2019 Volkswagen Golf GTD

After the Polo, the BlueMotion offensive and the Golf GTI, Volkswagen is pulling the next arrow out of its quiver: the Volkswagen Golf GTD. As on the GTI, the GTD's 6-speed manual transmission may be swapped out for an optional 6-speed DSG - which in the eyes of many experts is the most efficient automatic of our times. The Volkswagen Golf GTD with DSG reaches a top speed of 220 km/h; it accelerates to 100 km/h in 8.1 seconds and consumes 5.6 liters diesel on average (147 g/km CO2). These low fuel consumption values take both GTD variants to distances of about 1,000 kilometers on one tank of fuel (55 liters). The GTD equipped with standard sport chassis and 17-inch alloy wheels ("Seattle" type) bears a close relationship to the GTI, in its highly agile handling properties as well as in its parallels in appearance and features. The exterior clearly indicates that this is the sportiest VW Golf with a diesel engine. Take the front end, for example: the bumper, radiator grille and headlights are a 1:1 match with the GTI. However, the red horizontal stripes in the radiator grille are styled in chrome on the GTD.

At the rear, the turbo-diesel sports a modified diffuser. Sound - sporty sound - has not traditionally been a particular strength of diesel engines. However, the GTD's new common rail engine is different. Since it no longer has a superimposed "hammering" sound that was previously typical of diesels, engineers were able to fine tune its acoustics for the first time. This is accomplished by a special sound generator, which outputs a sonorous tone, especially in the lower engine speed range. The electromagnetic sound generator evaluates engine speed, momentary power demand and vehicle speed data obtained via the car's CAN bus and tunes the engine sound that can be heard in the interior. Volkswagen's GT philosophy is also reflected in the interior. It expresses itself in standard high-end sport seats, a 3-spoke leather steering wheel whose curvature flattens at the bottom (GTD signature in the center chrome badge), leather parking brake lever and leather gearshift boot with stitching in contrasting color.

However, unlike in the GTI the color is not red but light gray. The same applies to the sport seats in "Jacky" pattern: The color chosen for the flat-felled seams are an elegant light gray ("Art Grey") instead of red ("Flash Red"). The seats themselves are styled in a "Black-White" color combination. The 1,968 cm3 displacement engine is from a new TDI generation. It delivers its maximum power at 4,200 rpm. The engine - as sporty as it is fuel efficient - develops its 350 Newton-meter maximum torque between 1,750 and 2,500 rpm. Its specific torque is 177.8 Newton-meter per liter engine displacement. The upshot is that in practically any driving situation, the sixteen-valve four-cylinder engine offers power equivalent to that of a six-cylinder sports car engine. About the technology: Fuel induction is handled by a common rail system. Fuel injection pressures of up to 1,800 bar and special eight-hole injection nozzles achieve exceptionally fine atomization of the diesel fuel.

The eight-hole injection nozzles are driven by what are known as piezo in-line injectors. In this process, electrically controlled piezo crystals - boosted by hydraulics - initiate injection in fractions of a second. Compared to conventional solenoid valves, piezo technology enables more flexible injection processes with smaller and more precisely metered quantities of fuel. The results are a very quiet and pleasantly soft running engine, exceptionally quick response and the excellent fuel economy and emissions values already mentioned. Another feature having a positive effect on the car's acoustics is the maintenance-free toothed timing belt for the camshaft. The conversion to common rail technology and many other acoustic measures, such as a noise-damping film in the windshield, make the new Golf GTD one of the quietest diesel models in its class. In addition, the GTD will fulfill limits of the Euro-5 emissions standard. Advance sales of the Volkswagen Golf GTD in Germany will already begin in early May 2009. And the prospects for a successful market launch look good. Because this sporty Volkswagen fits in perfectly with our times.

It seems so do Citroen, as in early 2009, they announced the name DS will be revived for a new range. Let's hope there as beautiful as the original. Which of the top 10 most beautiful cars is your favourite? Sign in or sign up and post using a HubPages Network account. 0 of 8192 characters usedPost CommentNo HTML is allowed in comments, but URLs will be hyperlinked. Comments are not for promoting your articles or other sites. I know you didn't come up with the list, but those that did must have needed to clean their glasses to pick that Citroen ! Nice Hub, was a great read. All of the cars were really awesome.. Wish i could have even one of them. 5 years ago from U.S. This is a very good lost. I particularly like the Lotus Elan, that car is usually overlooked on lists like this.