Photo: Volkswagen
The Golf GTI Cabriolet refuses to die, despite being one of the oldest looking cars in Volkswagen's inventory. A 2016 model year version has just been revealed for the German market, where it costs a whopping €37,075.
You know how people talk about movies that go straight to DVD? Well, this is the sort of car that goes straight to the used lot. You can find plenty of roofless GTIs "used" online with 10 or so kilometers on the clock. People go to their local dealer, test drive them and decide to buy something else.
While the 2016 model looks the same, there are numerous changes underneath that Volkswagen somehow fails to mention in its official press release. Obviously, the engine is a new Euro 6 unit that puts out 220 PS instead of the 210 PS of previous models. But the fact that torque is up from 280 to 350 Nm should have been mentioned as a huge deal.
Part of the reason this car costs so much is that the DSG gearbox is now the only one available. An automatic is great to have, but not when the GTI Cabrio is only €2,000 cheaper than the Golf R, which is a much more serious piece of kit.
Another interesting change that the press release doesn't mention is the weight, which has gone down from 1,555 kilos to 1,505, which is wonderful.
The added power and reduced weight have had a positive effect on performance, as the GTI Cabriolet now sprints to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds instead of 7.3s.
Compared to a regular GTI, customization options are extremely limited, as you can have the Cabrio in red, white or metallic gray. 17-inch wheels stolen from the GTI 7 hatch are standard, but they don't match the design at all. Instead, we suggest Watkins Glen 18-inch alloys that the car came with back in 2012.
It's interesting how Volkswagen chose not to discontinue the Golf Cabriolet despite slow sales. There's probably not going to be one based on the Mk7, but they could be thinking ahead to the Mk8. Recent reports have suggested a Golf Targa is currently under consideration.
While the 2016 model looks the same, there are numerous changes underneath that Volkswagen somehow fails to mention in its official press release. Obviously, the engine is a new Euro 6 unit that puts out 220 PS instead of the 210 PS of previous models. But the fact that torque is up from 280 to 350 Nm should have been mentioned as a huge deal.
Part of the reason this car costs so much is that the DSG gearbox is now the only one available. An automatic is great to have, but not when the GTI Cabrio is only €2,000 cheaper than the Golf R, which is a much more serious piece of kit.
Another interesting change that the press release doesn't mention is the weight, which has gone down from 1,555 kilos to 1,505, which is wonderful.
The added power and reduced weight have had a positive effect on performance, as the GTI Cabriolet now sprints to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds instead of 7.3s.
Compared to a regular GTI, customization options are extremely limited, as you can have the Cabrio in red, white or metallic gray. 17-inch wheels stolen from the GTI 7 hatch are standard, but they don't match the design at all. Instead, we suggest Watkins Glen 18-inch alloys that the car came with back in 2012.
It's interesting how Volkswagen chose not to discontinue the Golf Cabriolet despite slow sales. There's probably not going to be one based on the Mk7, but they could be thinking ahead to the Mk8. Recent reports have suggested a Golf Targa is currently under consideration.
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