Since showing the sixth-generation of its Golf hatch last year, Volkswagen’s faithful have been eagerly awaiting details of the GTI variant. After displaying a very production-feasible concept last year at the Paris Motor Show, the first official images have now been leaked.

Rest assured the traditional GTI cues remain including larger five-spoke alloy wheels, lowered and stiffened suspension and the tell-tale red-framed GTI grille. New, deeper bumpers, lower sills, a rear spoiler and a twin-outlet exhaust help set the GTI apart from its more mundane brethren.

A massaged version of the current GTI’s 2.0 litre turbocharged TFSI engine should be good for 156 kW and 284 Nm of torque. To get power to the ground Volkswagen will employ DCC adaptive damping and an XDS electronic differential as well as the choice of six-speed DSG gearbox or regular six-speed manual.

Early claims put the 0-100 km/h sprint at 7.2 seconds, but full details won’t be confirmed until later this year when the GTI goes on sale in Europe.