Welcome to the new-old, or what Volkswagen prefers to call the seventh generation of the Golf GTI, which was unveiled today in final production trim following the release of a thinly disguised concept study at last year's Paris Motor Show.
As with the regular Golf MK7 hatchbacks, you'll be forgiven if you're having a hard time telling the new GTI apart from the current model, as VW has followed an extremely conservative evolutionary approach with the design.
The new sports hatch gets all the usual styling trinkets we've come to expect from GTI models, like the red accent line on the grille, which now extends into the headlamps, honeycomb grille inserts, smoked (LED) tail lamps, a rear spoiler, twin pipes, side sills, a diffuser and different set of 17-inch alloy wheels shod in 225/45 size tires.
The same applies for the interior with the classic tartan pattern fabric for the standard sport seats, a flat bottom steering wheel, black headliner, and red ambience lighting.
What's different about the latest Golf GTI is that it is based on VW's newest MQB platform that helps sheds 42kg (93 pounds) over the outgoing model for a base curb weight of 1,351kg (2,978 pounds)
It also gets a newer 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injection four-cylinder unit that's offered in two power levels, 217hp (220PS) for the base model and 227hp (230PS) for the GTI Performance version, which also features a front axle differential lock.
Available transmission options include a standard 6-speed manual gearbox and a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic.
VW quotes a 0-100 km/h (62mph) sprint time of 6.4 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h (155mph) for the 230PS model with a manual gearbox, which compares to the current 210PS Golf GTI's 6.9 seconds and 240km/h (149mph).
In Germany, advance ordering for the new Golf GTI Mk7 will begin on March 5, the same day that the car will be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show, with prices starting at €28,350 or about US$37,000
