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The new 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTD is now available to order for a starting price of £32,790. It’s the most powerful and efficient GTD yet and packs all the new Mk8 Golf’s latest technology.

Diesel hot hatchbacks aren’t as common as petrol versions but both the Ford Focus ST and Skoda Octavia vRS are offered with powerful diesel engines. Less potent but also in the mix are the BMW 1 Series 120d and Mercedes A-Class A220d.

Similar to the new Golf GTI, the GTD gets a sportier looking body kit with a more aggressively styled front bumper. LED headlights and daytime running lights are standard, with an optional LED light bar that spans the width of the front grille. The lower section of the nose sports a honeycomb grille and X-shaped LED fog lights.

Elsewhere, the car gets 18-inch alloy wheels as standard with larger designs on the options list. Silver and black contrasting bodywork accents also feature, with ‘GTD’ badges located on the front wings and the centre of the tailgate. The rear of the car gets a restyled bumper and diffuser, with a twin exhaust located on the left side.

The new GTD is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine producing 197bhp (a 15bhp increase over the old car), making it the most powerful diesel engine ever fitted to a production Golf. Power is sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch (DSG) automatic gearbox as standard. A manual cogbox is not an option.

With a slight rise in performance comes a quicker 0-62mph time, down from 7.4 to 7.1 seconds, and a top speed of 152mph. As a result, it’s only half a second slower from 0-62mph than the petrol-powered Golf GTI but promises up to 54.3mpg (about 15-20mpg more than the GTI) when driven more sedately.

Three core driving modes are available, called ‘Eco,’ ‘Comfort,’ and ‘Sport’. Switching between these sharpens the car’s steering and throttle response, and drivers can customise the car’s setup with a fourth ‘Individual’ mode. Optional adaptive suspension is also available as part of VW’s ‘Dynamic Chassis Control’ system.

Full UK specifications have yet to be confirmed, but it’s likely the new Golf GTD will have a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and 10-inch infotainment touchscreen system including VW’s ‘Discover Pro’ sat nav as standard. Connectivity tech is borrowed straight from the standard Mk8 Golf, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Car2X networking functionality that communicates with other cars nearby to help you avoid traffic jams.

As with previous versions, the GTD gets front sports seats trimmed in black and grey upholstery. A flat-bottomed multifunction sports steering wheel is also fitted, featuring touch controls along with ambient interior lighting.

The GTD gets lane keep assist and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, which is capable of automatically bringing the car to a halt if a hazard is detected.

The car also features VW’s ‘Travel Assist,’ which essentially combines the lane assist function with adaptive cruise control so that the car can proceed with minimal driver input on the motorway.

In line with current trends and to reduce production costs, only a five-door version of the GTD will be available. It’s more practical than the old car, with increased dimensions making it more spacious inside.

However, a new Volkswagen Golf estate has now been revealed, leaving the possible introduction of an estate version of the Golf GTD at a later date.

VOLKSWAGEN: Order books open for 2020 Golf GTD

The eighth-generation of VW’s iconic hot hatch is the most hi-tech version to date, so it’s not surprising that the price has crept up a bit compared to the last GTI.

The new Mk8 Volkswagen Golf GTI is now on sale, with prices starting from £33,460 for cars equipped with a six-speed manual, while opting for the quick-shifting seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox will need to find a further £1,500.

Automatic models will arrive with customers in October, with manual variants following a month later.

The eighth-generation of VW’s iconic hot hatch is the most hi-tech version to date, so it’s not surprising that the price has crept up a bit compared to the last GTI. Once again, it’s slightly more expensive than its main rivals – the Ford Focus ST and Hyundai i30N – but the car’s lineage should mean there’s no shortage of potential buyers.

At the front, the new GTI features a more angular bumper with traditional red contrast detailing, a honeycomb lower grille and unique looking x-shaped fog lights to give it a more ‘aggressive’ look. LED headlights and daytime running lights are standard, and you’ll be able to choose an LED light bar that spans the full width of the radiator grille from the options list.

At the rear, the car features standard LED lights, a new rear spoiler and rear diffuser, and a twin exhaust. The tailgate also features a centrally mounted GTI emblem, along with matching badges on the front grille and wings. The car’s lower side sills are painted black, which is contrasted by matching detailing on the lower sections of the front and rear bumpers.

As standard, 18-inch alloy wheels are fitted with red brake calipers. Larger 19-inch alloy wheels are available on the options list. The car also sits 15mm lower than the regular Golf.

Not only does the GTI get a sporty makeover, it also comes with a long equipment list. All UK cars get matrix LED headlights, keyless entry, three-zone climate control and scrolling indicators.

Inside, the new Golf GTI combines the traditional and the modern. Signature GTI design features such as tartan seat upholstery and the golf ball gear knob have been updated for the new model, while a flat-bottomed leather-trimmed steering wheel comes with touch controls.

All of the interior tech from the regular Golf has been carried over to the GTI, with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-inch infotainment screen equipped with VW’s ‘Discover Pro’ sat nav. Ambient interior lighting is standard, boasting 30 different colours including a GTI-specific mode.

Tech includes Car2X networking functionality, which gives the car the ability to communicate with other moving cars for live traffic information. Other tech features lifted wholesale from the Mk8 Golf hatchback will include Amazon Alexa voice assistance, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Again, the GTI’s power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine producing 242bhp and 370Nm or torque – unchanged from the old model. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, with the option of a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG automatic. An electronic limited-slip differential can also be specified, which helps to improve traction during cornering.

The 2020 Golf GTI is capable of 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds (6.2 seconds with the DSG) and a top speed of 155mph, which is identical to the outgoing car. While efficiency figures have yet to be confirmed, estimates suggest the new car will be capable of up to 40mpg.

The new GTI can also be specified with VW’s ‘Dynamic Chassis Control’ system with electronically adjustable suspension. Drivers will be able to pick from three core driving modes called ‘Eco,’ ‘Comfort’, ‘Sport’, which soften or sharpen the car’s driving dynamics depending on the chosen mode. The car’s setup can also be tailored to the driver’s preferences via a fourth ‘Individual’ mode.

Safety tech is also carried over from the standard Golf and includes lane assist and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, which can automatically apply the brakes if a hazard is detected.

VW has also confirmed that the new GTI will have ‘Travel Assist’, which is essentially a combination of adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist so that the car can effectively drive itself on the motorway. UK laws in this regard mean you’ll still need your hands on the steering wheel.

The GTI will only be offered in a five-door hatchback form; there’s no three-door or estate in the pipeline. Practicality will be very similar to the standard car, with improved rear interior space over the old model. Boot space has yet to be confirmed but it should match the standard Golf with 380 litres of capacity.

The GTI will form a GT trio with the new GTD diesel and GTE petrol-electric plug-in hybrid, which Volkswagen expects will account for around 15% of Golf sales.

VOLKSWAGEN: Order books open for Mk8 Golf GTI

Tag: golf

VOLKSWAGEN: Order books open for 2020 Golf GTD

VOLKSWAGEN: Order books open for Mk8 Golf GTI

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