The best cars from the Paris Motor Show 2012 you'll soon be able to drive
Volkswagen Golf GTI concept at Paris 2012
The GTI is back, and it’s leaner, meaner and greener than ever
Microsoft - Magic Car picsShow Thumbnails
Volkswagen excels at making solidly built, desirable cars. The hubbub surrounding the release of the Mk 7 Golf here at Paris proves that. And while that's an important car - despite its samey looks - our inner boy racer is getting more excited over this.
Paris Motor Show 2012: live
What is it?
The boot badge gives it away. VW pretty much coined the term hot hatchback when they applied the GTI tag to the Golf. Now here in 'concept' form (expect it to look pretty much like this when it hits showrooms early next year) the seventh iteration of the venerable German performance hatch is spoiling for a fight - watch out Ford Focus ST and Vauxhall Astra VXR.
What's hot?
The new Golf GTI is lighter and more powerful than the old one, with the standard model now boasting 220hp. For the first time, there's also a performance pack equipped GTI, with 230hp that gives it a 155mph top speed. This more focused version also has bigger brakes and a new type of front differential lock.
Microsoft - Magic Car pics
What's not?
VW's effort with the MK 7's styling is evolution not revolution - you really can see the Golf's lineage in the current car. It works though, and will doubtless be a superb all-round vehicle, selling in droves when it comes to market. The detail GTI features have also been more carefully honed than ever: the chronograph-style dials, for example, are gorgeous.
How much and when?
Expect the GTI to go on sale in Spring 2013, with a price tag in the region of £27,000. Volkswagen has yet to confirm pricing and specification as the vehicle hasn't even made it past the concept stage (officially), but we think it's significant how we were told in Paris that the performance pack GTI is 13 seconds faster round the Nürburgring...
Anything else I should know?
The standard 220hp MK 7 Golf GTI will reach 62mph from rest in 6.6 seconds and has a top speed of 152mph. The Golf GTI performance pack will reach 62mph in 6.5 seconds and tops out at 155mph. Impressively, VW is also quoting average economy of 47mpg for the standard car.
Paris Motor Show 2012: live
On Bing: see images of the Volkswagen Golf GTI MK 7
Find out how much a used Volkswagen GTI is worth on Auto Trader
Read a Volkswagen review on MSN Cars
First drive: Volkswagen Golf GTI 35 (2011 onwards)
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