Volkswagen Golf GTI seen in India for the first time

The Volkswagen Golf GTI has been spotted in India for the first time. The hatchback is set to launch in the April-June quarter at an expected ex-showroom price of Rs 52 lakh. Only 250 Golf GTIs will be brought here as completely built units in the first batch.

1. VW Golf GTI spotted in India with Moonstone Grey finish and 19-inch wheels
2. The Golf GTI’s availability will be restricted to 250 units for the first batch
3. The hatchback will have a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that makes 265hp and 370Nm

Volkswagen Golf GTI exterior design

A new spy shot shows off an undisguised Golf GTI pottering around Indian roads. The hot hatch appears to have the Moonstone Grey paint, and one can see the GTI badge on the door. Bright red brake calipers peek out from the 19-inch five-spoke diamond-cut alloy wheels. At the back, smoked LED tail-lamps and a roof spoiler are prominent.

The car’s front can’t be seen in the image, but it features sleek LED headlights connected by a red strip, a GTI badge on the grille and a large honeycomb-patterned air dam with daytime running lights.

Volkswagen Golf GTI interior and features

Tartan upholstery and GTI-exclusive graphics and badging

Image credit: CAR Magazine UK

In line with prior Volkswagen GTI models, the Golf GTI’s seats are upholstered in tartan, and the steering wheel gets red accents with a GTI badge. A 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen sits atop the dashboard and features Volkswagen’s latest software interface with crisper graphics, simplified menus and a ChatGPT-enabled voice assistant.

Additionally, there’s an all-digital instrument cluster with GTI-specific graphics, paddle shifters, two USB-C charging ports and a gear selector stub.

Volkswagen Golf GTI engine and performance

265hp, 370Nm

The Golf GTI packs Volkswagen’s venerable EA888 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, which develops 265hp and 370Nm of torque and also powers the upcoming Skoda Octavia RS. Combined with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission pushing power through the front wheels, the Golf GTI can sprint from 0-100kph in a claimed 5.9 seconds and reach an electronically limited top speed of 250kph.