Diesel Volkswagen Golf GTI
Oil-burning version of new VW Golf GTI hot hatch unveiled; 168bhp and 53mpg
Volkswagen has revealed its diesel Golf hot hatch at the Leipzig motor show.
The Golf GTD gains the company’s 168bhp 2-litre TDI engine which is good for 258lb ft of torque (from a lowly 1750rpm), a 138mph top speed and 0-62mph in 8.1sec if you equip VW's celebrated DSG dual-clutch transmission.
That’s a wee bit off the pace of the petrol-powered 2-litre TSI, but then the GTD will play to different strengths – just 139g/km of carbon emissions, and a reported 53.3mpg. A range of over 650 miles is also touted. Impressive stuff.
It'll be the second part of VW's three-pronged Golf assault on the hot hatch class, following the standard GTI and preceding a hotter R version. It's set to cost less than £22K, undercutting the recently launched mk6 Golf GTI, which kicks off at £22,410. The 2-litre TDI Scirocco undercuts its petrol-powered equivalent by around £500, but has a less endowed 138bhp engine, making the GTD sound good value.
It goes on sale on June 22, a month after the GTI hits UK roads. You can read road test ed Henry Catchpole's view of the all-new GTI in issue 130 of evo, out on April 1.
