Order books open for Volkswagen Golf GTD

Volkswagen has announced that the Golf GTD - the performance diesel variant of the latest Golf - is available to order. Prices start at £25,285 for the three-door manual and rise to £27,355 for the five-door DSG automatic. All models are fitted with the same 184PS 2.0-litre TDI diesel, which produces 380Nm of torque from 1750-3250rpm. Performance is swift – 0-62mph takes 7.5 seconds and top speed is 142mph.

Despite the performance credentials the Golf GTD is relatively clean – emissions are 109g/km for the manual and rise to 122g/km for the five-door DSG. Both manual versions have a combined-cycle economy figure of 67.3mpg, but that drops off to 60.1mpg on the five-door DSG.

Regardless of body style or transmission, all models get distinctive styling features including 18-inch alloy wheels, side skirts, rear diffuser, sports suspension and a roof spoiler. The cabin features tartan seat upholstery, a black roof lining, GTD-specific gear leaver and trim strips and stainless steel pedals.

Standard equipment includes touchscreen infotainment, DAB radio, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity and climate control, along with automatic post-collision braking, ‘pre-crash’ system and front assist to help prevent or reduce the impact of rear-end collisions.

Those who want a little more luxury can choose optional extras including leather upholstery, keyless entry, satellite navigation, a reversing camera and satellite navigation, among other extras.