On The Green - Volkswagen Golf Sport TSI

Since its conception and entry into the market way back in 1974, the Golf has sold more than 25 million units worldwide and has gone through a myriad of radical transformations spread across five generations to what we have now in 2009: the Mark 6.

To the untrained eye, it would appear that Volkswagen had only made minor aesthetical changes to the Mark 5’s basic premise. However if you take a closer look, there are a lot of small changes which all add up to make a very big difference.

First and foremost, every single panel on the new Golf is all new - and it’s clear to see especially from the rear, it’s wider and lower than the previous GT, conveying a sense of sportiness while still keeping that European air of elegance. The cherry-hued rear tail lamp clusters (last seen on the Touareg) blend well into the body shape and contain some powerful lines which are further accentuated by the contours of the horizontally positioned lights. Add to that a twin exhaust tailpipe and you can see that Volkswagen mean business.

At a Glance
Engine: 1,390cc 4-cylinder 16 Valve TSI
Performance: 160bhp, 240Nm, 0-100 8secs
Topspeed: 220km/h,
Transmission: 7-speed DSG
Price with COE: $79,300
Test Drive/Enquiries: Volkswagen Centre Singapore , Tel: 6474 8288

In a Nut Shell
Plus: Driving dynamics, high quality cabin, highly fuel efficient
Minus: Legroom for rear passengers still a tad small
Verdict: This is one solid car, made by a solid manufacturer with some solid upgrades

(For more details, do check out the latest issue of Wheels Asia magazines/May Issue '2009 available at all news stands now!