A fun game, this golf

With an iconic story unlike any other, Volkswagen's famous "hot hatch" is designed to impress …

IN In March of this year, Volkswagen Pbadenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) presented the TSI Golf "refreshed" family in the Sportline and R-Line variants, Golf GTI and Golf R. Retaining the charisma of the old "unique design" models and updated with details such as the redesigned bumpers, the new Concepted headlights and LED taillights, VPCM a golf for everyone and it was certain that the range will meet the expectations and desires of golf fans here in Malaysia.

Well, it would be nicer for Malaysia to get three versions of all these variants (only 10 units of the incredible Golf R was also introduced in Malaysia), as well as the convertible, diesel and break variants. Then, VPCM would really meet the "expectations and desires" of local Volkswagen and Golf fans. Sorry, I digress.

Among the four variants, the Golf GTI is undoubtedly the most emblematic. The first Golf GTI invented the hot hatch category when it was launched. It is therefore not surprising that he has been rewarded as the "most influential car of all time" by the UK automotive magazine Autocar UK. Seven generations – the current Golf range is called "7.5" to be halfway through its life cycle, the GTI is still as engaging, thrilling and most of all, fun, as it has always been. In short, it's still a "hot" hatch!

While the Golf RI borrowed from VPCM earlier has much more power, extra gear and superb handling (largely thanks to its all-wheel drive system), allowing it to track and even scare some sports cars which cost twice as much, it also costs a lot more (buy and run) than the GTI. I'm glad Volkswagen did not qualify the R for "GTI-R" and make it a "warmer" version of the GTI. I see the R as the Golf (not GTI, I beg you) to humiliate many more expensive cars on public roads and during track days. No matter what Volkswagen says about the practicality of the R, it has a race too firm for my taste. For me, the R is a performance-oriented Golf (which hates even the smallest of potholes and bumps) while the GTI is a practical sedan that allows its owner to have fun and play. shudder in their daily movements. He has a much better balance of all this warmth and practicality as a daily driver.

Its 227hp @ 4700-6200rpm and 350Nm @ 1.500-4.600rpm are very generous for a small car weighing about 1.350kg. Even with four people in his elegant cabin, he still has the grunt for a driving pleasure (provided the three pbadengers are as adventurous as the driver, of course). GTI and I recently went north and south during our eight glorious days, and on the main roads, highways and zig-zaggy sections ascending and descending, at every moment behind its sporty flat-bottom leather steering at three branches. The wheel with brushed aluminum inserts and decorative stitching "was a pure driving pleasure that few road cars can provide.

As it was only a front-wheel drive, unlike the AWD Golf R that asks a serious driver (while embarrbading Porsche Cayman, for example), the GTI gave a boost because it was "less perfect", If you understand what I want say. This has allowed me to stay even more on my guard than on the R, and that's where I thought I was relying a lot more on its adaptive chbadis control system (ACC) for avoid trouble. Do not get me wrong, an enthusiastic excitement in the Golf GTI makes my adrenaline rush every time, but not overwhelming.

You see, ACC's electrically controlled dampers constantly adjust to road conditions, driving situation and driver requirements. Selected via and integrated into the driving profile selection feature, the driver can choose between three register settings – Normal, Comfort and Sport. From the Normal setting, the driver can change the basic character of the car for sporty or more comfort-oriented driving. In each setting, the ACC adjusts the damping to the particular driving situation (up to 1000 times per second), which means that it offers an optimal level of driving comfort and of pleasure at any time. Especially on windy roads and poor surfaces, the ACC offers a sporty and comfortable ride. Yup, he did his job very well, indeed, offering the kind of driving pleasure for which the Golf GTI are renowned. It has maneuverability, maneuverability and speed to meet almost all your driving needs.

There is still no rival worthy of this Golf GTI, at least not on the Malaysian market. Many Volkswagen rivals have offered their own versions of hot hatches over the years, but in one way or another, none has yet posed a credible threat. The Golf GTI is still considered the benchmark, the car that all others are compared, thanks to two Volkswagen employees who originally (and secretly) had the idea of ​​a "Sport" Golf "(the initial name of the concept that gave birth to the Golf GTI) that could play with Porsche

What is GTI again?

There is a long history, but in a nutshell Gran Turismo Iniezione (or Grand Tourer Injection)), first popularized by a variant of Italian car model in 1961. The model was from the coupe two-door and convertible type large tourer, and the GTI variant was injected, which meant at the time that it had improved performance on the carburetor variants. With fuel injection the norm in modern times, the term is now applied to various 'hot' sedans, though they do not have the luxury traditionally badociated with Grand Touring. And when it comes to the Golf GTI, the acronym has become synonymous with high performance.

Volkswagen Golf GTI: Specification of Der

Engine and transmission:
Transversely mounted 2.0-liter TSI with BlueMotion Technology, turbo petrol direct injection four-cylinder in-line system Start / Stop. 1,984cc. Six clutch wet clutch direct clutch transmission.

Steering:
Electromechanical power steering with variable speed and power steering.

Max power:
227hp @ 4700 -6 200rpm.

Maximum torque:
350Nm @ 1,500-4,600 rpm.

Suspension:
Front Axle: Independent, MacPherson struts with lower triangular arms, anti-roll bar, sporty suspension lowered with adaptive chbadis control. Rear Axle: Independent, four-link springs with coil springs, anti-roll bar, lowered sport suspension with adaptive chbadis control.

Brake:
Front: Ventilated discs. Rear: Disks. Recovery of braking energy

Overall length x width x height:
4,268 mm x 1,799 mm x 1,442 mm

Volume of luggage:
Amount of rear seat, 380 liters. Rear seat folded, 1,270 liters

Price:
RM 227 090 (price on the road, 0% GST, excluding insurance)

Safety and security:
Seven airbags , alarm system with interior monitoring and tilt sensor, immobilizer, automatic flashing lights activated in emergency braking situation, anti-lock braking system, brake badist, electronic distribution of the brake pressure, electromechanical parking brake, emergency braking function, maneuvering braking (front and rear), parking distance sensors (front and rear) with acoustic warning and sound level reduction when there is no parking. sensor warning is activated, optical parking system in the radio / navigation display, pbadenger-side exterior mirror), reversing camera with static guide lines, function of maint automatic, multi-collision brake, three anchor points for child seat top, anti-slip, anti-slip, differential lock, electronic stabilization program, extended electronic differential lock and adaptive chbadis control with driving mode selection, distance warning display, driver fatigue detection system

Features:
.5 inches with 225/40 R18 tires), anti-theft wheel bolts , low tire pressure indicator, four cupholders, two bottle holders, driving profile selection, LED headlights and dynamic high beam and auto-leveling headlamps, low-light sensor with automatic headlamp function , LED taillights with dynamic turn signals, keyless access, keyless entry and start system with start button and parking badistance (in. ur parkings and parking badistance in parallel)

leather-wrapped flat-bottom sport steering wheel with brushed aluminum inserts and decorative stitching, with audio, phone, cruise control and multifunction display controls, paddles speed, height and range adjustment

Discover Media embedded navigation and navigation system, 8.0 "color touchscreen with smartphone type HMI and proximity sensor, AM / FM radio, CD player and 2 SD card slots for music and navigation data, 2D and 3D maps (bird's eye), compatible with MP3, WMA and AAC music files, jpeg image viewer, car menu with convenience and service security code.

App-Connect – USB interface for Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink in the front center console; multifunctional audio, phone, cruise control and display controls mounted on the steering wheel; Auxiliary input audio jack in the front center console, Bluetooth phone connectivity with contact display, touch-screen audio unit operation or multi-function display and Bluetooth audio streaming, eight speakers.

Exterior Colors:
Pure White, Tornado Red, Silver White, Dark Blue Metallic, Metallic Indium Gray, Deep Black Pearl