2006 Volkswagen GTI rear

Following the redesigned Jetta by a year, the Golf and its sportier GTI offshoot are set to arrive sometime in 2006. The GTI, having been criticized for losing much of its sport factor, gets its groove back with a 200-horsepower turbo 4 mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed version of Audi's Direct Shift Gearbox with an automatic mode. The suspension – now independent for better roadholding – has been tightened up closer to European specs than before, and the electro-mechanical steering has been tuned for an "extremely good center feel."