http://wot.motortrend.com/2016-volks...ost-98797.html

20hp isnt all that much considering how much power other 2.0T are making these days. Luckily I dont think thats what VW is necessarily looking for. I welcome a power boost and loved the 2008 GTI I drove for a little while. It certainly felt like it had more than 200hp. So only uphill from here!

 

My ex room mate had a 2008 GTI with a cold air and 91 octane tune with the DSG trans, that was a fun car!

 

20HP increase 4 years from now? Is this even worth mentioning? Seems almost silly. A lot can happen in 4 years.

 

It does, if only Ford offered a DSG with an Ecoboost setup.... Hmmmm....

 

I hope they use it for the focus ST. I hear the DCT in the focus and fiesta is kinda slow and clunky. Could be how it's programmed I guess.

But anyway he GTI is a great all around hatchback. You t comfort, luxury and performance. They just need to up the latter a little bit in many people opinions. The GTI always wins comparisons tests which is a testament to it's driving dynamics and it's domination o the hatchback market.

If you want all around, you get the GTI. If you want speed, get a mazdaspeed 3. (which is unbeatable for the price)

 

While the rest of the GTI is an excellent platform, and the engine is a very nice one, I think VW risks getting a bit too complacent here especially with all the various new hot hatches out there and in the pipeline. Not the least of these will be the inevitable sported up versions of Ford's already excellent Fiesta and Focus, the latter will probably have close to 200hp and the more directly comparable Focus will be somewhere around the 250hp neighborhood. Mazda's next MS3 will likely be out around the same time and its already sporting 260+hp easily.

Irony is that VW already has four bangers in the 250+hp in various models that could readily be plunked right in. As mentioned, a paltry 20hp jump in a couple years is not something to crow about unless one considers a stasis a virtue.

My guess is that VW may be shamed into dropping their 250-265hp mill into the engine bay of the standard GTI and the next-notch-up R will get some variant of the 300+hp 5-banger found in the Audi TT-R (?).

 

I don't think VW is too concerned about being the best performer in the GTI, the R is a different story though but the R is only kept to limited production for now. He GTI is about having the best all around package and I think they have a great formula for it. They have the R and the old R32 for performance.

 

Maybe not the best straight line performer, but I'm not sure they'd be too happy to be hoovering around the bottom of the list come the next GTI. Inevitably, expectations and the performance median will increase and VW, with only a mid-range performer in a straight line now, risks getting left behind.

That all said, I do agree with Volkswagen's concentration on overall balance and well-rounded competence. I'm just afraid only 220hp will, in a couple years, leave a big hollow in that well-rounded performance ball.

 

Considering the fact that GTI is the dead last when it comes to power compared to other hot hatches out there ...

GTI should be having Golf R's power (280 hp) right now, not 250 hp 4 years from now.

 

car is stout though. Wonder if they'll cut some weight?