Cars.com reviewer Joe Wiesenfelder uses his time at the 2009 New York auto show to take a look at the 2010 Volkswagen Golf and GTI. Learn about all the styling changes to both the Golf and GTI, from its complex new headlights to its subtle interior styling cues. Also, learn the only three phrases Wiesenfelder knows in German.
As redesigned cars go, the 2010 Volkswagen GTI is not a giant leap from the previous generation. The newest versions of the sporty two- and four-door hatches come complete with a slightly redesigned exterior, a new center stack and navigation system, and slightly tweaked interior materials.
From the outside, the only bone I had to pick with the GTI design was that I would have liked to have seen some new rims. I’m not saying I dislike the old/current rims, but they've been around for a number of years, and maybe it’s time to show off VW’s wheels with something other than rims that resemble round battleaxes.
The reason I chose to do a photo post on the new GTI is based largely on the fact that Volkswagen knows how to light its cars at an auto show. Year after year, show floor after show floor, the VW lineup looks fantastic every time I walk by it. Dramatic white light shines down with purpose on every VW. It’s a subtle touch from a company that really knows how to sell its designs. It’s good to see that at least one auto manufacturer knows the upside to spending a little money to make its product look utterly delectable.
A full set of photos is below; please leave your remarks in the comments section. Feel free to use the full-screen mode on the photo browser.
Volkswagen's performance-oriented GTI hatchback receives styling updates inside and out for 2010, but its turbocharged drivetrain lives on from the previous model. When it hits dealerships in the fall, it will be available in two- and four-door hatchback form.
Typical of VW performance models, there aren't any overly done exterior modifications to separate the GTI from the less powerful Golf. There are, however, a number of small tweaks that help give the car its own look. The front-end styling is more imposing thanks to a large mesh lower grille and a thin mesh upper grille that's highlighted by red striping and a GTI badge. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are standard, and 18-inch rims are optional. In another change from the previous GTI, the car's dual tailpipes are set apart from each other near the edges of the bumper, whereas before they exited the bumper together.
Front bucket seats with large side bolsters go into the GTI's cabin, which also features a meaty steering wheel with red stitching. There's more red thread on the gear selector and parking brake handle, and the cabin also features new door interiors, new gauges and a new center control panel that houses the optional navigation system.
The changes keep the GTI contemporary in terms of its looks, but I'm surprised VW didn't take the opportunity to give it a little more power to keep pace with some of its competitors.More photos below.
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