More powerful Golf GTI gets price bump

Volkswagen has pumped up its Golf GTI in more ways than one.

Announcing earlier this year that a manual transmission would no longer be available, the 2019 model line-up has been cut down to just one model that comes equipped with a DSG seven-speed automatic transmission.

It also sees a price hike, increasing by $1000 over the old DSG-equipped model and by $3500 over the now defunct manual to $45,490 plus on-road costs - but it also gets more power and extra gear.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol motor increases output to 180kW and 370Nm, up 11kW and 20Nm, and is equipped with a front electro-mechanical locking differential and adaptive dampers.

Outside, the model is lightly freshened with a new metallic blue paint option and red accents on GTI badges and larger brake callipers – taken from the Golf R – that sit behind new 18-inch alloys.

Inside is largely the same, covered in ‘Clark’ sport upholstery trim, except for the standard inclusion of an active digital instrument display and the exclusion of a stick shift transmission – though the brand says sales of the manual accounted for only 10 per cent of buyers.

The new model also gets the previous $1600 active safety package as standard which includes adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, reversing camera, parking assist, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.

For customisation, the GTI will be available with just two option packs: the existing Sound and Style package that adds 19-inch alloys, a 9.2-inch infotainment system, gesture control and 400W premium sound system for $2300, and a new Luxury package that gains Vienna leather trim, electric heated seats with memory function and a panoramic sunroof at $3900.

Unlike before, an Edition 1 won’t be offered, and VW has no plans on introducing any further special editions at this stage.

“We were considering an Edition 1 or what would be the Edition 2 but because we’ve put so much extra gear into this one model there is effectively no point,” VW Australia PR manager Kurt McGuiness told Drive at the model’s local reveal.

“The market for the manual transmission is so small and the uptake on DSG so high that it just makes sense to have the one model. With new WLTP testing we also need to consider our model range more closely,” he added when asked why both the upcoming Golf GTI and R models won’t be available with a manual transmission.

Deliveries of the 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI will begin in October and pricing starts from $45,490 plus on-road costs.