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Volkswagen brings most powerful ever Golf GTD to the UK

The Volkswagen Golf GTD is now available to UK customers, priced from £32,790. It follows the GTI and GTE models, which were also recently opened for order to British buyers. The diesel-powered newcomer is the most powerful Golf GTD to date. Volkswagen says it offers the benefits of both high-performance and long range, with up to 600 miles available from a single tank of fuel, a top speed of 152 mph and a 0-62 mph sprint time of 7.1 seconds allied to strong in-gear acceleration.

The Golf GTD completes the GT-badged line-up of performance Golfs, complementing the ultra-low emissions GTE plug-in hybrid and high-performance petrol-engined GTI – the current performance champion of the Golf range. The flagship – the Golf R – will be unveiled next month.

The new arrival boasts a maximum torque figure of 295 ft lb and 197 bhp – up from 181 bhp in the outgoing model. Top speed and acceleration figures are very close to those of the Golf GTI, helped by the standard-fit 7-speed DSG transmission. Combined fuel economy of 51.4-54.3 mpg (WLTP) equates to a range of up to 600 miles from a single tank of fuel, while CO2 emissions of 137 g/km (WLTP) also help to keep the GTD’s running costs low. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions have been significantly reduced compared with the previous model, due to the introduction of two SCR catalytic converters with dual AdBlue injection.

The Golf GTD benefits from a styling pack with an illuminated front grille, uniquely styled bumpers and honeycomb-design LED front fog lights. The IQ.Light LED matrix headlights with advanced Dynamic Light Assist high-beam control system feature, while eighteen-inch ‘Bakersfield’ alloy wheels mark the model’s significance as a high-performance car.

The GTD badge was introduced in 1982, when the Golf Mk I received a turbocharged diesel engine. The Golf Mk II and Mk III were also given a GTD variant alongside the GTI, while the Mk IV and Mk V Golfs shifted to GT TDI badging. From the Golf Mk VI onwards the GTD was back, with the model contributing heavily to the seventh-generation Golf’s remarkable UK sales split, in which around one in three Golfs sold was a performance model. Now the GTD returns again, more powerful than ever before yet with fewer emissions.

Dale Piper, Golf Product Manager at Volkswagen UK, said: “The Golf GTD is the third member of the Golf GT trio, each one featuring a different set of characteristics. The iconic, enthusiast-focused Golf GTI and the ultra-low emissions Golf GTE plug-in hybrid are now joined by the high-torque, high-performance GTD.

“The multi-award-winning new Golf family has options for everyone – petrol, diesel, mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, performance petrol, and now performance diesel. With such a comprehensive powertrain line-up, it’s little surprise that the Golf is one of the UK’s top-selling cars, and with the GTD’s blend of performance and usability, the UK’s love affair with fast Golfs is set to continue.”

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