AND IT MIGHT have seemed like ‘make believe: a diesel GTI? Well, yes. And today, Volkswagen has revealed the new one, based on the new Golf Mk VII, and headed for the Geneva Motor Show next month.The frugally minded among you might be interested to know that this new Volkswagen Golf GTD is capable of returning some 68mpg on the combined cycle with emissions pegged at just 109g/km of CO2. But thats not interesting, is it? Whats interesting is the fact this new Golf GTD is the most powerful GTD...in the world.Its got a 180bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine with 280lb ft of torque, which Volkswagen reckons is good for a 0-62mph time of 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 143mph. OK, so its not going to set your pants on fire, but they might certainly become very warm. Consider the old Golf GTI had 207bhp and went from 0-62mph in 7.2 seconds, and we declared that car ruddy good indeed.Its front-wheel-drive, obviously, and you can choose a six-speed manual gearbox or Vee-Dubs rather excellent DSG six-speeder. On the outside, Volkswagen has decorated the GTD with smoked LED rear lights, chromed exhaust pipes, 17-in GTD wheels, a diffuser, and a large roof spoiler. Underneath, were told theres sports suspension too. Thats nice.Inside, you get the classic tartan pattern seats, a sports steering wheel, GTD trim strips and instrument cluster, automatic climate control, ‘ParkPilot and a half decent stereo. And you can have it in any colour you like, so long as those colours are red, black or white.Itll go on sale in Germany for just under £26k (about Rwf26m). The last GTD we drove lacked the bite of a proper hot hatch – reckon VW has got it right with this one?
