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The pioneering “hot” hatchback, the VW Golf GTI, has finally made its formal arrival in India in its latest avatar. We decided to explore beyond the ordinary to find out just how extraordinary it really is

- Story: Jim Gorde Photography: Sanjay Raikar

BOLD, RED, SHINING BRIGHT, a beacon of hope that makes an enthusiast heart erupt with joy. There it stood before me, gleaming in the morning sun. Low, lithe and raring to go. Except, there was a city to navigate first.

I'll be honest. More often than not, car reviews are based on a quick jaunt out of town, some hilly roads or a highway, and then the review is typed out before the memory fades. But, this time, I took a different approach. A quick spin when the car arrived. A not-so-quick trip for the shoot; even a couple of days spent just living with the Golf GTI. And it works. Here's why.

At nearly 4.3 metres long, the Golf is as long as the popular crop of midsize SUVs. It has the wheelbase—2,627 mm—to match them, too. Although its made-in-India sibling, the Taigun has one which is 34 mm longer, it is about 60 mm shorter in overall length. The Golf looks wide and squat, ready to leap, because it is. It is 1,789 mm across and just 1,471 mm high. Plus, the wide track width contributes to its planted, raring-to-go stance. But, ultimately, it's a hatchback, so the inherent practicality is a big part of the equation. The performance, nameplate and heritage are just as important portions as well.

Apart from the “Kings Red” paint, there are more than a few red elements that mark it out as a special car, from “GTI” badging to the brake callipers inside those 18-inch “Richmond” alloy wheels. Those have nothing to do with AFC Richmond or Coach Lasso, I'm sure. And they have a diamond-turned surface finish, sharp and angular, totally in sync with the raring-to-go theme; when viewed from the left side, but not so on the right. The twin round, chrome tailpipes also do a swell job of both looking and sounding great. But the Golf GTI isn't all about its looks.