Latest rumours suggest that although Volkswagen do not have a good new mass market car coming up, a hot hatchback might be on the cards to please the enthusiasts. We did see the Polo GTI make a debut in India in limited numbers a few years back, but now, the German car manufacturer is probably planning on bringing the larger Golf GTI to India. The Golf GTI would be brought in as a CBU import as the government has eased off the rules on such imports as homologation is not required up to 2,500 units.
If launched, the Volkswagen Golf GTI could very well cost in the range of INR 35 – 40 lakh and would be in the German luxury car territory. But with a relatively small size and being high on performance, it could become the favourite drivers car in that price range. Of course, the Golf GTI would be brought to India in limited numbers just as a halo car. While the Polo GTI was a 2-door hot hatchback, the Golf GTI thanks to its larger dimensions would be a 4-door hot hatch.
The Volkswagen Golf GTI comes powered by a 2.0L, turbocharged, 4-cylinder, 16-valve, TSI petrol motor producing 228 HP of power @ 4700 RPM and 349.8 Nm of torque @ 1500 RPM matched to a 6-speed gearbox. The model arriving in India might have the upgraded engine which is also under development at the moment. Volkswagen first launched the Golf GTI in 1975, and it has been a popular brand ever since. The car expected to come to India is the 8th generation, latest model of the Golf GTI which will be revealed soon.
It remains to be seen how huge the market is for hot hatchbacks here in India. The other claimed hot hatchbacks we have in India at the moment include the Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS, Tata Tiago JTP & Volkswagen Polo GT TSI. Fiat sadly has shut shop, and as a result, the Abarth Punto is dead.
