GTI again the Top Gun

The latest GTI has probably been the closest the writer has got to Motoring Nirvana.

I would probably also push my luck a bit further and request that it should be the slightly more expensive version kitted with the blitzy DSG transmission.

Volkswagen first unwrapped its 7th generation Golf GTI to the world's motoring media in Nice, France and then to a wider local media audience during the first week of July when I got to push both the manual and automatic versions quite enthusiastically on long, quiet country roads and a few twisty mountain passes.

Of all the new cars I have driven this year the latest GTI has probably been the closest I have got to Motoring Nirvana. It has taken Volkswagen 37 years, 7 models, and nearly two million GTI sales to create this new star and it outshines even its own iconic brightness.

Just one of many fans

OK, so I might be a tad biased, seeing that I have owned three GTIs myself, but then I am not alone because nearly 60,000 fellow South Africans have shared the same passion and pride of ownership.

The new Golf outguns all other hatches on the road.

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When I drove the "ordinary" new Golf 7 a few months ago I wrote that the car to beat the new Golf for the SA Car of the Year was not even on the drawing board yet. Now that I have driven the new GTI it moves into the Number One slot for the title. For years the GTI has been the benchmark for hot hatchbacks and although some of them have edged closer the gap between Volkswagen's rapid runner and The Rest has widened again.

To give you an idea of how the GTI has muscled up since the first model in 1976 the latest model kicks out 162kW compared to the original's 81kW. Back in the day the engine was naturally aspirated. Now it is powered by a two-litre direct-injection turbo that punches out 350Nm.

The King of Cling

The new GTI stakes a claim of 6.5 seconds for the 0-100km/h dash and a top speed of 246km/h even though its engine is basically the same as the previous model except for the addition of a dual-injection system and a few tweaks to the cylinder head.

Looking snazzier and the golf ball gear-lever is back.

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However, the latest incarnation is much more than just quick out of the starting stalls - it also handles like a dream with cling and agility that other makers of hot hatches can only envy. Its lowered sports suspension, firmer springs and Progressive Steering (which now requires just two turns to get from lock to lock) inspires the sort of confidence normally associated with much more expensive sports cars.

Other new weapons in the GTI's arsenal include a Driving Profile Selector which offers the driver a choice between Normal, Comfort, Sport and even an individual option which gives more fine tuning.

It's nice to be naughty

I drove both the six-speed manual and the slick and quick DSG version and although I would generally prefer a manual stick on a sporty car such as the hot Volkswagen, this DSG shift is something else. It changes down when braking and it gives the responsive engine plenty of scope to burble, bark and snarl tunes that are sweet music to any petrol-head's ears. By comparison the manual is quieter, maybe a tad smoother, but also a tad less naughty fun...more suit than faded jeans.

I am Golf... Hear me snarl.

GTI models have over the years generally been a little conservative-looking for the fun they produced, but the German white coats have loosened their ties this time and given this model some clever cosmetic dabs to make it look much sharper. Its new shades of naughtiness include a new honeycomb grille, no-nonsense alloys, GTI side badges, prominent rear spoiler, large, shiny twin tail pipes and smoked rear LED lights.

Inside the cockpit (the cabin, in other hatchbacks) things also look snazzier. Golf fans will be pleased the famous golf ball gear-lever is back in place and to go with it the steering wheel has been squared off a la Audi and new ambient lighting is also introduced for the first time to enhance the red seat stitching and the drilled metal pedals.

The latest model kicks out 162kW compared to the original’s 81kW back in 1976.

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As is the want of the German brands the options list is long and features a number of expensive driver aids and toys. In the manual model I drove the extras included a panoramic sunroof (R8,800) and Bi-Xenon headlights (R9,400).

A FUN car

Good-looking and brimming with refinements the GTI is a superbly balanced fun car that handles like a dream in whatever setting you prefer. Pushed hard and with the stability control switched to Sport setting (which keeps the helping hand from interfering until quite late!) it will thrill anybody with a drop of high-octane in the blood.

With its fairly frugal fuel consumption, emissions low enough to please the polar critters, sizzling performance, wall-to-wall refinement and a hard-to-resist price tag this GTI is guaranteed to become yet another winner in the Volkswagen stable. To be quite blunt - it outguns all other hatches on the road.

The manual version is priced at R368,300 and the DSG model at R382,800 which include a three-year/120,000km warranty and a five-year/90,000km service plan.

Specifications

Volkswagen Golf GTI 2013 review - Auto Express

The Correspondent s.2, n.2 - VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI Mk7

Golf GTI Mk.VII Road Test. - /CHRIS HARRIS ON CARS