Spied: 2009 Volkswagen Golf GTI
August 27, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
We’ve all seen pictures of the new sixth generation Volkswagen Golf, but literally just hours ago our European spy photographers captured the first pictures of what appears to be the next GTI.
The new Golf GTI is based on Volkswagen’s all new Golf/Rabbit lineup. Initially we were stumped as to whether this was an R32, R36 or GTI.
Given the dual exhausts, it would make sense for this to be the R32, however based on the timing and physical evidence – we concluded this prototype is more likely to be the upcoming GTI.
Sources are saying that the new GTI will be powered by a 157kW, 2-litre turbo.
The GTI will debut this fall as a “concept” at the Paris Motor Show and will go on sale shortly afterwards in Europe, although we’ll have to wait a little bit longer.
We’ve all agreed the new Golf looks the business, and could potentially be the best looking People’s Car to date.
We would like to know what you think of the new GTI? Does the car still have its original appeal or has the market caught up with the likes of the Volvo C30 T5 and the Focus XR5 providing reasonable competition?
Volkswagen will be launching the all-new Golf in Iceland shortly.
Print it: 
Look forward to some great pics from Car Advice in Iceland. You guys are kings of car pics.
I think the Volvo and Ford have a good chance against the GTi, as some think it is ridiculously overpriced.
however, you cant compare the lower end model focus’ to that of the VW or the Volvo. quality wise is not at all up to standard. strangely enough though, when i go to dads work and sit in a CL or LX Focus, then sit in an XR5 or Cabriolet, the quality difference is astounding! im guessing its coz theyre built in different plants….
hmmm. but yeh, top spec turbo models are just as good if not better that GTi. =]
Unlikely that the car photographed above is an R32 as it has been widely published that the R32 engine will be dropped from the upcoming Golf range due to emissions legislation. The R32 is said to be replaced by an all-wheel drive GTI ‘R’ model which will please many, no doubt.
Not sure if the R36 can be used in the Mk6 Golf though, or if it meets the relevant emissions targets. Either way, you’d think Volkswagen could make the R32 or R36 meet emissions laws if they wished. Maybe???
This car has the signatures of the GTI – honeycomb grille and red calipers.
It doesn’t look like a new R32 to me – the current R32 has centre dual outlets which I feel would be retained in an update model, don’t know that for sure, of course.
The engine is a new one which is already appearing in some Audi models, it has quite a bit of internal differences to the current unit. Bumping up power to 157kw/300nm? from the current 147kw/280nm seems like what you’d expect. Can be easily fixed by a visit to APR/REVO/etc and for less than $2000 you get 190Kw/400Nm :) Bit poor though, since you can buy a “GTI Pirelli” in the UK which has 170kw/300nm :( . A couple of years ago the Edition 30 had the same power output.
If the produce an R version with 4wd it would probably get 200kw/400nm which is easily achievable from the 2.0 engine.
Meanwhile, I’m thoroughly enjoying my current model GTI, even without an ECU flash :)
i’m a volvo fan from way back so it would be interesting to see whether the T5 could be worked harder by remapping the ecu than the golf 4. Some of the mechanics, though, reckon the best bet for tuning is the turbo diesel, and they swear by the golf for that.
If they wanted [and VW have been cutting prices] to sell this for $35k and up, they will sell zillions and kill the market-segement.
Its not to bad a car really, but for under $40k i would go Mazda CX7 [which this great website C/A will test very very soon! :-)]
Depends what u want i suppose?
Cheers
F-0
@Reckless, don’t be surprised if the GTI Pirelli is in a Volkswagen dealer near you very soon. ;)
I hope they retain those wicked BBS CH wheels for the final product. Looks like 18″ too… :)
The Golf GTi has always been about restraint and subtlety, ever since the Mk1.
For louder visuals, VW themselves have usually obliged with a supercharged Golf or the later R32s. But an XR5 in metallic orange is king of the horn for now.
I am waiting for the reviews and the arrival of the Golf VI GTI in Australia. I’m about to update my car soon and will probably buy a new GTI but I am hanging off till next year for the Golf VI. The current GTI looks great when I see it driving around and I can’t wait to get one myself.
Spot on Liam! Unfortunately the R32 will depart us with the introduction of MkVI. Its such a shame i adore that car and its sensational exhaust note! The new GTI from what ive seen over the web looks the business and the proposed new GTI-R should be a cracker especially if VW get the price right! Btw i love the new interior design of the MkVI, looks sensational! I need to get saving :)
wheels and motor had been talking about 177kw for the upcoming GTi. Nothing confirmed though ofcourse
@Craig: You should have plenty of time to save for a Golf VI GTI, I wouldn’t expect them to be on sale in Australia until around June 2010.
Check out LeftLaneNews.com now for a pretty good com-gen of the next GTI.
An AWD GTI-R using the Audi 2.0 TFSI which delivers 200 kW would be a worthy successor to the R32! This engine won Engine of the Year 2008, propelling the Audi TT-S to 5.2s 0-100 times and only using 7.9L/100!
That’s the plan Lzyboy. 8)
i dissagree with those saying that a turbo 4 could replace the R32. The whole point of the R32 was that rediculously good V6 motor that sounded tits when you got up it! Without that, the whole point of the car is lost, because everyone always knew that in reality it was barely any quicker then the regular GTi anyway. It was all about the motor!
Liam is correct. It is the GTI, there will be no more R32 or no Golf R36. The R will be replaced with a GTI-R model that uses the same 200kw and AWD running gear as the new Audi TT-S. Although I’ve been told the new GTI will be 155kw and 350nm. But 157kw could be on the money. Either way there wasn’t a major hike in power but a nice jump in torque.
Richo you’re wrong. The R32 is gone. VW has mentioned this, there wil be no new R32 or any fantasy R36. The engine will not meet new emission standards. The R32 will be replaced by a GTI-R 200kw AWD. Everything is ready to go.
Also there has been a major effort to reduce costs and use less expensive materials in the manufacture of the Golf VI. How this affects build quality is anyone’s guess, but my fear is it won’t be an improvement. We’ll have to wait and see.
I must say I was looking forward to a last hurrah R36 Golf but that has been confirmed not to be.
Liam. I’m spewing. Waiting 2 years for the next GTI will be torture. I have the money now.
Craig, get the XR5 now…then think again about getting the new GTI comes out in 2 years. Thats what i would do if i had the money to spend now lol.
I’ve read from other websites that the torque figures could be 258lb ft- about 350 Nm.That seems quite an increase from 280Nm-which is a good thing.
The XR5 competitor is a very good car probably similiar in ride comfort and performance to the current GTI.Although I can’t help feeling that the XR5 should’ve been the fastest front wheel drive hatch -considering it’s 2.5L engine.
Craig, Allan’s suggestion nearly made me choke on my dinner :) Why would anyone throw money away like that?, haha
Get a Golf GTI now – the VI will be cheaper for VW to build, both the body and the engine have been worked over to cut production cost and time/complexity.
You never know, when the new one comes out it might make the current ones highly prized :)
For some people, 2 years is more than a lifetime. Every time I jump in mine it grows on me more, only 1100ks so far – man, take your cash and go get one now.
This comment refers only to the sytle/looks of the car: I find it rather boring. The front end style has gone backwards to the MkIV and the rear looks like a Toureg. Mechanically it’s probably a great car, but couldn’t they come up with something slightly more visually exciting?
Reckless 1
I’m not really interested in an XR5 as I drive an XR6T at work everyday (soon to get an FG XR6T). I had a Golf IV and loved it and my wife’s mother has a Golf V. I will wait till I see it at the Paris Motor Show and see how big it is,how it looks/goes and that will help me make my decision.
I drove the current Golf GTi DSG for the first time just last week. I really liked it until I turned the volume down on the radio to listen to the engine. Has anyone else noticed that the DSG sounds like it’s farting whenever it changes gears? It’s quite disconcerting, yet amusing.
Focus and the rest don’t come anywhere near the quality of the Golf GTI. Focus XR4 doesn’t even have cruise control. It’s not even an option. Marketing suicide.
Do you mean Focus XR5T or Fiesta XR4?
Hey! Phil, to many of us that farting is like music to our ears.
Waiting patiently for delivery of my Pirelli Edition.
I will be removing my KW V3’s from my GTi and fitting them to the P/Edition.
I have also already contacted APR about all my goodies for the vehicle lol.
Volkswagen intending to position the GTI-R in the EVO and STI marketplace, I think so. This future group test will be very interesting! If VW make the GTI-R look much sportier than the standard Golf 6, like Mitsubishi has done with the Evo, then I think this forthcoming model will look the part as well as being much closer to the Evo and STI’s power, hardcore drivability, masculinity, and street cred.
I am considering the brilliant Evo X in a couple of years time but I will also be highly considering the GTI-R, depending on how I feel after my test drives I suppose :-). Any thoughts?
Hey! Neo,
Spoke with a chap that had just migrated from numerous amounts of Subi’s/Sti’s to the Evo. Explained the cons and pros of both vehicles but did the change due to high tech specs of the Evo. Apparently he was very happy he did and if I may say so, it looked bloody good as well.
I am also very interested in the GTi R when and if it surfaces. Personally I don’t like the look of the new Golf but hopefully the GTi R will look the grouse as well as hammer along.
As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I have ordered the Pirelli Edition and will max it out, but I have to admit I mainly purchased it because I wanted a Mk V to hang onto before the Mk IV rocked up and thought the P/Edition would be the wise move.
So like everyone else, I await the Gti R with great anticipation and hope it turns out to be one kick arse machine and not disappoint us like those clowns will be, when they rock up expecting to be greeted by ten or what ever virgins. Was that bad of me?
Later ;0)
The new mk6 to me looks like an audi inside. quality is going to get better then the mkv. If you read about the changes they say the noise is reduced and the ride is much better. I would say yes they have used the parts bin as always to me from audi as the asian market is getting bigger. I know that as you only have to look at the concept A from Vw 2006 an the new BMW X6 i think its called, sim in design. Of course the DSG gearbox vw now use is used by porche and i think either BMW-Merc. Bluemotion shared with them too…
The germans make nice cars the MK6 I think is direct import to aus from germany now not Sth Africa for the mk6 too I think…should be a nice car to drive. I have the mkv 1.9 d with dsg nice car would love mkv red gti!!!
Speaking to VW Australia, and both major VW dealers in Perth, it will be soon to be made official that the Mark IV Golf will be hitting our shores in the first half of ‘09. Watch this space…(if not sooner!)
they changed the rear head lights. i loved the old ones. they look so awesome.
HOW MUCH IT WILL COST VW GOLF VI GTI?IF ANYONE KNOW PLEASE ANSWER ME
Brothers Iam South African still struggling even to get a used golf4 gti. I do like cars and read your comments like no orther body. Can any one of you throw me a gti no matter how many millage. Its dream to see myself behind that Germany machine.
VW GTI is a superb car. Handling is great and it rides like a BMW. The only thing that I am concern is the realiability of the car. I guess it can be improved.