Last
seen bearing Volkswagen Golf GTI colours in 1983, the Golf GTI Pirelli
Get a FREE quote on your next VOLKSWAGEN GOLF
Click below and save up to 30% on a new VOLKSWAGEN GOLF
will be sashaying back into UK Volkswagen showrooms in June this year
in the less-muted shape of the current fifth-generation Golf.
£22,555
will secure Volkswagen buyers the three-door manual entry model, rising
to £24,385 for the five-door version saddled with VW's much-applauded
DSG transmission. All models of the Golf GTI Pirelli are available to
order as of now.
In
1983 the unique Pirelli 'P' alloys were de rigeur, and more or less the
sole blazer of the GTI Pirelli trail for bright young things. Like the
automotive pop socks of its day. As for 2008, and the emphasis is once
again on subtle embellishments.
Like
a seriously poked engine that puts performance on the orangey side of
fruity, for instance. And massive five-spoke 18" rims, a car-crash of a
body kit that craves VW buyers' attentions and some multi-coloured
Pirelli badges. VW styles may change, yet taste remains unaltered
obviously.
Still,
once inside, you get to ease your startled frame into tyre-tread
inspired half-leather sports seats. Like leopard skin print, only with
a Pirelli rubber theme. Yellow stitchwork provides the deal-breaker
though, and contrasts the black leather wear found on the novelty
seats, sports steering wheel and handbrake. Elsewhere the GTI Pirelli
benefits from six airbags, dual-zone climate, ESP and a CD player as
standard caboodle.
Joking
apart, the 2008 Golf GTI Pirelli is hardly an acquired taste, unless
car buyers aren't bought by a stonking 2.0-litre T-FSI VW engine that
manifests 225bhp, sling-shotting it to 62mph in 6.8 seconds. Or wanting
to experience the sights and sounds accompanying 152mph. Which puts
this Golf on par with the special edition GTI Edition 30 of 2007.
A
six-speed manual gearbox, or Volkswagen's twin-clutch, semi-automated
DSG transmission are the order of the day, month and year this time
around, and as noted above a body-coloured front splitter, side skirts
and rear bumper up the funk levels. Although gratefully stopping some
way short of the luminous yellow, green and blueprint afforded the
mid-1990's Golf GTI Colour Concept experiment.
The
GTI Pirelli isn't effected by any of the playful styling injections
that did sneak through here, simply shrugging its no nonsense
shoulders, hitching up its tarmac-hugging spoiler aprons and
concentrating on getting stuck into its Focus ST, Honda Civic Type R
and Vauxhall Astra VXR rivals.