VW Golf ‘GTI diesel’ in doubt

VOLKSWAGEN’S 222km/h Golf diesel is in doubt for Australia as the company considers the GTD’s impact on GTI sales, as well as Australian buyers’ reaction to a diesel-powered hot hatch.

“We have not decided yet whether or not to bring it here,” said Volkswagen Australia PR manager Karl Gehling.

“It has been put on the backburner for now.” Unlike the previous generation Golf V-based GT Sport TDI sold in Australia from August 2007 until earlier this year, the GTD includes the same level of chassis tuning as the sixth-generation petrol-powered Golf VI GTI due here at the end of the year.

This means the GTD sits 15mm closer to the ground, and includes the standard 17-inch alloy wheels and 225-section tyre specification.

On sale now in Europe, it is powered by a derivation of the old GT Sport TDI’s 2.0-litre twin-cam 16-valve four-cylinder common-rail turbo-diesel engine, delivering an identical 125kW of power at 4200rpm and 350Nm of torque from 1750 to 2500rpm.

As with the GTI, the GTD directs drive to the front wheels via either a six-speed manual or six-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox.

The latter’s sprint-time to 100km/h from standstill takes 8.1 seconds, the fuel consumption averages out to 5.6 litres per 100km (which, combined with the 55-litre fuel tank, allows for a range of about 1000km), and the carbon dioxide emissions rating is 147 grams per kilometre, aiding the GTD’s Euro V rating in Europe.

In contrast, the 222km/h manual version is just as speedy to 100km/h, but returns just 5.3L/100km and 139g/km.

Head-on, the GTD looks virtually identical to its petrol-powered GTI sibling, sharing the same headlight, bumper and grille construction, with only the inclusion of chrome – rather than red painted – horizontal strips on the radiator separating the two.

The same holds true when the GTD is viewed from behind, since both boast a pair of smoked tail-lights to denote their performance intent, although a single rather than dual exhaust outlet, as part of a different diffuser pattern, betrays the diesel.

Step inside and only the tachometer’s recalibrated redline differentiates ‘D’ from ‘I’ on the dashboard, while the same standard sports seats feature fresh colour shades for the otherwise identical ‘Jacky’ tartan trim. Leather is optional of course.

To separate the dynamic duo from their more mundane brethren, both sports Golfs include a leather-wrapped steering wheel, gearshift surround and park brake handle, along with black gloss-accented fascia and door trim treatments, chrome-finished switches, black roof liner and pillar trim, climate control air-conditioning, a comprehensive trip computer display, centre armrests, kerbside-view exterior mirror positioning, headlight washers, front and rear sensors and an high-end audio system.

To quieten things down, Golf GTD gets new sound deadening material, a maintenance-free toothed belt drive for the exhaust camshaft, a low-noise V-belt driving the ancillary components, a damping film in the windshield and aero-acoustic fine tuning for the body.

On the safety front the sporty diesel mirrors its GTI sibling in getting its own specially calibrated electronic stability control system, while seven airbags are also standard.

Buyers can also choose the optional electronic damper control unit Volkswagen dubs DCC for Dynamic Chassis Control. It offers Normal, Comfort and Sport settings.

The GTD is the fifth sixth-generation Golf derivation to be rolled out since the series debuted in the final quarter of last year, following the hatchback range, Golf Plus minivan, GTI and Variant wagon.

The first GTD debuted near the end of the first-generation A1 Golf’s lifecycle in 1982.

Renault was the only other manufacturer to offer a dedicated diesel hot hatch to Australians, in the shape of 40 X84 Megane Renaultsport dCi 175 imports in 2008.

Read more:

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Volkswagen launches hottest Golf

First Oz drive: Volkswagen Golf remastered