Hatch Me If You Can!

AMONG the driving enthusiasts' clan, most pacify their inner beast with 1.0 or 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol cars delivering anywhere between 100 to 150 hp.

- LEKSHMI C PILLAI

In an emerging country like ours, access to true performance cars remains limited—be it due to lower purchasing power or the impracticality of manufacturing such cars locally. But if you are one of those unsatisfied with your modestly powered ride, here's the catch: a real hot hatch from Germany has landed on Indian shores—the Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk 8.5, the facelifted version of the 8th generation.

Priced at ₹53 lakh (ex-showroom), Volkswagen introduced it as a test offering, and the response? The entire batch of 150 fully imported units was booked even before the price was announced.

I got to test this sporty hatchback on Asia's longest high-speed test track—NATRAX in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Designed for speeds up to 375 km/h, this world-class facility was the perfect place to unleash the GTI's potential.

Exterior: Understated yet sporty