New York 2013: 2015 Volkswagen Golf, GTI Gain More HP

We already know a lot about the 2015 Volkswagen Golf and GTI; we’ve even driven the pair of them already. But at the New York auto show today, the German automaker helped to sate U.S. enthusiasts’ palettes by detailing what to expect for the models heading to our shores. VW’s compact hatchback lineup will, again, include three models: the base Golf, the Earth-friendly Golf TDI diesel, and the GTI hot hatch. The biggest news comes in the form of the base Golf, as Volkswagen has finally done away with the ancient 2.5-liter I-5 in exchange for an all-new 1.8-liter turbo-four for the Golf. (The Passat and Jetta both still offer the 2.5, however.) The new 1.8T is rated at 170 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque – if you’re keeping track, the new four-banger makes the same horsepower and seven more lb-ft than the outgoing five-cylinder. That said, the new engine is down by eight pounds, and the fact that the 2015 Golf rides on Volkswagen’s new flexible, lightweight MQB platform means that we should see better fuel economy numbers than the current car’s 23/33 mpg city/highway rating. VW hasn’t disclosed how many gears the automatic and manual transmissions will have, but there’s little reason to doubt that the 2015 Golf will offer either a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual-clutch automatic. The Golf TDI also gains a new powerplant; however, the new turbodiesel unit is also a 2.0-liter four-cylinder like the outgoing model’s. The new engine is good for 150 hp – up by 10 hp – and the same 236 lb-ft as last year’s car. Volkswagen also says that the new diesel engine has been optimized for reduced emissions and even better fuel economy. Transmission options carry over: a six-speed manual will be standard and a six-speed dual-clutch will be optional. Rounding out the lineup is the 2015 GTI, which sees the biggest power boost of the bunch. Unlike the outgoing car, which fell short of the competition at just 200 hp and 207 lb-ft, the 2015 model uses an all-new 2.0-liter turbo-four that produces 220 hp and 258 lb-ft. While that may still trail the Mazdaspeed3 and the Ford Focus ST, we found that “the new GTI epitomizes effortless velocity, practical performance, and accessible performance.” The 2015 Volkswagen Golf, Golf TDI, and GTI will be built at Volkswagen’s Puebla, Mexico plant alongside the Beetle coupe and convertible and go on sale for the 2015 model year. Price has yet to be announced, but expect the new car to start somewhere just north of the current model’s $18,890 base price, with destination.