2006 Volkswagen Golf GTI Preview

Fifth Generation GTI to Combine Mk 1 Styling Cues with Modern Sports Hatch Attributes

For Volkswagen Golf GTI enthusiasts, the time of waiting will soon be over. The newest Mk V iteration of the legendary

The newest iteration of the legendary VW GTI will make its official debut in a few of weeks in Paris. (Photo: Volkswagen Canada)

front-drive hot-hatch will officially be introduced in a matter of a few short weeks at the Paris Auto Salon on the 25th of September.

The upcoming GTI is the fifth generation of a model that set the benchmark for compact performance cars and founded an entire segment. The latest version is inspired by the original, as seen with the GTI Concept which took shape less than a year ago. The good news is that it's ready to go, and according to Volkswagen there's a lot to look forward to.

The GTI Concept first seen in Geneva was a mock-production prototype of the real thing. At the time of its creation, VW's product development team had their minds set on producing a GTI that brought forward styling cues of the original Mk 1 GTI. The result is an appealing

The MK V's design should ring a chord with traditional GTI buyers as well as the new younger sport compact fans. (Photo: Volkswagen Canada)

design that should ring a chord with traditional GTI buyers as well as the new younger sport compact fans weaned on Japanese imports.

As it seems, the production vehicle is more or less a carbon-copy of the Concept. Unlike the Mk III and IV generation GTIs, which were essentially regular three-door Golf hatchbacks with upgraded 4- and 6-cylinder engines, VW has upped the ante even higher. The motor featured in the concept was a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four with FSI direct injection, is to be featured in the production GTI. It serves up a tantalizing 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque, with predicted sprints to 100 km/h in the high six second range, finishing off with a top speed of about 235 km/h.