Well, sort of. VW announces hottest-yet diesel Golf, but does it deserve the badge?
Read more about the diesel GTI
Volkswagen announced today that its 2010 Golf GTD is officially on sale in the German market. The fourth model in the 2009 Golf lineup is the highest-performance production Golf with a diesel engine today.
Power comes from a 170-hp TDI engine that gives it the ability to go from 0 to 62 mph in 8.1 seconds with a top speed of 124 mph. Volkswagen says that fuel-economy is estimated at 5.3 liters fuel per 100 kilometers (that’s 44 mpg in the U.S.).
Unfortunately, there are no plans to bring the 2010 Golf GTD over the stateside. Nonetheless, you diesel lovers can hold out for the 2.0 TDI Golf, which has been confirmed for the stateside.
Press Release:
Comeback of a Classic:
Volkswagen brings the new Golf GTD to market
High-tech diesel in the Golf GTD with 170 PS consumes just 5.3 liters
Golf GTD shows clear affinity to the Golf GTI
Wolfsburg, 08 June 2009 - The Golf model lineup has been growing by leaps and bounds: At the end of 2008, the sixth generation of the bestseller was launched. Shortly thereafter, in early 2009, the new Golf Plus appeared. Then, the current Golf GTI was vaulted to center stage, closely followed by the new Golf Variant. And now the lineup continues: with the new Golf GTD. Its 125 kW / 170 PS power level makes it the highest-performance production Golf with a diesel engine today. The code letters GTD have a magical effect on diesel drivers and carry on a long tradition: 27 years ago the first GTD debuted and revolutionized the diesel market with its turbocharged diesel engine; for the first time, a diesel was not only economical but exceedingly sporty too. The GTD paved the way for the worldwide breakthrough of the TDI - the direct-injection high-tech diesel of the Volkswagen Group.
* GTD key performance data: The new Golf GTD generation is powered by a highly advanced common rail TDI engine, which makes it stronger (350 Newton-meter), more economical (5.3 liter), cleaner (139 g/km CO2 / Euro 5) and quieter than ever before. The GTD is also sportier: 8.1 seconds for the sprint to 100 km/h and a 222 km/h top speed prove it.
* GTD affinities: The Golf GTD speaks to all diesel fans who value a maximum in dynamic performance. That is why the GTD shows such a clear affinity to the new Golf GTI (155 kW / 210 PS). While the GTI is in a league of its own with an efficient turbo gasoline engine that offers the performance of far more expensive sports cars, the Golf GTD is making its debut with phenomenal fuel economy and a range of approx. 1,000 kilometer (with a 55 liter fuel tank).
* GTD high tech: The car’s technical ingredients are among the most advanced that the market has to offer. Naturally, the focal point of this high-tech composition is the TDI engine. Its specific torque is 177.8 Newton-meter per liter engine displacement. In practically any driving situation, the 16-valve four-cylinder engine offers the power of a sports car engine with six cylinders. Just as pioneering is the six-speed DSG gearbox from Volkswagen: Just as on the Golf GTI, on the Golf GTD too there will be an optional dual clutch transmission in place of the standard six-speed version; no other automatic performs more quickly or efficiently. The Golf GTD with DSG is capable of achieving 220 km/h, also accelerates to 100 km/h in 8.1 seconds and consumes just 5.6 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers on average (147 g/km CO2).
* GTD exterior: The car’s visual appearance is impressive too. The GTD - equipped with a chassis lowered by 15 millimeters, 17-inch alloy wheels (”Seattle”) and 225 section tires - shows parallels and once again a similarity to the GTI in terms of its styling and features. Consider the front end, for example: Among the hallmarks of the GTD and GTI are their bumper designs with standard front fog lights in a typical vertical layout. Their headlights and radiator grilles share the same construction as well. In the case of the GTD, the horizontal stripes in the radiator grille - typical of the GTI - are styled in chrome. At the rear, the turbo-diesel also has a diffuser, but it is modified: The diesel Golf can be recognized by the twin chrome tailpipes of its exhaust system in the diffuser. The taillights are smoked on both top Golf versions.
* GTD interior: The car’s interior follows Volkswagen’s GT philosophy as well. And this means ergonomics in its purest form, supplemented by features tailored to the Golf GTD. The “top sport seats” - the same as the ones used in the Golf GTI - define a higher standard. Their long-distance touring and racing properties are legendary, as is their styling. In contrast to the GTI, the black sport seats of the GTD are complemented by a light gray color in the diamond stripe pattern instead of red. Another highlight is the three-spoke leather sport steering wheel. And, as on the steering wheel, the parking brake grip and gearshift surround are also finished in leather. The instrument and door trim areas are treated with “Black Stripe” gloss-black accents.
* GTD is fully equipped: Furthermore, Golf GTD features include details such as chrome bezels for various switches, a black roofliner and black roof pillar trim, automatic climate control, multifunctional display “Plus”, center armrests and the RCD 210 radio system. Standard features also include lowering of the passenger’s side mirror when backing up, heated windshield washer nozzles, headlight cleaning system, “ParkPilot” (with sensors in front and rear bumpers), ESP with countersteer assist and braking assistant, as well as seven airbags, including a knee airbag on the driver’s side.
Volkswagen released all the official details on the new Golf GTD that will be debuting this weekend at the Leipzig Motor Show in Germany. The new hot diesel hatch revives a designation that originally appeared in 1982 but hasn't been seen in two decades. This time around, the high output 168 hp version of VW's 2.0-liter TDI four cylinder pushes the GTD to 62 mph in 8.1 seconds. On the EU combined test cycle, the GTD gets 44.4 mpg (U.S.) with CO2 emissions of 139 g/km.
The GTD is much a new GTI except that gas powered car's red grille stripes are now finished in chrome to set it apart. Inside the car, the red contrasting stitching of the GTI is also replaced by light grey for the diesel model. Considering the handling capabilities of the GTD, the sport seats look like they can keep the driver in place for the job at hand.
VOLKSWAGEN OFFERS PERFORMANCE WITH ECONOMY IN NEW GOLF GTD
As the new GTI hits the road for the first time its sister car has been unveiled at the Leipzig Motor Show: the new diesel-powered Golf GTD.
The ability to accelerate to 62 mph in 8.1 seconds and a top speed of 136 mph are combined with average fuel consumption of 53.3 mpg and a range in excess of 650 miles on a single tank of fuel to create a hot hatch of the moment.
Lessons learned through the creation of the sixth generation GTI are applied to the new GTD. Sharp responses and an agile chassis complement the car's substantial torque which is available from as low as 1,750 rpm.
Powering the new GTD is a refined 2.0-litre (1,968 cc) common rail TDI engine, producing 170 PS and 258 lbs ft of torque. Driving through a six-speed manual or automatic DSG gearbox, this translates to effortless performance with CO 2 emissions of just 139 g/km.
Maintaining the sharp responses expected of the GTD is suspension lowered by 15 mm when compared to the standard Golf. In addition, Volkswagen's innovative Adaptive Chassis Control system (ACC), featuring pneumatically controlled damper units, can be specified on the GTD. This allows the driver to select from normal, comfort or sport modes to define the desired suspension, steering and accelerator response settings for any particular journey.
The Golf GTD's appearance will differ significantly from that of the standard Golf's. It gains the GTI's honeycomb grille, badge-style and front-end design, though with the addition of chrome rather than red highlights. At the back, full body-coloured bumpers make the GTD appear lower and wider than it really is, while the Golf's standard wheels are replaced with unique 17-inch ‘Seattle Black' alloys. Inside, the main contact points are unique to the Golf GTD – a flat-bottomed steering wheel, a GTD gearshift and a standard tartan interior. The tartan finish is subtly different from that in the GTI, being grey, white and black, rather than red, white and black.
As with the entire Golf range, the new GTD will feature class-leading levels of safety with ABS, ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme) and seven airbags, including for the first time a knee airbag, all standard. The Golf was recently awarded a maximum five-star rating by the EuroNCAP crash testing agency.
UK buyers will be able to order a Golf GTD from the end of April. Prices are yet to be confirmed but will start at under £22,000. The car will go on sale on 22 June – exactly one month after the first GTIs hit UK roads.
