Volkswagen GTI 2007

Volkswagen GTI 2007

Bodystyles:	2-Dr Hatchback;
Engines:	2.0L Inline 4;
Transmissions:	6 Speed Manual; 6 Speed Semi-Automatic;
Drivetrains:	Front Wheel Drive;

Introduction

For 2007, The Volkswagen GTI comes with a choice of two doors or four. Also new is Launch Control programming for the GTI's optional DSG automatic transmission. The new software will allow the engine to rev up before the clutch engages, for controlled wheelspin as you leave the line. Other than that, the 2007 Volkswagen GTI is changed very little from the '06, which was launched as an all-new fifth generation of the legendary pocket rocket.

The GTI draws its energy from VW's 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine turbocharged to boost output to 200 horsepower and to 207 pound-feet of torque, with peak torque holding steady all the way from 1800 to 5000 rpm. The GTI can rocket from a standing start to 60 miles per hour in just 7.0 seconds, says Volkswagen, while delivering an EPA-rated 23/32 mpg with the manual transmission, 25/31 mpg with the Direct Shift Gearbox. This latter bit of F1 wizardry can be left in a fully automatic mode or can be manually manipulated by racing-style paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel.

We delighted in the GTI's quick and precise steering. We appreciated the support and design of the Interlagos plaid seating surfaces and the versatility of its hatchback design. Now also available as a five-door, enthusiasts with families no longer have an excuse.

Lineup

The 2007 Volkswagen GTI comes in one trim level with a choice of two body styles. The two-door hatchback comes with a choice of six-speed manual transmission ($22,100) or six-speed automatic Direct Shift Gearbox ($23,175). The four-door hatchback comes with the same choice of manual ($22,600) or automatic ($23,675).

Standard features include air conditioning; well-bolstered, eight-way-adjustable seats with Interlagos plaid cloth inserts; a 40/60 split folding rear seat; blue-tinted glass; xenon high-intensity gas-discharge headlamps with washers; halogen fog lamps; turn signal lights on the exterior rearview mirrors; variable intermittent windshield wipers; a height-adjustable center armrest; cruise control; trip computer; remote unlocking as well as power windows that can be opened or closed with the key fob; aluminum alloy pedals; a 10-speaker audio system with six-CD changer and MP3 player; a tilt and telescoping steering column with audio controls on the steering wheel; plenty of cup holders; carpeted and covered cargo area; and 17-inch summer performance tires on alloy wheels. All-season tires are available as a no-cost option.

Package 1 ($1,370) combines a power sunroof with satellite radio (XM or Sirius). Package 2 ($3,160) also includes the sunroof and satellite radio, and adds dual-zone climate controls, leather front sport seats with heat, and heated washer nozzles. A DVD-based navigation system ($1,800) can be added; it displaces the CD changer from the dash, but VW offers the choice of either relocating it to the center console, or deleting it in favor of an iPod adaptor. (The Navigation stereo will not play MP3 CDs.) Satellite radio can be ordered as a stand-alone option ($375); as can Hufeisen 18-inch alloy wheels ($750) with summer performance tires. Dealers can install a set of rubber floor mats that includes a trunk liner ($185), and a lower-body aero kit ($1,650).

Safety equipment includes front airbags, front side-impact airbags, side curtain airbags, three-point harnesses for all seating positions (wear them), and LATCH child seat anchors. Anti-lock brakes (ABS) also come standard, along with Brake Assist, Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESP), and traction control (consisting of anti-slip regulation and electronic differential lock, plus engine-braking assist). The four-door offers optional rear-seat side-impact airbags ($350).

Walkaround

While not as stylish as a Mini Cooper, the '07 Volkswagen GTI has come quite a way from the square-cornered hatchback of yore. And though its creases may have been softened, its face has been made bolder. Plus, there's just enough of a muscular bulge to the fender wells filled by 17- or 18-inch tires and just enough lip to the rear spoiler to hint at the performance potential.

The classic GTI emblem is displayed like a well-earned badge against a black honeycomb grille that features a red accent stripe in the shape of a slightly devilish smile, all traditional GTI styling cues.

The shape of the headlamp covers, which have an almost winking eye form, accentuates this mischievous attitude. Three large, black honeycombed air vents in the lower fascia enhance the strength of the front end, with large fog lamps housed in the outboard intakes.

Viewed in profile, the windshield rakes quickly back over the front of the passenger compartment and the roofline ends with a wind-cheating spoiler above the back window. This view also gains visual strength and a sporty stance from the way the car's waistline rises and the side windows taper above the rear fenders. Also noticeable in the profile view are the red-colored brake calipers that show through all of the various wheel choices and proclaim that this is an all-around performance car, designed to stop as well as it goes.

Even with the airy wheels and showy brakes, however, the new four-door can't help but look a bit more utilitarian than the two-door. It's still undeniably sleek and handsome, but it surrenders some of the two-door's youthful cheek.

Like the profile, the rear view is clean, with large tail lamps mounted high on the car's haunches with twin exhaust tips peaking out from the lower left side of the black bumper.

Interior

It may look compact on the outside, but there's an amazing amount of room inside. The Volkswagen GTI offers passenger and luggage space on par with the Passat, VW's mid-size family sedan. Interior dimensions for the new four-door GTI are identical to those for the two-door.

The GTI's cargo area is fully carpeted, and cargo can be secured via four tie-down hooks. There's also a cargo cover to hide your gear; the cover can be removed when carrying taller objects.

The rear seat can hold three people. It's best suited for two, however, who can get more comfortable by tipping out the wide center armrest. Those sitting in the back get cup holders and storage cubbies, and plenty of rear legroom if those in the front seats aren't tall.

In the two-door model, access to the back seat is easy because of a feature that VW calls Easy Entry. Here's how it works: You tip the front seatback forward until it snaps into a locked position, then you can slide the entire seat forward to open a good-sized path to the back seat. Slide the front seat back and it stops in its original position and the seat back also returns to its former position so the driver or front-seat passenger can climb in without having to make any readjustments. It works well.

The front seats are nicely bolstered so you won't slide around while exploring the car's dynamic capabilities. However, this is not a car for everyone. The seats may be too snug for some, and others won't like the black, gray, white and red-striped Interlagos plaid pattern in the seating and back area between the bolsters. GTI faithful will love these seats, however, and consider the Interlagos plaid an iconic part of the original GTI. It's named after the racing circuit used for the Brazilian Grand Prix. Those who don't like the plaid can opt for black leather seats with a small GTI emblem stitched into the upper part of the seat back. The front passenger's seat offers good legroom and easy access to climate and audio controls.

Drivers will like the way the three-spoke, leather-covered and flat-bottomed (like a racecar) steering wheel both tilts and telescopes to enhance steering control and comfort. The alloy pedals with rubber grips are nicely placed for heel-and-toe shifting, and there's a large dead pedal for your left foot when it isn't depressing the clutch.

The steering wheel houses audio and trip-computer control buttons. On cars with the Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) transmission, racecar-style paddle shifters are on the steering wheel right at your fingertips.

The instrument panel features VW's blue-lit gauges with red indicator arrows as well as a trip computer to track miles to empty or to display redundant navigation system instructions within the driver's line of sight. The gauge cluster is very readable, even in bright sunlight when the driver is wearing polarized sunglasses. For '07, the radio buttons are finished in silver, instead of black, a change not everyone will like. And the cruise-control switches have been revised for more intuitive operation. (An '06 interior is pictured here.)

Not only are the seats height-adjustable, but so is the arm rest on the center console, so you can put it high for comfortable cruising or lower it so it won't interfere when you get assertive with the six-speed manual shifter. Cup holders are positioned on the center console so they don't interfere with gear changing. And there's a grab handle on the center console so the front-seat passenger can hold on.

Driving Impressions

The Volkswagen GTI is fun to drive and that's where it shines. The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine is responsive and offers a broad plateau of torque. Maximum torque is available from a mere 1800 rpm up to 5000 rpm, so you can putter comfortably around town in fourth gear without having to overwork your right arm searching for the engine's sweet spot as you maneuver in city traffic. While the car operates on regular unleaded, premium fuel is recommended to achieve maximum power levels.

When you want to downshift for curves on mountain roads or to make a pass on a two-lane in the country, the clutch is very light with easy pickup, the shifter has short and sure throws, and the engine spins into gear immediately. On winding pavement, we preferred the six-speed manual, which allowed us to feel truly connected to car and road.

The DSG automatic gearbox functions essentially as a computer-controlled manual that shifts at the speed of electrons. With two clutches and two countershafts, it can literally engage the next gear while simultaneously disengaging the last; which is not possible with conventional manual or automatic transmissions. Volkswagen claims acceleration performance is better with the DSG than with the manual gearbox; 0-60 mph takes just 6.9 seconds with the DSG. And if you want to play with gears yourself, you can, using Formula 1-style paddles on the steering wheel.

We've driven the DSG in other VW Group vehicles, and it is a marvelous device, especially if you have a commute heavy with stop-and-inch traffic. Compared to the manual GTI, the DSG-equipped version surrenders 1 mpg in its EPA highway rating but gains 2 mpg in city driving.

Steering is quick and precise, and the suspension is responsiveness personified. The GTI benefits from MacPherson struts in front and a four-link suspension in the rear. We found the response of even the all-season Continental tires to be up to enthusiast standards, though we think that serious enthusiasts will want to consider the larger 18-inch wheels and high-performance summer tires. Its 35.8-foot turning circle makes the GTI maneuverable in tight quarters.

Grasped by those red calipers, the big ventilated front discs and big rear discs stop the GTI quickly and surely. ABS comes standard, helping the driver maintain steering control while braking. Brake Assist helps the driver maintain full braking pressure in an emergency stopping situation. Electronic brake-force distribution balances braking front to rear for quicker, more stable braking.

Even though nearly 60 percent of the car's 3100 pounds is supported by the front wheels, the GTI does not exhibit the tendency to understeer so prevalent in most front-wheel-drive cars. To help the driver keep the car on course, the GTI comes with electronic stability control (ESP) as well as traction control.

Summary & Specs

Volkswagen's latest GTI is neither the least expensive nor flashiest vehicle in its category. Nonetheless, it offers more horsepower and considerably more torque than either the Honda Civic Si or Mini Cooper S. The GTI also offers either its short-throw six-speed manual or state-of-the-art DSG transmission with speed-of-electrons shifting via paddles mounted on the steering wheel. With its subtly Teutonic styling, the GTI may not look like a performance car. But those inside will have no doubt about its dynamic capabilities. They also will enjoy the room, comfort and cargo capacity of its versatile interior, now accessible through four doors. They may even come to like that Interlagos plaid. We like it.

NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Larry Edsall drove the new GTI in the Phoenix area.

2007 Volkswagen GTI Base Hatchback Specifications

2007 Volkswagen GTI Performance & Efficiency Standard Features

- Turbo compressor - 1,984 cc 2 liters in-line 4 front engine with 82.5 mm bore, 92.8 mm stroke, 10.3 compression ratio, double overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder - Premium unleaded fuel 91 - Fuel economy EPA highway (mpg): 32 and EPA city (mpg): 23 - Gasoline direct injection fuel system - 14.5 gallon main premium unleaded fuel tank - Power: 149 kW , 200 HP SAE @ 5,100 rpm; 207 ft lb , 281 Nm @ 1,800 rpm

2007 Volkswagen GTI Handling, Ride & Braking Standard Features

- Four-wheel ABS - Brake assist system - Four disc brakes including two ventilated discs - Electronic brake distribution - Electronic traction control via ABS & engine management - Immobilizer - Spacesaver steel rim internal spare wheel - Stability control - Strut front suspension independent with stabilizer bar and coil springs , multi-link rear suspension independent with stabilizer bar and coil springs

2007 Volkswagen GTI Exterior & Aerodynamics Standard Features

- Body side molding - Body color front bumpers , part-painted rear bumpers - Day time running lights - Driver and passenger power heated body color door mirrors indicator lights - External dimensions: overall length (inches): 165.8, overall width (inches): 69.3, overall height (inches): 58.4, wheelbase (inches): 101.5, front track (inches): 60.4, rear track (inches): 59.7 and curb to curb turning circle (feet): 35.8 - Front fog lights - Projector beam lens Xenon bulb headlights - Luxury trim alloy & leather on gearknob, alloy on doors and alloy on dashboard - Metallic paint - Fixed rear window with defogger and intermittent - Roof spoiler - Tinted glass on cabin - Weights: curb weight (lbs) 3,100 - Windshield wipers with variable intermittent wipe

2007 Volkswagen GTI Interior Standard Features

- 12v power outlet: front and 2 , 12v power outlet: cargo and 1 - Air conditioning with rear outlet - Diversity antenna - Peripheral anti-theft protection - Audio anti-theft protection: code and integrated in dash - Manufacturer's own audio system with AM/FM, Disc Autochanger and six-disc remote changer CD player reads MP3 - Cargo area cover/rear parcel shelf - Cargo area light - Cargo capacity: all seats in place (cu ft): 15.1 - Clock - Compass - Computer with average speed, average fuel consumption, instantaneous fuel consumption and range for remaining fuel - Full dashboard console , full floor console with covered storage box , partial overhead console with covered storage box - Delayed/fade courtesy lights - Cruise control - Front seats cup holders fixed , rear seats cup holders pop out - Door ajar warning - Door pockets/bins for driver seat and passenger seat - External temperature - Floor covering: carpet in load area - Floor mats - Driver and passenger front airbag with occupant sensors - Sports driver and passenger seat with height adjustment and lumbar adjustment - Height adjustable 3-point reel front seat belts on driver seat and passenger seat with pre-tensioners - Front seat center armrest - Lockable glove compartment - Two height adjustable active head restraints on front seats , three height adjustable head restraints on rear seats - Illuminated entry system - Internal dimensions: front headroom (inches): 39.3, rear headroom (inches): 38.5, front leg room (inches): 41.2, rear leg room (inches): 35.3, front shoulder room (inches): 54.7, rear shoulder room (inches): 54.6 and interior volume (cu ft): 94.2 - Low fuel level warning - Low tire pressure indicator - Remote power locks includes trunk/hatch, includes power windows and speed sensing - Power steering - Front power windows with two one-touch - Front reading lights - 3-point reel rear seat belts on driver side, passenger side and center side - Rear seat center armrest with trunk access - Three asymmetrical bench front facing rear seats with zero adjustments - Rear view mirror - Steering wheel mounted remote audio controls - Remote fuel filler door release - Remote control remote trunk/hatch release - Front and rear roof airbag - Front seat back storage - Upgraded cloth/velour seat upholstery with additional cloth - Seating: five seats - Front side airbag - Ten speaker(s) - Leather covered multi-function steering wheel with tilt adjustment and telescopic adjustment - Tachometer - Illuminated driver and passenger vanity mirror - Ventilation system with recirculation setting and micro filter

2007 Volkswagen GTI Pricing

Trim	MSRP	Invoice	Destination	Internet Price
2007 Base FWD 2-Dr Hatchback L4	$22,100	Get Price	$630	Get My Price!

2007 Volkswagen GTI Base Hatchback Pricing

Packages MSRP Invoice Internet Price

	PG1	Package #1	$1,370	Get Price	Get My Price!
	PG2	Package #2	$3,160	Get Price	Get My Price!
	PKX	Package #2 (XM)	$3,160	Get Price	Get My Price!

Options (click the plus sign to show all options)

	9VJ	Premium Audio System	$325	Get Price	Get My Price!
	H7K	17" High Performance All-Season Tires	$0	Get Price	Get My Price!
	HX9	18" 'Hufweisen' Alloy w/All-Season Tires	$750	Get Price	Get My Price!
	IAK	Basic Ground Effects (PIO)	$1,650	Get Price	Get My Price!
	IMK	Rubber Mats and Trunk Liner (PIO)	$185	Get Price	Get My Price!
	J004	Standard Paint Type	$0	Get Price	Get My Price!
	J005	Standard Paint Type	$0	Get Price	Get My Price!
	PIP	DVD-based Navigation System with iPod	$1,800	Get Price	Get My Price!
	PIT	iPod Adapter[1]	$199	Get Price	Get My Price!
	PIT	iPod Adapter	$199	Get Price	Get My Price!
	PJZ	18" 'Hufweisen' Alloy Wheels with Summer	$750	Get Price	Get My Price!
	PNV	DVD-based Navigation System with 6-disc	$1,800	Get Price	Get My Price!
	QV8	Sirius Satellite Radio	$375	Get Price	Get My Price!