Volkswagen Golf GTI

The Mk8 Volkswagen Golf GTI has been snapped testing in Europe. Don't be fooled by this particular Golf GTI's dowdy-looking front end, behind the clever camouflage is a more aggressive front bar with extra cooling for its more powerful engine. There are wider side sills and the rear is home to a racy-looking diffuser, along with larger exhaust pipes – that are actually exposed, not hidden behind a chrome insert on the bumper – hinting at the GTI's extra performance potential.

The new Volkswagen Up! GTI has been hailed as something of a spiritual successor to the Mk1 or Mk2 Golf GTI. It's light, makes a similar amount of power and, unlike the Polo and Golf GTI in Australia, is offered with a manual transmission. Which is faster, though? With 86kW on tap from a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine, the performance Up! isn't exactly a powerhouse, making it a much better rival for the 86kW Mk2 GTI than a modern Golf. Progress, huh.