2008 Paris Motor Show: Volkswagen Golf GTi MKVI

To be brutally honest, if you all find my report on the revealing of the Golf MKVI being rather 'excited', I'm actually faking it too well. Deep down inside any Golf or Veedub fans, the only reason we're excited to see a new Golf, is the mere reason of our knowing that a GTi will definitely be on its way. Guessed VW didn't want to dissapoint any of its fans, and had unveiled the Golf MKVI today. The very first thing we've noticed, is how much its reminiscent of the Scirocco. In fact, its more or less a combination of the Scirocco, the Golf W12 650, and a Starship Trooper. Gone is the huge one piece grill of the Golf GTi MKV, and in place is the new Volkswagen family look of a split front grill, putting a halt to the crazy gaping mouth grill started by Audi and ended up with every other manufacturer emulating the formula of what makes an aggresive car.

The resemblance of this new GTi to the run-off-the-mill Golf, and the distinctive red lining of the upper grill section calls for a turnback intime tracing to the original GTi, where the entire concept of a the original hot hatch is to have it looking like the normal thing, but yet distinguishes itself only by the split second it rakes up behind your rear view screen, and then swooshing off giving you enough time to only notice a slight hint of the longer wavelenght red color linings.

The lower section of the bumper also comes in a different design, with a larger intake section for the gulping of air for its hungry 211hp engine, coupled with either a 6 speed manual or the DSG dual clutch transmission that was widely recognised as the only paddle shifters that work well, the new GTi boasts higher top speed of 239km/h from 235km/h, identical 7.2 sec to the 100km/h, and returning better fuel efficiency. Same formula, only better. Oh, the square steering bottom stays.

However, one thing left me curious. The current Golf GTi is the same price as the Scirocco. Either the new GTi would have to remain the same price, or the Scirocco's price would have to be bumped higher. Would you take the new GTi over the Scirocco? I wouldn't. Check out the pictures.