If you can’t wait for the Mk7 Golf GTI (due this summer), then Volkswagen has something almost as sporty to tempt you with. The latest Golf GTD, which debuts at next month’s Geneva Motor Show and goes on sale in June – just a month or so ahead of its petrol-powered sibling.

Based on the seventh generation Golf, which is up to 100kg lighter than its predecessor, the new GTD is powered by VW’s 2.0-litre common rail turbodiesel engine producing 181bhp at 3500rpm and 280lb-ft (380 Nm) of torque from 1,750 rpm. (13bhp and 22lb-ft better than the Mk6 GTD)

With a kerb weight of 1,377 kg the GTD’s performance is noticeably better than its predecessor, with 0-62mph improving by 0.6 to 7.5 seconds, while top speed rises to 142 mph.

Volkswagen-Mk7-Golf-GTD_G1

As you’d expect, the real gains are to be found in the GTD’s fuel efficiency – combined fuel consumption is now 67.3mpg with CO2 emissions of only 109 g/km. With the optional six-speed DSG these figures drop to 60.1 mpg and 119 g/km CO2 (or 122 g/km CO2 for the five-door).

The GTD looks almost identical to the GTI except for the absence of ‘red’ trim on the upper front bumper, grill badge and tartan sports seats. Otherwise you’ll find smoked LED rear lights, chrome dual tailpipes, 17-inch alloy wheels with 225/45 tyres, side skirts, a rear diffuser, sports suspension and a large roof spoiler.

In addition to those tartan sports seats, the GTD also features black roof lining, sports steering wheel, stainless steel pedals, GTD-specific gear lever, trim strips and instrument cluster.

The new Golf GTD is available in Germany at an entry-level price of 29,350 euros, or around the same price as a 2.0 TSI Scirocco. That would pitch it somewhere near £25,000 here in the UK.


Written By

Avatar
Steve Davies

Steve is an investor, private equity advisor and former Partner at KPMG, PwC and Bain.   Most importantly he's a life-long car enthusiast, mountain biker and active sports enthusiast. He designs and builds technology platforms and is the architect behind Transmission.

More from this author

Try These Next

Stories we think you'll enjoy

Privacy Preference Center

%d bloggers like this: