Volkswagen Korea officially launches the 2023 Golf GTI and starts delivering to customers.
The Golf GTI, the high-performance variant of the iconic German compact hatchback, was first introduced in 1976 with its first-generation model. It pioneered the “hot hatch” genre, combining powerful performance with practicality, and democratized high-performance sports models for everyone.
Having evolved and innovated over nearly 50 years, the Golf GTI delivers the best driving performance available in a compact car. The 8th generation model was introduced in Korea last year, winning great affection from Korean customers through its enhanced performance and advanced specifications.
The 2023 Golf GTI features a refined design that incorporates a sporty temperament along with improved safety and convenience specifications, significantly enhancing its value proposition.
The 2023 Golf GTI has upgraded interior and exterior designs that reflect Korean customers’ preferences. The most noticeable change is the adoption of the ‘GTI-specific X-shaped LED front fog lights’ at the front. The LED fog lights are placed in an X shape in the honeycomb air intake grill, symbolizing the Golf GTI’s performance and showcasing a sportier vibe.
New design elements have also been applied to the touch-type leather multifunction steering wheel, which includes heating and paddle shift functions. Reflecting the latest trends in Volkswagen’s interior design, the emblem design at the center of the steering wheel has been updated, featuring red stitching that enhances the sporty feel. Additionally, a new black high-gloss material has been applied to the center console for a more upscale appearance.
The Vienna leather premium seats, which provide comfort while maintaining an optimal driving posture during sporty driving, now feature ‘GTI’ lettering, further emphasizing the heritage of the Golf GTI.
The 2023 Golf GTI comes equipped with the most advanced interactive lighting system, the ‘IQ.Light-LED Matrix Headlamps’, offering improved nighttime visibility by illuminating a broader road with optimized light generated by the LED modules in each headlight. The vehicle also features ‘Dynamic Light Assist’, which automatically activates optimal lighting based on driving conditions, ‘Dynamic Cornering Assist’ that turns the headlights to shine in the direction of the turn, and front and rear dynamic turn signals that enhance visibility.
Not only does the 2023 Golf GTI focus on design enhancement, but it also prioritizes safety and convenience. A new center airbag has been installed between the driver’s seat and the front passenger seat. This airbag is designed to prevent head collisions between front-row passengers and collisions with the front passenger’s structure during a side impact, thereby protecting occupants’ necks.
The charging power of the USB-C ports in the front and rear seats has been increased to 45W, which is three times more than before. This allows charging for various electronic devices including tablets and laptops, greatly enhancing convenience for sports driving, long-distance travel, and outdoor activities.
High-tech features that were beloved by existing customers are maintained without omission. The 10.25-inch high-resolution digital instrument cluster, ‘Digital Cockpit Pro,’ equipped with GTI-specific graphics, provides performance information, including the vehicle’s instantaneous output and engine boost pressure, along with a lap timer function essential for sporty driving.
The infotainment system ‘MIB3 Discover Pro’ comes with voice control and Korean navigation, wireless app connect (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), smartphone wireless charging, and for the first time in a Volkswagen compact car, a windshield head-up display.
Volkswagen’s cutting-edge driver assistance system ‘IQ. Drive’ and its core feature ‘Travel Assist’ actively help with driving at speeds up to 210 km/h from a standstill, along with an array of driver assistance systems such as ‘Front Assist and Emergency Braking System’, ‘Proactive Occupant Protection System’, ‘Pedestrian Protection System’, ‘Rear Traffic Alert System’, and ‘Exit Warning System’, as well as an intelligent parking assistance system called ‘Park Assist.’
Additionally, popular features among Korean customers such as front seat ventilation seats, heated front and rear seats, three-zone Climatronic automatic air conditioning, and 30-color ambient lighting are all included.
The 2023 Golf GTI is powered by the most evolved EA888 evo4 2.0 TSI high-performance gasoline direct-injection turbo engine, delivering a powerful output of 245 hp and a maximum torque of 37.7 kg.m. Combined with a 7-speed DSG transmission that provides direct engagement, it offers dynamic driving performance with rapid gear changes. The official fuel economy for the 2023 Golf GTI is 11.5 km/l combined (10.1 km/l in the city, 13.9 km/l on the highway), demonstrating remarkable efficiency alongside robust performance.
The 2023 Golf GTI has a ‘Dynamic Chassis Control System’ that integrates electronic stability control (ESC), adaptive chassis control (DCC), cross-differential system (XDS+), and electronically controlled hydraulic front differential lock (VAQ). This system overcomes the understeering phenomenon that occurs during cornering in front-wheel-drive vehicles, delivering fast and stable cornering performance. The adaptive chassis control feature, working in conjunction with the driving profile selection function, provides a sporty feel and comfortable ride according to driving conditions.
Additionally, the ‘Progressive Steering’ feature applied in the 2023 Golf GTI realizes more agile and precise vehicle control through variable steering rack and pinion gear, elevating the performance level to the next stage.
The price of the 2023 Golf GTI is 47.9 million won (including VAT). With purchase, customers receive a ‘5-year/150,000 km warranty extension program’ and a ‘Total Care Service for Accident Repairs’ (covering the first year, with no mileage limit, up to 500,000 won per incident for up to five incidents) at official service centers, which alleviates maintenance burdens.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr