The new GTI was created under the direction of Walter de Silva (Head of Group Design), Klaus Bischoff (Head of Brand Design) and Marc Lichte (Head of Exterior Design). And the car that de Silva, Bischoff and Lichte realized together does great credit to the first GTI. "We wanted a consistently clear GTI design, a car that has power, but style as well", is how Walter de Silva sums it up. "Also cast in stone was the goal of evoking the character of the first GTI a bit more", says Klaus Bischoff. "And that is why it was decided that – with the exception of the aerodynamically important rear spoiler – the new GTI would not have a single exterior add-on, unlike the usual practice in this segment", emphasizes Marc Lichte.
Wide, powerful GTI front end
Even the first GTI generation already exhibited a consistent horizontal alignment of elements in the radiator mask and headlights. The red grille surround is legendary. That made the original GTI look wider than it actually was. But it shared this basic design concept with lower-powered Golf versions. Generation V of the GTI, on the other hand, intentionally set itself apart from its less powerful counterparts. That is why – over five years ago – the team led by Lichte chose a black, high-gloss grille in V form. Since that time, any child was able to recognize it as a GTI. The new one too. It now melds stylistic elements of both of these GTI icons. Details such as the typical honeycomb radiator screen, and the V-shaped engine hood extending over the headlights, were contributed by the GTI V. The clear horizontal alignment, meanwhile, definitely originates from the GTI I.
The entire bumper plus radiator grille and inner design of the headlights are a new creation. The outer grille painted in high-gloss black is a flat surface again; a red stripe frames it at the top and bottom. To the left of the VW logo there is a GTI signature (from the first through the third generation it was always on the right).
On the level beneath, a trim strip in car color extends crosswise. At the center of the bottom section there is another air inlet that is very large. Toward the sides of the car it transitions to three cross beams, left and right, that look like gills; they end in the visually dominant fog lights that are arranged upright, or on edge. The plastic surfaces around the gills are painted in anthracite-metallic color, so that their contours do not disappear into a black hole. The fog lights – located extremely far outboard – visually draw the lower section of the bumper further outward than ever before. This stylistic touch and the basically horizontal formal styling of the front end give the 4.21 meter long Golf GTI a visual appearance that is wider (1.78 meter), lower (1.47 meter) and more dynamic than any other car of this class. A genuine GTI that can be recognized as such from five kilometers away.
Stylish GTI side profile
The sides of the new GTI are dominated by a very prominent character line that is drawn from the headlights to the taillights. Supported on this line – that is modeled as a muscular shoulder in the rear – is the roof. These proportions give the Golf GTI a lot of visual energy.
In its side profile, it is the bumpers extending far outboard and the unique form of the door sills that distinguish this GTI. The Golf GTI V had black sills set above the actual longitudinal beams, which extended from one wheel well to the other. The sills of the GTI VI are also black – but that is where the commonalities end. The aerodynamically sensible sills on the new car do not extend the full length, and this gives them a considerably more refined appearance and make the car appear lighter. The standard 17-inch "Denver" type alloy wheels – and the highly polished 18-inch "Detroit" alloy wheels available as an option – make a powerful statement. Both are classics of GTI styling. While the five U-shaped openings on the 17-inch wheels are designed in silver, the 18-inch wheels have a black piano paint look.
Rear of a GTI
There is hardly a rear section that is so unmistakable as that of the new Golf GTI. Here too the wide bumper was completely redesigned. Under the bumper is a black diffuser that channels air from beneath the vehicle and generates added downforce at the rear axle. A pair of chrome tailpipes is integrated in the outer regions of the diffuser, right and left.
Also redesigned was the roof-edge spoiler. The new rear spoiler – working in tandem with the diffuser – perfects the car's orientation to the road at very high speeds. Since the rear spoiler is larger than its counterpart used on the "normal" Golf, it extends further into the rear window and makes it visually flatter and wider; yet it does not impair the driver's view.
Note:
All data and equipment contained in this press release apply to models offered in Germany. They may differ in other countries. All information is subject to change or correction.
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