First look: Volkswagen reveals ‘diesel GTI’

VOLKSWAGEN has revealed the diesel equivalent of the Golf GTI at the Leipzig Motor Show.

The GTD runs a potent 2.0-litre diesel engine with 125kW and 350Nm of torque in a sporty package that promises the same agility as the petrol GTI that has become a true cult car.

It will go on sale in Germany in May and while Volkswagen Australia expects the car will also come here, the timing is yet to be confirmed.

The GTD will replace the GT diesel which used the same engine, but in a less sporty package.

The GTD engine takes 8.1 seconds to go from 0-100km/h, which is hardly the stuff of sportscars, but it does have a range of around 1000km, thanks to a fuel economy average of 5.6L/100km.

Like the GTI, the GTD Golf will be available with a six-speed manual or six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic.

From the front, the GTD looks almost identical to the petrol GTI and the only detail that separates the two is a small chrome horizontal strips on the radiator, which are painted red for the GTI.

The two cars are much the same at the rear except that the petrol GTI has an exhaust outlet at either side of the bumper, while the GTD has a single dual outlet.

Carrying on the green theme, Ford used the Leipzig show to present a tri-fuel Mondeo that can run on petrol, up to 85 per cent ethanol and LPG.

Using a 2.0-litre Duratec engine, Ford says the special Mondeo has a combined range of 746 miles (1200km). It will be available in sedan and wagon form and goes on sale in Europe from April.

Audi presented the Roadster version of the its new TT-RS in Leipzig following on from the introduction of the coupe model at Geneva Motor Show earlier this month.

Like the coupe, it runs a 2.5-litre five-cylinder direct-injection engine producing 250kW and 450Nm.

Read more:

Volkswagen launches hottest Golf

First Oz drive: Volkswagen Golf remastered

VW Golf gets Australian five-star safety too