The new Volkswagen GTD, the diesel version of the GTI, is now available to order in the UK starting from £25,285. That is £310 more than the outgoing GTD, but you do get a whole lot more for your money with the seventh generation Golf.
The GTD is aimed at those who are prepared to compromise a bit on the performance to get better fuel economy. The 2.0 liter diesel engine in this car is not as powerful as the petrol unit in the GTI – 184 PS compared to 210 PS – but it returns 67.3 miles, making for CO2 emissions of only 109 g/km, which given the performance it delivers is fantastic. The GTD might be weaker than the GTI, but it is by no means a slouch. The car goes from 0 to 62 mph in 7.5 seconds, while the top speed is 142 mph.
Visually, the Golf GTD is distinguished over normal models with smoked LED rear lights with LED licence plate illumination, along with standard bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, chrome dual tailpipes, 18-inch ‘Nogaro’ alloy wheels with 225/40 tyres, side skirts, a rear diffuser, sports suspension and a large roof spoiler. It has just the right amount of flamboyance to let people know it is something special without getting uncool.
Inside the cabin is where you really get to grips with the fact that the GTD is no ordinary Golf, what with the tartan ‘Jacara Grey’ sports seats, a black roof lining, sports steering wheel, and stainless steel pedals; there is also a GTD-specific gear lever, trim strips and instrument cluster.
And as for the equipment, the standard kit on the Golf GTD includes high-end stuff such as progressive steering, white ambience lighting, 2Zone climate control and a touchscreen infotainment system which also includes DAB digital radio, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity.
