The Indian car market had a brief stint of sporty hatchbacks gracing the roads with the likes of Volkswagen Polo GT, Hyundai i20 N Line, and Fiat Punto Abarth. However, we never got to see the real deal— the Volkswagen Golf GTI. Whenever someone thinks of a hot hatchback, the Golf GTI inadvertently pops up in everyone’s mind.
After years of evaluation, we might finally get to see the Volkswagen Golf GTI running on Indian roads. According to a recent Autocar India report,Volkswagen will finally bring the Golf GTI to India. The performance hatchback will come to India as a fully-imported CBU model and is expected to launch in India by August 2025.
The CBU route will allow the German carmaker to import up to 2,500 units per year without having to pay for the homologation. The hatchback will act as an aspirational, halo model for Volkswagen India. This will be the second VW model in India to don the GTI badge after the Polo GTI which was brought to India in limited numbers back in 2016.
The Polo GTI was powered by a 1.8-litre turbocharged TSI petrol engine which dished out 190 bhp and 320 Nm of peak torque. It was paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. It could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds and could clock a top speed of 200 kmph. The Polo GT model was discontinued in 2020 primarily due to low sales performance, and changes in emission norms.
Volkswagen Golf GTI: Focus on Performance
The highlight of Volkswagen Golf GTI lies under its hood. It is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that pumps out 261 bhp and 370 Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired with a 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox that sends power to the front wheels. As for performance, the Golf GTI can breach the 100 kmph from a standstill in just 5.9 seconds and can clock a top speed of 250 kmph before hitting the speed limiter.
Engine performance is significantly boosted by a sophisticated dynamic system. This includes progressive steering with variable rack and pinion gearing for improved steering response, an electronically controlled front-axle differential lock for enhanced traction and stability, and an optional adaptive suspension for optimized ride comfort and handling.
Source: Autocar India
