Volkswagen has introduced its Golf GTI Mk 8.5 in India at Rs 53 lakh, ex-showroom. That price tag makes it the most expensive Volkswagen currently on sale in the country. The Golf GTI, VW India's second GTI model after the Polo GTI (discontinued), has been brought in as a CBU and the first batch of 150 units is already accounted for. A company spokesperson revealed earlier that the manufacturer is planning to bring another 100 Golf GTIs based on demand.
- Golf is the spiritual successor to the Volkswagen Beetle
- 265hp 2.0-litre TSI mill is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission
- Golf GTI gets four colour options in India
Volkswagen Golf GTI powertrain, 0-100kph time and top speed
2.0-litre TSI engine with 7DCT
Under the hood, the VW Golf GTI is powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine producing 265hp and 370Nm. This mill also does duty in the new Volkswagen Tiguan R Line SUV. The TSI motor is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels. Notably, the hot hatch also gets an electronically controlled front-axle differential lock.
Acceleration
The 0-100kph sprint takes just 5.9 seconds in the new Golf, and the top speed is electronically limited to 250kph. For reference, the Mini Cooper S, one of its rivals in India, takes 6.6 seconds to hit the 100kph mark and goes up to 242kph.
Volkswagen Golf GTI exterior design and colours
18-inch alloy wheels, illuminated VW logo
The VW roundel up front is illuminated, and the Matrix LED headlights are connected by a thin DRL strip. The bumper also gets a sporty design over the standard Golf (sold overseas), and is flanked by X-shaped LED fog lights. A sleek red strip runs on the nose, and there's a GTI badge on the grille. More GTI badges are present on the front doors and the tailgate. The Golf GTI rides on 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, and it gets red brake calipers. LED tail-lights get a smoked-out treatment but are not connected. Other highlights at the rear include a prominent roof spoiler and two exhaust tips.
| VW Golf GTI dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length (mm) | 4,289 |
| Width (mm) | 1,789 |
| Height (mm) | 1,471 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,627 |
| Ground clearance (mm) | 136 |
| Boot space [expandable up to] (l) | 380 [1,237] |
4 exterior paints
From left to right: Grenadilla Black, Kings Red, Moonstone Grey and Oryx White.
Volkswagen Golf GTI interior and safety features
12.9-inch touchscreen, sunroof
The Golf Mk 8.5 boasts sports seats with signature tartan inserts in the centre, and the ones at the front also get a 'GTI' badge stitched in red. Then, there’s a leather-wrapped steering wheel with a red GTI clasp, and the display pair comprises of a 12.9-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. A sunroof, a wireless charger, three-zone climate control, paddle shifters, 30-colour ambient lighting, and heated front seats are also present.
Level 2 ADAS, 7 airbags
On the safety front, the Golf in India comes with seven airbags, a rear-view camera, a tyre pressure monitoring system, ISOFIX anchors, and Level 2 ADAS with features like auto emergency braking, lane-change assist and rear traffic alert.
Rivan RS 
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Suraj Viswanathan
