THE LATEST AND PERHAPS GREATEST GTI IS AS ALWAYS BASED ON THE VW GOLF TWO-DOOR HATCHBACK. ONLY ONE TRIM LEVEL IS OFFERED BUT EVERY GTI COMES WITH PLENTY OF DESIRABLE FEATURES INCLUDING SPORT-TUNED SUSPENSION, 17-INCH WHEELS WITH PERFORMANCE TIRES, UPGRADED BRAKES, H.I.D. HEADLIGHTS AND INTEGRATED FOGLAMPS, DISTINCTIVE FRONT TRIM, HEATED MIRRORS, A REAR SPOILER, TILT-TELESCOPIC STEERING WHEEL, AND A BUNDLE OF POWER ACCESSORIES. THE GTI WE DROVE WAS ALSO OUTFITTED WITH AN OPTIONAL POWER SUNROOF.
AND POWER HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE GTI'S CALLING CARD. THE NEW GENERATION GTI PACKS A 2-LITER, 200 HORSEPOWER TURBO 4-CYLINDER ENGINE THAT ALSO CHURNS UP 207 FOOT-POUNDS OF TORQUE. THERE'S A FIVE SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION STANDARD, A FIVE SPEED AUTOMATIC, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE GTI, A SIX-SPEED D.S.G. OR DIRECT SHIFT TRANSMISSION-A CLUTCHLESS MANUAL AUTOMATIC CONTROLLED BY STEERING WHEELS PADDLES THAT CAN BE SHIFTED BY THE DRIVER OR USED AS A FULLY AUTOMATIC GEARBOX.
THE END RESULT IS A QUICK-ACCELERATING AND SUPERIOR HANDLING HATCHBACK THAT WILL TEMPT YOU TO MAKE EVERY TRIP YOU TAKE IN IT AN IMPROMPTU RECREATION OF THE GRAND PRIX OF MONACO.
INTERIOR SPACE IS AMPLE WITH A 60'40 SPLIT REAR SEAT AND A PAS-THROUGH FOR LONGER PIECES OF CARGO. THE PERFORMANCE PERSONALITY OF THE GTI COMES THROUGH IN THE RACING STYLE SEATS AND PEDAL SET, ALONG WITH A 180 MPH SPEEDOMETER. THE PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM IS FIRST RATE AS IS THE OVERALL FIT AND FINISH OF THE CABIN.
SAFETY FEATURES INCLUDE DRIVER, PASSENGER AND SIDE-CURTAIN AIRBAGS. ABS, AND TRACTION AND STABILITY CONTROL ARE STANDARD GIVING THE GTI IMPRESSIVE SCORES IN GOVERNMENT CRASH TESTING.
THE BASE STICKER PRICE OF THE 2007 VOLKSWAGEN GTI IS $20,340. THE OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT MENU IS PLENTIFUL AND COULD RUN THE TAB TO OVER $30,000 IF YOU CHECK OFF ENOUGH EXTRAS.
BUT EVEN IN BASE TRIM, THE NEW GTI IS A WORTHY DESCENDANT OF THE ORIGINAL GTI THAT BEGAN THE WHOLE HOT HATCHBACK CRAZE WHICH HAS YET TO COOL OFF. IT GOES, STOPS, AND HANDLES WITH APLOMB WHILE KEEPING EVERYONE COMFORTABLY ACCOMMODATED. WE THINK THE NEW GTI DELIVERS A LOT.