The Sacramento Bee's view

For anyone who remembers the original Volkswagen GTI that arrived in the United States in 1983, you can’t think “GTI” without mentally adding “pocket rocket.”

That 1980s-vintage GTI was the original pocket rocket, a hot-looking little hatchback with the performance characteristics of a competition sports car. Raise your hand if you were ever dusted off by a high-whining GTI a generation ago.

When Volkswagen launched an all-new GTI for 2006, purists held their breath, hoping it would not be a watered down version of the car that burned up the roadways in that bygone decade of conspicuous consumption.

Breathe easy, rocket fans.

The “new GTI,” which is precisely how Volkswagen refers to its two-door sports coupe, is dripping with tire-squealing power.

In fact, I have no trouble admitting that I couldn’t quite get a handle on the 2006 GTI’s power curve in my week with the car.

Chalk that up to the maximum 207 foot-pounds of torque in the turbocharged, 2-liter, in-line 4 engine hammering home at a mere 1,800 revolutions per minute — this in a front-drive vehicle tipping the scales at slightly more than 3,300 pounds.

Numerous times, at the change of the stoplight, I would depress the accelerator of the GTI, overpower the drive wheels and lurch into the intersection, looking every bit like a 15-year-old sampling his first stick shift.

I finally gave up, opting instead to s-l-o-w-l-y depress the gas pedal and roll up to speed at a lawnmower-like pace. Sure, I still looked like a stick shift rookie, but at least I avoided the glares of fellow motorists and traffic police officers.

On the open highway, with revs up, I was surprised to experience a small dose of turbo lag in the tested GTI. It’s not a pregnant pause, just the tiniest eye-blink of delay between foot to the floor and engine’s roar.

Once the power does kick in, however, hang on. When asked, the turbo power plant delivers a noisy, exhilarating kick in the pants. Acceleration is not a gradual press into the driver’s seat; it’s more like riding the tip of a bullwhip. Neck-snap city.

Before you think of getting too wild, please note that the car’s speed is electronically limited to 130 miles per hour. No, I can’t personally swear to that; I’m taking VW’s word on it.

The optional six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic ($1,075) was smooth and precise. VW said the “direct shifting” system in this gearbox manages the clutch-shift points better than an accomplished professional driver ever could.

A sport-tuned suspension provided admirable nimbleness and rigidity in all conditions. Taking on the Sierra Nevada foothills is no problem in this GTI, even if it had a load of anvils in the back.

Speaking of cargo carrying, the rear hatch opens easily and yawns wide to take on bulky and odd-shaped loads.

An old-school cloth interior with multiple colors in the tester was attractive. Interior controls were tastefully laid out and easy to use.

Exterior styling radiated aggressiveness, but it was not over the top.

The 17-inch performance tires were wrapped around cool-looking, five-hole alloy wheels. A black, honeycomb-pattern, two-tier grille is striking. Dual chrome tailpipes look nice.

The roof spoiler is an unnecessary extra, but it’s subtle enough that it does not spoil the profile look of the GTI.

The biggest surprise for me was gas mileage coming in as advertised — a respectable 25 miles per gallon in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. Those are pretty fair figures for a torquey, turbocharged engine.

The biggest disappointment came in the exterior mirrors — too small. I had to do some serious leaning left and right to see what car I was leaving behind me when asking the GTI for a little extra juice.

The new GTI is laid out for five, but putting three adults in the back of this small pocket rocket would be a cruel and unusual experience in flesh pressing. Two humans in the back, tops. Trust me.

One other thing: The starting price of $21,990 on the tester was easy to take. Adding the aforementioned six-speed gearbox, a navigation system, a power sunroof, XM Satellite Radio and other goodies ballooned the sticker to $27,615 — pricey for a small car, even with the high performance rush thrown in.

Overall, however, the latest GTI is a sweet update of a longtime favorite. Thanks Volkswagen, for not messing up a good thing.

Volkswagen GTI at a glance
Make/model: 2006 Volkswagen GTI
Vehicle type: Five-passenger, two-door, front-drive sports coupe
Base price: $21,990 (as tested, $27,615)
Engine: 2-liter, turbocharged in-line 4 with 200 horsepower at 5,100 revolutions per minute and 207 foot-pounds of torque at 1,800 rpm
EPA fuel economy: 25 miles per gallon city; 31 mpg highway (premium gas recommended)
Transmission: Six-speed automatic with overdrive
Steering: Power-assisted rack and pinion
Brakes: Power-assisted, four-wheel discs, with anti-lock and other braking-enhancement features
Suspension: Independent, MacPherson strut-type on front; independent, multi-link on rear (anti-roll bars front and rear)
Fuel tank: 14.5 gallons
Passenger volume: 94.2 cubic feet
Cargo volume: 15.1 cubic feet
Curb weight: 3,352 pounds
Height: 58.4 inches
Length: 165.8 inches
Wheelbase: 101.5 inches
Width: 69.3 inches
Ground clearance: 5.6 inches
Track: 60.4 inches on front; 59.7 inches on rear
Tires: P225/45WR17 performance radials
Final assembly point: Wolfsburg, Germany

About the writer: The Bee’s Mark Glover can be reached at (916) 321-1184 or mglover@sacbee.com.