2008 Paris Auto Show: 2010 VW GTI

• Competes with: Subaru WRX, Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, Mazdaspeed3
• Looks like: An economy car with mischief on its mind
• Drivetrain: 210-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with six-speed manual or DSG transmission
• Hits dealerships: Late summer, early fall 2009

If you like your compact sports hatchbacks to have plaid seats, then the 2010 VW GTI is your car. Based on the next-generation Rabbit (formerly the Golf), which we wrote about earlier here, the GTI is the high-performance version we’ve grown fond of here at Cars.com.

The new GTI looks radically different, with a revised front end. It seems VW is shying away from the huge, big-mouth grilles it borrowed from its corporate cousins at Audi. Overall we like the new look, but the fog lights could definitely stand to be better integrated into the lower bumper.

Under the hood is a revised version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that’s used by most other VW models. Here it puts out 210 hp and 207 pounds-feet of torque for a zero to 60 time that’s just under 7 seconds.

New is an electronic limited-slip differential that helps keep the car’s front wheels planted to the ground.

Check out more photos below and let us know if this GTI does more for you than the last generation.

Comments

[eagle2x]

GEN-VI; finally will arrive stateside. Looks great. The 2.0 turbo power plant and 6 speed tranny is good news. Only down side to this GTI is the plaid seats...ugh! I'll buy one and refuse to look at the seats.

[DonB]

I think this new GTI looks great - a nice clean look on the outside, and VW's traditional great interior. A bit sleeker than the current model. Can't wait to see the real thing!

[GR]

The seats are AWESOME! They pick up all the other colors used in and on the car and are a great blast from the past. My '77 Scirocco had plaid seats!

Otherwise, I'm not really feeling the exterior design of the car. I realize you can't do a lot with a two box design but it sure looks a lot like the now-dead last generation Civic Hatch Si.

[Zerf]

To me this looks a lot like the current GTI. Not that is a bad thing. This design just would not make me want to upgrade to the new one if I had the current version, especially if I had those terrible plaid seats. From the exterior seems more like a refresh rather then a new generation. I use to like those thin black and white striped cloth seats that some of the VWs had in the later 80's and early 90's.

Why did it have to be a volkswagen blaaaaah

[George]

Does the double clutch transmission have 7 forward speeds?

[Paul]

Please fix the fog lights, this one looks so bad.

[Paul]

Can we see a photo of the 4-door iteration?

[al feo]

Great car, would not buy plaid interior does not belong in this kind of car.Please change the rims to funky.