Volkswagen's sexy new diesel

A look at the new Volkswagen Golf GTD.

A look at the new Volkswagen Golf GTD.

A look at the new Volkswagen Golf GTD.

A look at the new Volkswagen Golf GTD.

A look at the new Volkswagen Golf GTD.

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Volkswagen Australia will launch two new sporty versions of the Golf by mid-year.

The Golf GTD - a diesel version of the GTI - and the top-of-the-range Golf R complete the extended roll-out of the new model Golf, which began in April last year.

Karl Gehling of Volkswagen Australia says the GTD proves that diesel can be sexy.

"It gives us a unique position, with a very economical and sporty diesel that we think fits in nicely between the existing models we have in the line-up including the new GTI," says Gehling.

But don't expect the same trademark GTI looks - the red striping on the grille of the car and the red tartan stitching won't make an appearance. Instead, the GTD gets grey and black tartan upholstery, and the grille will feature silver trimming.

A new set of wheels will also appear, and the GTD will be adorned with a single twin-tip muffler, rather than the GTI's mouthy double-outlet treatment.

The GTD will only be available in five-door guise, and Gehling confirmed it would cost less than the A$40,490 (NZ$ 52,954.99) 5-door pocket-rocket GTI, but refused to issue a magic number.

The 2.0-litre turbo-diesel 125kW engine is borrowed from the volume-selling model from the Passat range, the 125TDI. Fitted in the much lighter Golf shell, the turbo-diesel engine is able to propel the GTD from 0-100km/h in 8.1 seconds. The Golf GTD will come with a choice of 6-speed manual or speed-shifting 6-speed dual-clutch automatic.

The best news about the diesel Golf GTD is that it offers significantly better fuel consumption than the GTI. The GTD sips just 5.3 litres per 100km (the GTI drinks 7.6L/100km), and the sporty diesel's CO2 emissions are lower too, at 139g/100km (the petrol-powered GTI is 178g/km).

The 125kW GTD offers 30kW less than its 155kW petrol-powered sibling (the GTI), but boasts 70Nm more twist, at 350Nm (the GTI offers 280Nm).

The other new hot hatch from Volkswagen is the Golf R, which is confirmed to arrive here in showrooms in either June or July.

As Drive has previously reported, the 2.0-litre turbocharged all-wheel-drive Golf R will replace the current top-of-the-pops R32, and will be the most powerful Golf yet - 188kW and 350Nm.  

Drive has speculated on a A$54,990 (NZ$71,918.87) price-tag being placed on the windscreen of the new Golf R, but Gehling says that Volkswagen isn't giving indicative pricing for the car just yet.

Yet another recently released Golf incarnation was unveiled at the Geneva motor show. The CrossGolf off-roader wannabe is built on the European GolfPlus platform, which has never been offered in Australia.

Volkswagen told Drive at the Geneva motor show unveiling of the CrossGolf that it has no plans of bringing either the CrossGolf or the GolfPlus to Australia.

- © Fairfax NZ News