Volkswagen Golf GTD: Frugal & Fast

Motoring Channel Staff - 31/March/2009

Leipzig, Germany – The Volkswagen Golf GTI is one of the car world's most recognisable names.

The German car maker will try and leverage some of the GTI's fame with an newly badged hot hatch that delivers similar levels of performance.

Only this one's a diesel.

The all-new VW Golf GTD was unveiled at the Auto Mobil International in Leipzig, Germany, and though it's not quite as fast as the Golf GTI off the line, it has significantly more torque which will ensure its a viable sports hatch.

Considering Volkswagen Australia's most popular model is the Golf and that around half of all Golf sales are diesel, this car could be an ideal halo model in this country.

Volkswagen Australia's General Manager Press and PR told the Motoring Channel that the Golf GTD has not been confirmed for sale in Australia (it doesn't go on sale in Europe until June), but that VW would"certainly like to have it here."

"We would love to add it to the lineup," stated Volkswagen's chief of PR, adding that it would fill the gap left by the previous 125kW diesel-powered Golf GT. 

Expect the GTD to arrive here in 2010 for under $40,000.

Design

With a sportier look than the standard new generation Golf, the GTD has much in common with the GTI.

The front bumper is almost identical to the Golf GTI's, from the vertically aligned fog lights and horizontal strakes to the sporty radiator grille. 

The only difference is that the GTI's red pinstripe finish around the grille is replaced with chrome.

Looking at the rear end of the GTI, the most marketed difference here is the exhaust outlets which sit side-by-side as opposed to the GTI's widely spaced exhaust pipes. 

The car gets the same suspension setup as the GTI, sitting lower to the group, and rides on 17-inch alloy wheels that are different to the GTI's traditionalcircular design 5-spoke wheels.

Inside the Volkswagen GTD drivers will be met with high-end sport seats as standard, plus a flat-bottomed 3-spoke leather steering with GTD chrome badge, leather hand brake and gearshift levers with overt stitch seams. 

Technology

Powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged and intercooled 4-cylinder diesel engine, the VW Golf GTD pumps out 125 kilowatts (170hp) and has a top speed of 222km/h. The vital statistics are as follows:

Power: 125kW @ 4200rpm
Torque: 350Nm @ 1750rpm
0-100km/h: 8.1 seconds
Max Speed: 220km/h (136mph)
Fuel Economy: 5.3L/100km

As the stats show, this high performance front-wheel drive diesel car is not as fast as the GTI but it is much more efficient.

Volkswagen claims it'll cover about 1000 kilometres per tank (which has a 55 litre capacity) while emitting 139g/km of CO2, which is very low for a sports car.

The 16-valve 1,968cc engine 'offers power equivalent to that of a six-cylinder sports car engine' says Volkswagen, attaining its impressive 350Nm of torque thanks to a combination of turbocharging and high pressure fuel injection of up to 1,800 bar. 

With this kind of torque available at low engine revolutions, the GTD should be especially quick at mid-gear acceleration and things like overtaking. It should be able to tow large trailers.

Along with a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard, the car will be available with a dual clutch DSG automatic, which increases fuel consumption to 5.6L/100km but has the same acceleration time of 8.1 seconds.

While the Golf GTD is a diesel-powered vehicle, Volkswagen says its a very quiet car. 

With a maintenance-free toothed timing belt for the camshaft and a noise-damping film in the windshield, this vehicle is claimed to be one of the quietest diesel models in its class. 

However, engine and exhaust acoustics have always been a hallmark of the GTI models and Volkswagen says its engineers 'were able to fine tune its acoustics for the first time'.

This has been achieved via a special sound generator. 

According to VW, this electromagnetic sound generator evaluates engine speed, momentary power demand and vehicle speed data obtained via the car's CAN bus and tunes the engine sound that can be heard in the interior, out a sonorous tone especially in the lower engine speed range.

Safety

As with most German cars, the Volkswagen Golf GTD is packed with lots of safety equipment, foremost of which are  airbags including driver's knee airbag and an electronic stability program or ESP.

Other standard features include automatic climate control, daytime running lights, a winter package that includes heated windshield washer nozzles, heated front seats, a headlight cleaning system and low washer fluid indicator light) and the RCD 210 audio system.

Related Links:
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- Volkswagen Polo (2009)
- Volkswagen Golf GTI (Road Test)
- Volkswagen Golf GTI - Mk VI (2010)
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