New Golf GTI maintains faith with DCT
The Volkswagen Golf GTI,
something of a global icon in the performance hatchback class, has appeared in its latest
incarnation with the launch of the hot version of the sixth generation of VW's staple model.
Like its five predecessors stretching back to 1975, the new GTI builds on the
foundation of the standard Golf to deliver a faster-paced driving experience. Like its immediate predecessor, 2005's
Mk 5 edition, it continues to offer the six-speed DQ250 dual clutch
transmission as an alternative to the standard manual, providing
customers with the opportunity to combine sparkling performance with
strong economy and much more relaxed town driving.
In terms of engine technology the new GTI again favors continuity: the two-liter direct-injection turbo unit gives a similar 210 hp between 5,300 and 6,200 rev/min, along with 280 Nm torque from 1700 rev/min. Hooked up to the six-speed dual clutch transmission - which VW labels DSG, for Direct Shift Gearbox - the 1,330 kg GTI reaches 100km/h (62mph) in 6.9 seconds; in this instance the DSG-equipped car is fractionally less economical than its manual counterpart, emitting 173 grams per kilometer instead of 170.
With the Golf Mk 6's interior improved still further over the already-good Mk 5, the impression is that of a near-premium car. The central shifter is not especially clear; though there are detents between its various positions it is best to refer to the display in the instrument pack to be sure of its exact setting. At the rear of the gate is a slot to the left to activate the manual sequential mode; behind the D position is the S (Sport setting). Wheel-mounted paddles provide fingertip control of gear changing.
As with most current DCT systems, the Golf's six-speed is very easy to drive at low speeds and provides all the qualities - smooth power take-up, seamless shifts, creep on idle - expected of a conventional automatic. Driven with more gusto, the transmission allows the engine to rev around the red line and beyond before triggering an upshift, which is invariably smooth; once the driver has backed off the throttle the box slips back into its easy-going sixth ratio.
Selecting the Sport position provides quicker changes and a tauter feel, giving the car a sharper and more responsive edge; slowing down for a junction, it's possible to hear the transmission shifting down sequentially through its ratios, and in Sport it helpfully blips the throttle as this takes place.
One minor downside to the Sport mode is that it holds on to the lower gears at low speeds for longer than some drivers would prefer, adding a slightly nervous edge at times. Nevertheless, this is very easy to override with a pull on the right-hand upshift paddle. A longer pull on this panel restores the transmission to its automatic mode.
On a technical level, the Sport mode not only raises the DSG shift points but also firms up the steering and damping and allows downshifts at higher rpm. Unlike pricier DCT applications such as the Porsche Boxster PDK, however, the Volkswagen set-up does not appear to sense downhill stretches or braking ahead of a corner to trigger an automatic downshift.
Yet the eager, revvy VW engine is well matched to this transmission, making it the intelligent choice for this, the quickest of all the Golfs. The car itself is fast and forgiving, though it can feel heavy on abrupt changes of direction in, say, a series of S-bends. The seating and interior fitments are of the highest quality, the driving position and comfort first class. Above all, however, the Golf has a feeling of solidity and permanence absent from its competitors - and which perhaps goes some way towards justifying its higher price position.
| Specification: Volkswagen Golf GTI 2.0 TSI DSG | |
|---|---|
Vehicle type: |
Five-door sports hatchback |
Engine: |
2.0 liter turbo gasoline |
Power: |
210 hp at 5300-6200 rev/min |
Torque: |
280 Nm at 1700-5200 rev/min |
Transmission: |
Six-speed wet-clutch DCT, front wheel drive |
Max Speed: |
239 km/h |
0-100 km/h: |
6.9 sec |
Fuel Economy: |
7.4 lit/100 km |
CO2 Emissions: |
173 g/km |
Price on the Road: |
€28,525 ($40,000 U.S.) |
Story Filed: 7/14/2009
By Tony Lewin, managing editor DCTfacts.com