Golf 8 GTI unveiled ahead of Geneva Motor Show public showing

It must surely be one of the most anticipated new car reveals of the year, especially for South African fans, and earlier today the VW Golf 8 GTI broke cover. It was expected that the hot Golf 8 would be unveiled at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show starting in a few days, but VW were eager to show its latest baby to the world. Golf 8 GTI was shown with more additions to the range, the electric GTE and GTD. Read our original Golf 8 story here.

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Three flavours of GT

VW sees these three models as the sportier variants of the Golf 8 range. Each has LED headlights as standard, a different radiator grille to other Golf 8 versions and each has a dedicated colour – red for the GTI, blue for the GTE and silver in the GTD to help differentiate them.

Golf 8 GTI

VW hasn’t given away all the info relating to the new model, but the most important bit has been made public. Golf 8 GTI is powered by 2,0-litre turbocharged direct-injection engine. Maximum power is rated as 180 kW with peak torque of 370 N.m. Two transmission options are available, a six-speed manual gearbox, which is standard or an optional seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG).

Click here to read our Golf R driving review.

Golf 8 GTD

The new Volkswagen Golf GTD

The GTD has a 2,0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine with a power output of 147 kW and maximum torque of 400 N.m. Volkswagen offers the Golf GTD with a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox as standard.

Golf 8 GTE

The Golf GTE is the hybrid of the family. Its powertrain consists of a four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 110 kW and an electric motor with 85 kW. Total system power is rated as 180 kW with maximum system torque of 400 N.m. A six-speed DSG gearbox is standard. All-electric range from the lithium-ion battery is quoted as 60 km. The Golf GTE can be driven at speeds of up to 130 km/h in all-electric mode.

Volkswagen Germany made the Golf 8 GTI available to a few select media ahead of its debut which is why you get to have a closer look in the video below.