Officially Official: 2010 Volkswagen GTI MK VI
by Sam Abuelsamid on Sep 25th 2008 at 10:30AM 
We already saw the first images of the new MK VI Volkswagen GTI and we now have them in all their high-res glory courtesy of VW's German media site. As with the standard version of the Golf and the Scirocco, VW is abandoning the huge Audi-like grille of recent models in favor of something more subdued. The new GTI also harkens back to the original GTI of the late 1970s with its red-bordered grille. Under the hood, the new GTI gets the latest edition of the corporate 2.0L TFSI four cylinder cranking out 210 hp and a reasonably healthy 207 lb-ft of torque at just 1,800 rpm. The electronically controlled limited-slip XDS differential will help guide that torque to the wheel with the most grip and hopefully manage torque steer as well. The GTI is expected to hit 62 mph from a standing start in 7.2 seconds with a combined fuel efficiency on the EU cycle of 31.4 mpg. VW will start adding to the GTI's cumulative tally of 1.7 million units sold next spring in Europe and in the U.S. during the summer of 2009, while the regular Golf VI will hit our shores as the new Rabbit in the fall of 2009.
Gallery: 2009 Volkswagen GTI MK VI
[Source: Volkswagen]
Updated with official english version of press release
Sharp and sovereign – The new Golf GTI
The bestseller with the best values: 240 km/h, 210 bhp, 7.5 litres
Wolfsburg, 25 September 2008 - Since the debut of the first and the discontinuation of the fifth generation, more than 1.7 million buyers made the GTI to the world's bestseller. Now the new GTI is at the ready: at the Paris Motor Show (4th to 19th October 2008) Volkswagen will be demonstrating the design study of the new Golf GTI at its world premiere.The GTI suspension with a new electronic limited-slip diff (XDS) defines curves and traction in a completely new way. A GTI with a top speed of 240 km/h that with its 155 kW / 210 bhp strong turbocharged engine is even more fun and, on average, only uses 7.5 litres.
The sixth generation Golf GTI will go into series production in the spring of 2009 – as usual with a unique connection between sporty suspension and agile engine. The engine develops already at 1,800 rpm a maximum torque of 280 newton metres. The sprint from 0 to 60mph is achieved in 6.9 seconds. A stand-off between wind resistance and output occurs only just at 240 km/h.
Lowered by 22 millimetres and equipped with a new sports suspension, the springs, shock absorbers and rear anti-roll bars of the design study have been completely reworked. Furthermore, the optional adaptive chassis control DCC feature will also be available for the future GTI.
"We wanted a purposefully clear GTI design. A car that has power but also style," summarises the Volkswagen AG's chief designer Walter de'Silva. The design study of the sixth generation presented in Paris blends in both style elements of the GTI icons. Details like the typical honeycombed radiator grill and the V-shaped bonnet, stretching over the head lights, contribute to the GTI V. The clean and horizontal structure clearly originates from the GTI I. Because of the styling as well as the underlining horizontal graphic of the front section the Golf GTI design study appears visually wider (1.78 meter), lower (1.47 meter) and more dynamic than any other car in its class.
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Pete 10:38AM (9/25/2008)
Do they ever intend to be competitive in their class?
0-60 in 7.2 seconds...
Whereas the Cobalt SS does the run in 5.5 seconds...has 50 more horsepower and torque with the same if not better fuel economy...
Reply
Mark 12:38PM (9/25/2008)
agreed, it seems as if they think they are inherently better and need not to actually be better than their competition.
MikeW 10:56AM (9/25/2008)
Maybe they aren't in the same class. (GTi-adult, SS-adolescent?)
The GTi uses finesse, and now has even more.
and you can sneeze at the old 2.0t and get 50 more hp.
chewy 11:58AM (9/25/2008)
Comparing between European (0-62 mph, no rollout, underated manufacturer times) to US magazine times is not 100% accurate.
Car and Driver has tested the GTI and achieved a time as little as 6 seconds. So this new GTI should be able to get a 0-60 time from an American magazine of around 6 seconds and not the 7.2 that VW quotes for the European market.
drunkenpublicness 12:05PM (9/25/2008)
VW numbers are always REALLY conservative. Every article I've read on the MKV list it's 0-60mph in the 6.0-6.5 range.
With the MKVI's improved HP numbers and LSD these times should improve a little as well.
JD 12:39PM (9/25/2008)
I've kind of been wondering the same thing, Pete. Right now, not even an R32 can outrun my Mazdaspeed3, and that's $10k more. While I agree that the GTI caters to a more mature audience, the language of "fast" isn't hindered by age. Doesn't matter if you're 20 or 60, more power almost always equals more fun, all things equal. But again, like others noted, VW is often a bit conservative in their official numbers, and 0-60 is less than 0-62. But I still agree, more power would be welcome.
Chase 12:51PM (9/25/2008)
The Cobalt is great, and will be the fastest budget racer for some time, but it isn't well rounded. This GTI is well rounded, and that's why it gets so much attention. I mean, the Cobalt's interior is one of the worst out there -- the GTI's is on par with $50,000 luxury cars'.
And it's not like the GTI isn't fast. Not long ago, a sub-6 0-60 was supercar territory. At that, this new one ups the ante considerably with the LSD.
montoym 6:48PM (9/25/2008)
$500-600 to your tuner of choice will get you over 250hp and almost 300lb-ft of torque.
This age of easily tunable turbocharged cars is a fun time to live in for sure.
Buran 2:56PM (10/02/2008)
There is more to a car than just how fast it goes in a straight line, unless all you plan to do with it is race on the track. I use my GTI in the real world, and don't often open the throttle, but the power is there when I want it (e.g. merging onto a highway) but the refinement and good ergonomics are hugely important to me.
From My Cube 10:36AM (9/25/2008)
i like it, i wish they would bring that dashboard to the passat
Reply
Stephen 11:01AM (9/25/2008)
For the first time in about 5 years, I like a VW front end.
Love the angles on the grill. Dashboard looks fantastic, not feeling the seating pattern at all.
Is requesting a GTI with DSG still considered heresy, or are people warming up to the idea?
Reply
anton 11:38AM (9/25/2008)
the seats are a reminescence to the original, first golf gti..as well as the grill. there is a dsg for the mk v already, just not in the states i guess
McLovin 12:15PM (9/25/2008)
I think Stephen is referring to the phenomenon that some auto "enthusiasts" don't believe a DSG transmission is as good as a manual tranny. DSG is available in the States. It is also capable of switching gears much faster than any "enthusiast" can shift manually.
I say f*** the "enthusiasts" and their manual bias. Buy what you like since you're the person who will drive it. I personally don't want to constantly hold the clutch down while sitting in bumper-to-bumper.
zamafir 1:33PM (9/25/2008)
I'm glad you like it, considering Walter da Silva sent the MkVI design back to the drawing board to clean it up some. I'm stoked for the new GTi, looks better, will handle even better (already one of, if not the, best handling cars which start around 20k). The GTi-R may just convince me to add another VW to my stable in a year or so’s time.
Buran 3:16AM (10/03/2008)
I live in the US and there's a five-door GTI with a six-speed DSG about 100 feet from me, sleeping in my garage until I go to work tomorrow. It was the fourth-generation platform that had the DSG available in Europe but not in the US.
kingcyrus 11:02AM (9/25/2008)
Looks good to me, call it new or a refresh, they fixed the right elements for me (lights n grill)
Reply
catter12 11:11AM (9/25/2008)
Black leather seats, brushed aluminum trim, with that nav system would make me want that car even more then the up, and coming diesel Golf VI.
Reply
Adam Marcello 11:11AM (9/25/2008)
I thin kthe interior looks great but I also think they could have steped up performance a tad with the new model. Either way it will keep the current vw crowd happy. Im just not sure if it will lure any new buyers into the show rooms.
Reply
ugg.tryptophan 11:46AM (9/25/2008)
at least the fuel economy is higher, which is now a major selling point
stevereportdotcom 11:15AM (9/25/2008)
Looks like a fun afforable fun car. Yes, its not going to beat the 16 year old kid in his Si, but with this litte machine you are buying much more then speed.. style and CLASS.
Reply