VW Golf GTI, GTD & GTE specs go live ahead of the Geneva 2020

Following the announcement of the Mk8 Volkswagen Golf, the company has shown us teasers of as many as five impending performance versions of the best-selling hatchback. Three of these had been scheduled for Geneva IMS reveal, but VW felt like spoiling the surprise.

Let us see what the eighth generation of the Golf brings to the table in its high-end GTI, GTD and GTE versions. First off, all three sport their own bumpers, wheels, side skirts, front spoiler and rear diffuser designs. You may opt for larger 18- or 19-inch wheels instead of the standard 17-inch ones, as well as for X-shaped anti-fog LEDs.

Telling one spec from the other isn’t exactly simple. Look for the different badges under the VW logo, the color accents (red, silver and blue), and the exhaust tip locations. The GTI has pipes down both sides, the GTD sports dual tips to the left side of the diffuser, and the GTE conceals the tips completely from view.

The GTI comes powered by the same two-liter, four-cylinder turbo engine as the Cupra Leon and the Skoda Octavia RS. The power amounts to 245 hp (183 kW) and 370 Nm (273 lb-ft), and the transmission can be six-speed manual or seven-speed DCT.

As its name suggests, the Golf GTD packs a diesel engine. Specifically, it is the two-liter turbocharged unit of the latest Octavia, rated at 200 hp (150 kW) and 400 Nm (298 lb-ft). A 7G DCT is used by this version.

The GTE is a hybrid, and it shares its specs with the Skoda Octavia RS iV and the aforementioned Leon. Its 1.4-liter turbo delivers 150 hp (112 kW), while the electric motor comes rated at 85 kW (nominal). The total output amounts to 245 hp (183 kW) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft). The transmission is six-speed semi-automatic. A 13-kWh battery gives it up to 60 kilometers (37 miles) of range, and the GTE goes all-electric by default until you decide to accelerate past 130 km/h (81 mph) or floor the pedal.

All three specs have the same basic cabin trim. This includes a 10-inch multimedia unit, a sports steering wheel, sports seats with plaid upholstery patterns, a 10.25-inch digital dash, and special accents here and there.

The GTI and GTD ride 15 mm (0.6 inches) lower than stock and can be obtained with optional adjustable shocks. Another paid option comes in the form of a driver assist system that functions below 210 km/h (130 mph).

Volkswagen AG will reveal even more details at the upcoming show in Geneva. Later on, the new Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR and Golf R will hit the spotlight with 300 hp (224 kW) and 333 hp (248 kW) under the hood, respectively.