The latest Golf GTI is such a hottie in tornado red that it dismisses Foot Down's initial impression that the fifth-generation Golf was a fattie just waiting to be debagged by the lithe Opel Astra. You can see two new GTIs ($298,000) this weekend at the Volkswagen show at Ocean Terminal, where dealers Harmony Motors (tel: 2882 8938) will also display a two-litre Golf FSI ($248,000), a Touareg, Dakar Touareg, a New Beetle Sport and the fabulous New Beetle Cabriolet. The response to the new GTI has been amazing, according to Harmony Motors spokesman Wilco Ng. There have been a record 160 pre-orders for the car, and most Hong Kong customers have preferred the four-door option with the double-clutch, six- speed direct shift gearbox, he says. Hong Kong's first new GTIs will be delivered next month, which is quick compared with other dealerships. 'This is an amazing result,' Ng says. The GTI has been given the thumbs up in Britain, where it was named Car of the Year by the BBC's Top Gear, Fifth Gear, The Sun and The Mail on Sunday newspapers. What Car? named it their Hot Hatch of the Year.
We can't wait to test this GTI. Powered by a two-litre, 200-brake- horsepowered turbocharged FSI direct injection petrol engine and the double-clutch, six-speed direct shift gearbox, the new GTI promises a top speed of 233km/h and a 0-100km/h sprint in 6.9 seconds on 17- or 18-inch wheels.
Then you get all the traditional GTI sporty touches, including: a black honeycomb grille with red frame; serif-style 'GTI' badging; red brake callipers; a deep air dam; twin exhaust pipes; and a rear roof spoiler. Then there are the black, widened sill panels; high-gloss covered B-pillar; blue, heat-reflective windows; tinted headlight housings; side-bolstered leather seats; and a three-spoke leather sports steering wheel and aluminium gearstick and pedals. See you at the show.
