenths quicker and 22 percent more fuel efficient than the outgoing Golf 6 GTI. Although it never felt slow, the Mk 6 GTI was motivated by 155 kW and 280 Nm, so a satisfying 70 Nm increase in torque and modest increase in power will almost certainly be felt from the driver’s seat.
The Volkswagen Golf GTI Performance model, with as much as 172 kW, produces its power between 4 700 – 6 200 r/min, while the torque figure remains unchanged at 350 Nm. The performance upgrade slices one-tenth off the standard GTI’s 0 – 100 km/h time at 6.4 seconds and adds 4 km/h to the top speed at 250 km/h. Best of all, the GTI Performance upgrade doesn’t impact the fuel consumption figures because, for the first time, the GTI includes automatic engine stop/start technology. As a result, the new GTI meets Euro 6 emissions standards, with 139 g/km and 150 g/km resulting, depending on the choice of gearbox.
One other bit of technology you’ll find on the Mk 7 GTI Performance is responsible for honing the always crisp GTI handling. The Performance GTI scores a front axle differential lock for improved traction, as well as larger brakes for enhanced stopping ability. The standard GTI employs 312 mm discs up front and 300 mm units at the rear, while the Performance GTI variant boasts larger 340 mm and 310 mm discs at the front and rear respectively.
As always, it appears on paper as though the Opel Astra OPC and RenaultSport Megane hot hatch competitors have the Volkswagen Golf GTI well-beat in the power and torque stakes. Buyers will now need to spend even more to get the most urgent and agile Performance GTI, but does that really matter? There is only one Volkswagen Golf and there is only one Volkswagen Golf GTI and it’s coming to S.A. soon.
