2021 VW Golf GTI revealed ahead of Geneva Motor Show premiere

The Volkswagen Golf GTI is one of the hot-selling hatchbacks in the Australian market. The German automaker has now revealed the latest model ahead of its premiere at the Geneva Motor Show. Changes are more aesthetic than mechanical.

The 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI is longer, narrower and taller by 29 mm, 10 mm, and 4 mm. However, the wheelbase is still the same at 2,636 mm. The suspension setup includes the same McPherson struts in the front and multi-link at the rear. However, the shocks and dampers are adaptive now and can be stiffened or softened based on the driving mode that is selected by the driver.

The new Golf GTI has a very attractive front face. There is a thin strip of LED light passing across the front grille, connecting the two LED headlight units. There is also a 5-piece hexagonal LED light on each side of the bumper. It can be had in either 17-inch or 19-inch wheels, along with red brake calipers. The rear gets split LED lights and twin exhaust pipes.

The cabin has also received a lot of updates. The driver’s display is now a completely digital unit with a 10.25-inch screen. The dashboard gets a 10-inch touch display that is connected via VW’s connectivity service. The steering wheel is now wrapped in a fine leather cover. There is also a cruise controller added behind the steering.

There are no such changes under the hood of the Volkswagen Golf GTI. It continues to use the Mk8 GTI powertrain that produces the same 245 PS of power and 370 Nm of torque. As for the transmission, buyers can choose either a 6-speed manual unit or a 7-speed DSG gearbox (sift-by-wire). The drivetrain also remains the same as front-wheel-drive.

The new VW Golf GTI might be ready for sales by the end of 2020, though we are not expecting it to be available in showrooms before the start of 2021. Once launched, it will take on the likes of the Renault Megane RS and the Ford Focus ST.

Also read: Volkswagen rumoured to be working on an ID electric sports car