41 years after the debut of the Golf GTI, Volkswagen has revealed a compact, sporty car in the spirit of the original hot hatch. The special ‘up! GTI’ concept was previewed ahead of its public unveiling at the annual Lake Wörthersee GTI Meet for VW fans, boasting similar performance figures to the 1976 Golf with 0-62mph taking 8.8 seconds and a top speed of 122mph. Finished with GTI badging and trim, the turbocharged up! runs on 17-inch alloys and sits 15mm lower than the standard car. The Lake Wörthersee meet takes place from the 24 to 27 May.
Volkswagen Golf
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VIDEO: Volkswagen reveals revamped ‘digitalised’ Golf
The Volkswagen Golf has been updated with a focus on digital technology, becoming the first compact car to feature gesture control. Exterior changes are subtle with redesigned bumpers and restyled headlights with LED daytime running lights, while on the inside there’s a completely new generation of infotainment systems. Powertrain revisions include a new 150 PS, 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine plus a power boost for the GTI model up to 245 PS, while a new 7-speed DSG transmission which will gradually replace the old 6-speed box. UK pricing and specification for the new VW Golf has yet to be announced.
VIDEO: Order books open for Volkswagen Golf Estates
Order books have opened for a trio of Volkswagen Golf Estates. The Golf R and GTD Estates and the Golf Alltrack have like-for-like trims with their hatchback counterparts but bootspace is increased from 380 litres to up to 1,620 litres with the rear seats folded flat. On the road prices start at £26,790 for the Golf Alltrack, while the Golf GTD Estate comes in at £28,285,and the range-topping Golf R Estate starts from £33,585.