Not only has the updated 2010 Volkswagen GTI been awarded one of the Car and Driver 10Best Cars, but the latest GTI has also been named the Car of the Year by Automobile Magazine. The VW GTI is renowned for being the affordable driver’s car, which is no doubt part of its appeal in the COTY judging. Simply put, the GTI is affordable, fun, and fuel-efficient, which really makes it a natural choice for this coveted award. Power comes from a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 206 horsepower and 207 lb. ft. of toque, helping the GTI scoot to 62 mph in 6.9 seconds, reach a top speed of 149 mpg, and still earn as much as 31 mpg on the highway. What’s unusual about this award is that the 2010 GTI is simply a mid-life refresh and is not an all-new model. But with its subtle aesthetic updates and mechanical improvements, the 2010 VW GTI successfully improves upon an already stellar platform.
Volkswagen GTI Named 2010 AUTOMOBILE Magazine Automobile of the YeaR
HERNDON, Va. — Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today that its all-new sixth generation GTI has been named the 2010 AUTOMOBILE Magazine Automobile of the Year. This marks the second time in its history that the GTI has won this prestigious award. In AUTOMOBILE Magazine’s twenty year history of awarding their top honor, the Volkswagen GTI is the only make and model to ever win it twice.
“At a time when the world’s economy is in shambles and fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are on everyone’s minds, there remains only one car that ticks all the enthusiast boxes without setting off a single wretched-excess alarm. That’s the Volkswagen GTI, and that’s why it is, once again, Automobile Magazine’s Automobile of the Year,” said Joe DeMatio, Executive Editor, Automobile Magazine.
“Having our GTI named AUTOMOBILE Magazine’s Automobile of the Year once again is a tremendous honor for our brand,” said Mark Barnes, Chief Operating Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “We’re thrilled that the staff of AUTOMOBILE Magazine acknowledged that today’s sport’s car consumers are looking beyond horsepower and going fast, rather they are looking for vehicles that are practical, fuel efficient, and fast. The GTI truly embodies what the Volkswagen brand is all about–affordable, efficient, and fun-to-drive German Engineering,” Barnes added.
First introduced in the U.S. in 1983, the GTI drew admiration for its combination of sporty performance and practicality. The 2010 GTI is Volkswagen’s definitive return to its groundbreaking, hot hatch sports car, offering a modern and dynamic extension of the automaker’s original “pocket rocket.”
The 2010 GTI is a solid and aggressive sports model that features Volkswagen’s highly acclaimed 2.0-liter 16-valve DOHC turbo-charged four-cylinder engine that produces 200 horsepower and 207 lbs.-ft. of torque. It’s available with an automated manual DSG® transmission that utilizes direct shifting, which essentially automatically depresses clutch-shift points more efficiently and quicker than even a professional driver can. For those driving enthusiasts who want the unique control of a clutch, the GTI comes with a standard six-speed manual transmission. Top speed is electronically governed at 130 miles per hour in the U.S. The 2010 GTI starts at $23,490, and attains a fuel economy rating of 32/24 highway/city when equipped with the DSG transmission.
New for the 2010 GTI is a standard Electronic Limited Slip system that Volkswagen has named XDS. The system electronically monitors input from various wheel sensors and, in the event of slippage, transfers extra torque to the wheel or wheels with the most traction. The 2010 GTI also comes standard with numerous other safety features including: a three channel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Anti-slip Regulation (ASR), Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), Engine Brake Assist (EBA), Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), and like all 2010 Volkswagen’s, Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP®).
* * *
Don’t go anywhere else to read the latest Volkswagen news. Subscribe now.
Comments on this entry are closed.