Forget waiting several years for a quicker Golf GTI. Volkswagen is not messing about when it comes to the Mk8
Category: Volkswagen
Ned Jasper – Things are looking Up!
It took top honours in Ned’s top seven cars of 2017, and now the Volkswagen Up! GTI is proving to be one of the most important new cars launched this year. This is why. In case you couldn’t tell I’m quite a fan of small sporty cars, especially those with a famous three letters behind…
Opinion – Why the Volkswagen Jetta should be missed
The recently departed ‘Golf with a boot’ deserves more recognition says ESM’s editor. Last week’s news that the Jetta saloon would not longer feature on Volkswagen’s UK price list was hardly met with grief and distress. Nobody will be building statues to commemorate its passing, and no national day of mourning will be declared. Yet…
Gallery Feature | Fifty Shades of (automotive) Grey
Over 17% of new car buyers picked grey last year, and it’s now the third most popular tone in the UK. But how many different types of grey can there really be? Quite a lot, actually. For reference ESM’s Editor has never actually seen Fifty Shades of Grey, or read any of the books. However, he surmises that…
Back Catalogue | Volkswagen Polo GTI
With a new Volkswagen Polo GTI announced, we’ve taken a look back at the previous versions of Wolfsburg’s supermini that have worn the fabled hot hatch badge. And not just because ESM’s editor has owned two of them… Ok, maybe the ownership history plays a small part in it, but there’s also the motivation to…
New Metal | 2018 Volkswagen Polo GTI
The all-new sixth generation Volkswagen Polo was revealed to the world last week, along with an enhanced GTI model. Yet certain things have left ESM feeling slightly bittersweet about it all. With a life spent living in the shadow of the bigger Golf GTI, it’s unprecedented for Volkswagen to announce a new Polo GTI at the same…
New Metal | Volkswagen Up GTI Concept
We seem to have been teased for years about a possible hot version of VW’s city car. Finally, we’re almost there, with the announcement of this production-ready concept. The ‘concept’ tag needs to be taken pretty lightly. From the details released, and the photos supplied by Volkswagen, this thing looks as close to being fit…
Opinion | Are new cars actually getting more expensive?
The new Volkswagen Golf, and the excellent revised GTI in particular, got us wondering. Just how much more expensive are new cars compared to their predecessors? Having already won rave reviews from both print and online media, the Mk7.5 Volkswagen Golf GTI is already attracting attention. Yet a lot of the Internet comments seem to take…
Editorial | Volkswagen to end World Rally Championship commitment
Another week, another Volkswagen Group motorsport project gets canned. After the end of Audi’s Le Mans campaign, now comes the closure of VW’s highly successful rally programme. ESM’s Editor reflects. Just three days after winning the 2016 Rally GB, along with more World Championship titles, Volkswagen officially that there will be no 2017 WRC campaign. The official…
Twin Test Review | VW Polo GTI vs SEAT Ibiza Cupra Black
On paper these two VAG family cousins share many similarities but, peel back the surface, and you’ll discover that things aren’t quite so homogenous. Which Spanish-built supermini wins out though? If you’ve read our review of the SEAT Ibiza Cupra you’ll know there is a lot to like about this condensed hot hatch. However, sharing a powertrain and platform with the…
Photo Gallery – 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed – Paddock Action
Despite weather that threatened to make Goodwood seem more like Glastonbury at times, the 2016 Festival of Speed proved to be as impressive as ever. ESM was there, for two days this time, getting up close and personal with as much of the machinery as possible. We could write 1,000s of words but, instead, we’ll give you…
New – Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S takes Nürburgring record
Did you honestly think everyone had forgotten about hot-hatch Nürburgring lap times, after Honda’s Civic Type-R effort last year? No, of course not. So what better way for VW to celebrate 40 years of the Golf GTI than by setting a new Nordschleife record of 7:49.21. We’ve already seen the regular GTI Clubsport, and it’s actually on sale…
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