Given the speculated world premiere of the new Golf GTI at the Geneva Motor Show in March next year, it’s no surprise that prototypes of the original hot hatch series are coming out in droves these past few weeks. Today we bring you the latest sightings of the eighth-gen Golf GTI that continues its cold-weather testing near the Arctic Circle, with new images added in the gallery.
As VW has decided to trim down several cars in the United States, including most of the Golf lineup, the new GTI will be -bar any surprises- the lowest-end offering of the new Mk8 range, with the next Golf R sitting right at the top.
Oddly, as recently reported by Autonews, VW Canada officials somehow managed to convince their German counterparts to continue offering base Golf models in addition to the GTI and R in the country for the Mk8 gen. Both Canada and the United States are expected to receive the Golf GTI in 2021, possibly as a 2022MY. [Updated 12/21/2019].
The test car retains its clever camouflage, which covers pretty much all the points of interest, including the front and rear bumpers. GTIs were always fans of subtlety and the same will apply to the eighth generation, so don’t expect Honda Type R-levels of aggression here.
Related: 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI Spied Hiding Sporty Touches
The new VW Golf GTI will feature a model-specific front bumper that will help in distinguishing itself from its lesser siblings, alongside a set of deeper side sills and a different rear bumper that houses a pair of circular exhaust tips.
The exterior will be further dressed up with all the classic red GTI details and a model-specific honeycomb pattern for the front grille. VW might even alter the thin LED strip up front in pursuit of making the new Golf GTI more visible. Red brake calipers, new wheel designs and a roof spoiler will complete the transition from Golf to Golf GTI.
Don’t expect any major surprises under the bonnet as VW will continue using the EA888 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo unit, albeit in a slightly updated form. Much like the outgoing model, the new Golf GTI will be offered in two states of tune: a base model with around 245 HP and the more powerful version with around 290 HP. In both cases, power will go to the front wheels exclusively and customers will get to choose between a six-speed manual and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
VW originally planned to give the new Golf GTI a mild-hybrid version of the EA888 but apparently these plans were scrapped. The new model will also be available only as a five-door hatchback, since the three-door bodystyle has been abandoned altogether for this Golf generation.
The chassis will be further honed, featuring newly developed adaptive dampers and a more precise and direct steering rack. The interior will be upgraded with the traditional GTI recipe, meaning tartan seats, red stitching and new trim options, alongside model-specific displays for the screen on the instrument cluster and the infotainment system.
Aside from the GTI that’s expected to launch in Europe in the second half of 2020, the eighth-generation Golf range is also set to receive several other high-performance / sporty versions including the diesel GTD, the plug-in hybrid GTE and the range-topping R version, which is expected to debut in the summer.
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