A new Golf GTI is a very important moment in the automotive calendar, and the launch of the sixth generation is no different. However, we did have some questions: Since the current Mk5 GTI is so good, how was VW intending to improve on it?

The answer is interesting because they’ve largely kept the Mk5 intact. In some ways, the new Mk6 is more of a facelfit than an entirely new car. For example, it keeps the same basic body structure, independent rear suspension, 200hp 2.0TSI turbo engine (although European versions get 210hp) as well as the same six-speed DSG or manual transmissions.
What they’ve done is cleverly refine the Mk5 to produce a superior package that VW of America is hoping to sell for a similar price to the existing car when it arrives here in October 2009.
Obviously, the biggest change is to the exterior. The new GTI looks sharper and shares the new family face with the European Scirocco. However, the roof and glass are actually the same as the Mk5, so the proportions remain familiar.
Inside, they increased the amount of insulation and used thicker glass to create a more refined experience. The dash and steering wheel are updated to create a better impression, while the sports seats remain fantastically supportive.
From our perspective, the most dramatic alterations were to the traction control and the inclusion of a new “electronic differential”.
The Mk5 GTI boasted incredible handling, but the Mk6 has eclipsed it significantly. The new ESP program helps reduce understeer, while the diff generates wonderful stability for high speed cornering. Where the old traction control would kill the ignition and cut power as soon as wheelspin was detected, the new system restores traction in a more natural manner. It allows an amount of wheelspin and maintains forward progress, making the Mk6 GTI a much faster car across country (or so it seems).
Although you have to drive the GTI quite hard to find these improvements, we think they will be hugely appreciated by performance enthusiasts and anybody who plans to use their GTI on the track.
You can read our full report on the 2010 VW Golf GTI in the June 2009 issue of eurotuner magazine.