Despite the 5-door Golf GTI being the more widely sold body style and the most practical version, the there’s something elementally appealing about a more compact 3-door hot hatch. Some relief will come in August, when Volkswagen Australia is slated to be bringing (only) 150 of them.
As part of VW’s updated line-up of Golfs, colloquially known as the Mk 7.5, a batch of 3-door Golf GTIs will be joining the incoming lot of Golf hatches, 5-door Golf GTIs, and Golf Rs for the 2017 model year.
Additionally, the 3-door GTIs will be a little special and called the Performance Edition 1 and will come as with extra kit - leather upholstery, Active Info Display in lieu of an analogue gauge cluster, LED tail lights - as well as an upgraded safety feature list that will include active cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, and park assist.
Welcome though those are, it wouldn’t be deserving of its extended moniker if it weren’t for a good old power boost. The fewer-doored GTIs will receive a more powerful 2.0-litre TSI EA888 turbocharged four-cylinder that generates 11kW more than the standard motor, or 180kW with 370Nm of peak torque.
Naturally, this is mated to VW’s new seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic. To help it cope with the extra power and higher speeds that makes possible, the GTI Performance Edition 1 will be fitted with uprated brake rotors and a front locking differential.
Apart from exclusivity, extra performance, and additional equipment, buyers won’t be getting much in the way of customisation options with only two exterior paint options: Dark Blue Iron and White Silver.
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