VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI

The OG hot hatch finally makes its way to our shores, and we welcomed it with a flat-out run at Asia's longest highspeed test track!

- ABHAY VERMA

The Volkswagen Golf GTI is a name that has been worshipped at the hot hatch altar across its generations. And finally, Volkswagen has brought the iconic nameplate to India! Now, the GTI sits below just the R in the world of Volkswagens, which is the top step. But the Golf R, which is the most powerful version of the Golf and equipped with an all-wheel drive system was launched only in 2002. The GTI though has been around since 1975 and celebrates its 50th anniversary this year! In that sense, the Golf GTI is easily the most iconic name in the world of hot hatches, even if the R is ‘hotter’.

Making matters further interesting was the fact that we were to drive the Golf GTI at the NATRAX. The NATRAX is home to Asia’s longest high-speed test track which is 11.3km long, and this meant we would be able to explore the 265PS and 370Nm hatchback’s full potential, in a controlled environment. As I laid my eyes on the car, in the very alluring-looking shade of grey you see on these pages, I couldn’t help but admire its long, low-slung stance. But while it may be a hatchback, the Golf GTI is large. In fact, at 4,289mm long, it’s just 41mm shorter than the Hyundai Creta, which should give you some perspective about its length. The sleek headlamps help the car look wide and this being the GTI version, a red line runs across its width at the front, through the headlamps and the grille.