Reviews of Golf 6 GTI in the West
- Source: Global Times
- [13:40 September 10 2010]
- Comments
Exterior
1. webwombat.com.au
We spoke to one of the Golf's designers, a German bloke by the name of Frank Bruese, who said that throughout history the Volkswagen Golf has always retained three principle design cues: a horizontal face, distinct wheel arches, and strong C-pillars.
The new Golf retains these elements but "The design is original and unique," opines Bruese, adding that "for the first time the Golf is sexy". And I concur.
In my opinion the front end looks superb with its simple, clean style. Comprised of two dark horizontal features (the grille and lower air dam) which achieves a sense of proportion, while the modern headlights hint at the vehicle's upmarket positioning.
Like previous Golfs, the cars' silhouette is unmistakable and the photos don't really do the car justice. In the metal it looks more confident, likened by one of my colleagues to an affordable Audi.
Bruese revealed that Volkswagen Group's design boss, Walter de'Silva, drives a Golf. Not a Bentley? "Just Golf," confirms Bruese. And this is the guy who oversees all of the VW Groups designs, from Lamborghinis to Audis.
There is one element that hasn't won me over, however. The rear end design. Volkswagen says the brake lights give the car a wider and lower stance but I reckon the widened brake lights look a bit out of place, muddling the cars' contemporary look. Overall I really like what VW has done with the new model, but the back will take time to get used to.
2. themotorreport.com.au
If it has an Achilles heel, it might be that the new GTI's styling is perhaps a little tame. It has lost the deep distinguishing grille of its predecessor, and now, though sublimely styled, shares more in common with its Golf-badged stablemates.
The grille, rimmed by red highlights top and bottom, is a nod to tradition and a return to the discrete styling of the original GTI's red-framed blacked-out grille.
Unique to the new GTI is a deep, wide and aggressive lower air intake framed by neat vertical fog lights. This accentuates the width of the nose and the 'low to the ground' stance of the new car.
3. honestjohn.co.uk
Basis of GTI is chassis structure of Mk VI Golf, onto which is added an aggressive new front bumper. This features a deep honeycomb air dam framed by vertical fog lights which sit below a new grille element adorned by the now iconic GTI badge. Horizontal lines to make the GTI appear lower and wider than it really is.
Golf GTD's appearance differs from standard Golf's. Has GTI's honeycomb grille, badge-style and front-end design, though with the addition of chrome rather than red highlights.
At the back, full body-coloured bumpers make the GTD appear lower and wider than it really is, while the Golf's standard wheels are replaced with unique 17-inch 'Seattle Black' alloys.
