[quasimodo]

I can't wait for it but braced for the price.
We know how much will it cost? Any indication so far?

Camry sells for $28k in US and retails for 1.8x that in India (in CKD route).

GTI will be CBU but optimistically if we use the same multiplier on US price of around $33k, we are looking at 50L sticker price. That's a DOA proposal, even though I love the car!

[GeeTee TSI]

Is it even possible to check out the car, experience a test drive? An enquiry to VW India yielded nothing.

[loudpops]

Local dealer at Kochi is already touting the upcoming launch is social media. This being in limited numbers will definitely fly out of the showrooms

[Bhodrolok]

Spoke to VW bangalore, they don't have updates on the Golf's availability yet. The service advisor has "promised" to let me know as soon as he gets any update.

[Guna]

Originally Posted by quasimodo

I can't wait for it but braced for the price.
We know how much will it cost? Any indication so far?

Golf GTI is seem to have been priced on par with the Tiguan Allspace in UK (actually few thousand pounds more). Considering that the new Tiguan Allspace (Tayron) and the new Kodiaq could be 55 lakh cars (onroad), a 60 Lakh Golf GTI could be realistic.
Personally I (probably not a target customer) would go with the new Octavia RS or the rumoured Ionic 5 N (or even regular Ionic 5) for that money.

[buzzy_boy]

Comparing the prices of the AMG C43 and the Golf GTI in the UK and Indian markets, I believe that VW could price the GTI at ₹60 lakh ex-showroom in India. That would make it ~₹15 lakh cheaper than the 340i, which, admittedly, is a segment above.

I think 60L is a sweet spot where the GTI will have a lot of takers.

[Sudarshan42]

The acronym DOA is not applicable to this car. It's an icon, and those who want it will get it regardless of price. It is a price inelastic product for the Indian market, and will serve as a halo product for VW India.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by Sudarshan42

The acronym DOA is not applicable to this car. It's an icon ...

(Abbreviation, Aaargh at the now-standard misuse of the word acronym )

The VW Golf is more than an icon, it is a very practical family car. The objection to the Polo is always that it is too small, which, for family, it certainly is, it is a car for singles and young couples. My Golf (a humble model, nothing like a GTI), back in 1990, used to get crammed full with computer stuff for installation, and an estate car would have only been a little more accommodation.

I don't think VW used to even put "GTI" on the car. One only realised it must be when, already speeding on a British motorway, one of those ordinary-looking family cars zoomed past. And that defined it. When it wasn't being driven fast, there was little to make out that it wasn't perfectly ordinary.

Isn't the Golf one of the world's best-selling cars? I'm not good at the numbers. But within that, the GTI was always niche. The Golf itself was more expensive than many other cars of its size, and I probably wouldn't have driven one for two years if it had not been a company car.

The GTI ("GTi" ?) was never an affordable car in Europe: it certainly is not going to be one here. I'm sure VW will import in numbers they can be confident of selling, and I'm sure they will sell.

I wish I could be a buyer!

[nerd1200]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

The fear is that VW may attempt the same thing with the Golf GTI, and we would get the pre-updated models of the GTI and not the absolute very latest version of it that benefits from some crucial updates.

I too have a feeling that VW might be bringing us mk8 and not mk8.5.
That could be a reason for not showcasing the model in Auto Expo where they showcased models like the Superb and Octavia RS.

APart from the Polo GTI, they followed a similar approach with the Octavia RS245 too. Unsold UK/RHD market stocks were sold off to us.

[GeeTee TSI]

Originally Posted by nerd1200

I too have a feeling that VW might be bringing us mk8 and not mk8.5.
That could be a reason for not showcasing the model in Auto Expo where they showcased models like the Superb and Octavia RS.

Apart from the Polo GTI, they followed a similar approach with the Octavia RS245 too. Unsold UK/RHD market stocks were sold off to us.

Wasn't the Mk8 flayed for its laggy infotainment system? It will be a crying shame if the incremental improvements of Mk8.5 were not offered in 2025.

How does one (in India) identify the actual version?

[volkman10]

Originally Posted by GeeTee TSI

--

How does one (in India) identify the actual version?

2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI, MK8.5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVWdNEN2Pws

[mohamedfasil]

Even though this is such a sexy car, 52 lakhs seems very expensive to me
For sure there will be takers, and like the polo gti this is also going to be an appreciating asset

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by mohamedfasil

Even though this is such a sexy car ...

It's too sexy for me (ha ha). GTi ethos was understated.

I guess I'm just old-fashioned!

[sandeepmohan]

Lets be clear. In no part of the world is a VW Golf GTI affordable. I don't see any reason why they would make it affordable or accessible for our market. This is almost flagship "fast" hatchback from VW. The Golf R being the other model.

You buy a GTI cause you want something unique in your garage. You have a true passion for fast hatchbacks.

If you want the bargain basement version of a GTI, then wait for the Skoda VRS. It ain't no GTI though.

[Sudarshan42]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

(Abbreviation, Aaargh at the now-standard misuse of the word acronym )

Nope. Acronym. Abbreviation is something like abbrev. LOL, DOA, ASAP etc are acronyms.