Author:
Robin Roberts
Forget the showers and look forward to summer with the imminent arrival of the eagerly awaited VW Golf GTI Cabriolet.
Following its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the new GTI Cabriolet is now available to order at Volkswagen retailers, from £29,310 for the manual version and rising to £30,610 for the DSG.
Living up to this name, the Golf GTI Cabriolet has all the classic design cues. The radiator grille has a honeycomb structure with red edging and GTI badge, while the front bumper incorporates a deep honeycomb air dam and distinctive fog lights. Side sill extensions help give the GTI a wide, well-planted stance, while a bespoke rear diffuser is framed by a chrome tailpipe on either side. Smoked LED tail lights complete the look, along with standard 18-inch ‘Monza Shadow’ alloy wheels.
Inside, and under the insulated fully automatic electrically powered roof are four seats covered in the classic tartan ‘Jacara’ cloth upholstery; ‘Vienna’ leather upholstery is optional. The bespoke GTI multifunction steering wheel is wrapped in leather, as are the handbrake and gear lever gaiter, all finished with contrasting red stitching. The pedals have brushed stainless steel caps, while there are black ‘Edge’ decorative inlays on the doors and facia. The hood, which can be folded away in just 9.5 seconds, even while travelling at speeds of up to 18 mph, has a black lining, while the roof pillar trims are also finished in black.
At the heart of the range-topping cabriolet is the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine found in the GTI hatchback, mated to either a standard six-speed manual gearbox or optional six-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox and producing 210 PS.
The benchmark zero to 62 mph sprint is covered in 7.3 seconds with either transmission, while top speed is 147 mph (146 DSG). Combined fuel consumption is 37.2 mpg (36.7 DSG), with CO2 emissions of 177 g/km (180 DSG).
Maximum torque of 206 lbs ft (280 Nm) is available from just 1,700 rpm to 5,300 rpm and this broad torque band helps to make the GTI an excellent cruiser.
A standard EDS electronic differential lock and XDS transverse differential lock help to ensure that the power is easily transferred to the road.
The GTI comes with automatically deploying rollover protection, front and side head/thorax airbags and a driver’s knee airbag as standard, and a five-star (96 per cent) rating for adult occupancy in Euro NCAP crash tests. The ABI insurance rating for the new Golf Cabriolet GTI is 35E and first deliveries are due in July.
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