2008 Paris Auto Show: 2010 VW GTI
- Competes with: Subaru WRX, Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, Mazdaspeed3
- Looks like: An economy car with mischief on its mind
- Drivetrain: 210-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with six-speed manual or DSG transmission
- Hits dealerships: Late summer, early fall 2009
If you like your compact sports hatchbacks to have plaid seats, then the 2010 VW GTI is your car. Based on the next-generation Rabbit (formerly the Golf), which we wrote about earlier here, the GTI is the high-performance version we’ve grown fond of here at Cars.com.
The new GTI looks radically different, with a revised front end. It seems VW is shying away from the huge, big-mouth grilles it borrowed from its corporate cousins at Audi. Overall we like the new look, but the fog lights could definitely stand to be better integrated into the lower bumper.
Under the hood is a revised version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that’s used by most other VW models. Here it puts out 210 hp and 207 pounds-feet of torque for a zero to 60 time that’s just under 7 seconds.
New is an electronic limited-slip differential that helps keep the car’s front wheels planted to the ground.
Check out more photos below and let us know if this GTI does more for you than the last generation.
