Interesting read for all the VW lovers here
Golf GTI diesel set for Australia
JEZ SPINKS
October 28, 2009 - 11:16AM
VW Golf GTI
The Volkswagen Golf GTD looks set to be heading Down Under as the efficiency push hits the hot hatch brigade.
Volkswagen Australia is planning to introduce a diesel version of its iconic GTI hot-hatch by the end of 2009.
The German brand has just released its sixth-generation Golf GTI locally, and believes Australia is ready for the GTD version already on sale in Europe.
“We are thinking about bringing as well this [diesel GTI] version into the Australian market,” says Volkswagen Australia boss Anke Koeckler.
“We have big competence in diesel and we have still a kind of USP [in Australia]; before at times we have had about 50 per cent of the [local] diesel market just with VW, even if that has changed a bit because competitors have seen there is a good opportunity with diesel.
“Diesel is [now] well regarded in the Australian market. And from the point of the environment, you have [with the GTD] a very great ratio on performance combined with [low] fuel consumption.”
The Golf GTD is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel. At 125kW it has 30kW less than the GTI but boasts an extra 70Nm of torque (350Nm).
Volkswagen’s GTD would follow diesel hot-hatches from Renault (Sport Megane dCi 175) and sister company Skoda (RS TDI).
The GTD is 1.2 seconds slower (8.1sec) in the 0-100km/h acceleration run, though offers a significant fuel economy advantage – 5.3 litres per 100km v 7.6L/100km (GTI DSG). Emissions are 139 grams (CO2) per km v 178g/km.
As with the GTI, the GTD is available with a choice of manual or dual-clutch auto gearboxes – both with six ratios.
Volkswagen says the GTD is “aimed at diesel drivers who value maximum dynamics”. In Europe it’s priced slightly below the GTI that starts at $38,990 in Australia for a three-door manual version.
The GTD sits on sports suspension and 17-inch alloy wheels.
It looks near-identical to the GTI with the same front bumper, honeycomb grille and headlights, though gets chromed stripes at the front instead of the iconic hot-hatch’s trademark horizontal red stripes.
Volkswagen Australia has yet to officially confirm the diesel GTI, though says it is much closer to signing off the business case than it is for the Golf-based Scirocco coupe.
“We are still considering Scirocco,” says Koeckler, “ but for now we are focusing on launch of GTI. Then we will see if there is still a need for the Scirocco.
“We always to make sure there is potential for volume for a car. If it’s only 200 or 300 cars, it’s not affordable [as a business case]. It still has to be a profitable for the dealers. We would need to sell 500 at least.”
Volkswagen’s fastest ever Golf, the 199kW R, will definitely be on the boat to Australia, due about mid 2010. The all-wheel-drive Golf R is claimed to sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds.
Warning: This is an Old Thread
This discussion is older than 120 days. information contained in it may no longer be current . Please think of the children before resurrecting this ancient thread!
Reply With Quote