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December 22, 2021
Test Drive: The New Volkswagen Golf GTI – Its Exhilarating Performance Remains Undiminished in the 8th Generation | Volkswagen
Volkswagen Golf GTI | VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI
Test Drive: The New Volkswagen Golf GTI
The GTI has finally joined the lineup of the 8th generation Volkswagen Golf, which began its introduction in Japan in June 2021. We immediately test-drove the latest model, which boasts enhanced performance and new electronic control devices.
Text by FUMIO Ogawa | Photographs by HIROHIKO Mochizuki
A Driving Sensation That Magnifies the Excellence of the Standard Golf
One of the first cars to establish itself as a "brand" was the Volkswagen Golf GTI. Despite its hatchback body, common for mass-market cars, its performance on the highway rivals that of Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Its appeal, built on exhilarating driving, remains undiminished in the new 8th generation.
The new Golf GTI, released on December 22, 2021, boasts a maximum output of 180kW, an increase of 11kW (15ps) from the previous model, and a maximum torque of 370Nm, up by 20Nm. This is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. In keeping with GTI tradition, it is front-wheel drive.
The driving experience is everything we hoped for. Although the body size has increased by 20mm in length and 15mm in wheelbase, and the vehicle weight has increased by 50kg, the powerful performance and agile handling give a distinctly improved impression.
I was quite impressed with the Golf e-TSI, which launched in Japan on June 15, 2021. Despite its small displacement (1.0-liter and 1.5-liter), it skillfully uses a mild hybrid system to assist acceleration, and its smooth driving performance, conveying a sense of low friction, felt meticulously crafted and left a strong impression.
I have always been impressed by the Golf GTI's driving sensation, which feels like a greatly expanded version of the standard Golf's excellence. While there are cars in the world that share a similar name but are entirely different (like the Yaris and GR Yaris), the Golf GTI remains a car purely for Golf fans. This hasn't changed with the new model.