The Golf GTI is the most famous hot-hatch car on the market.
It appeared in the mid-’70s and it was produced ever since. In 2013 it reached its seventh generation and, along with it, came the diesel version: the GTD.

The first Golf GTD was introduced in 1982 and it only offered 70 hp, which were about 45 less than on the GTI. But the idea was well-received by the public. It offered enough fun at the fraction of cost for fuel. In 2013, the GTD offered less power but more torque than the much acclaimed GTI version.

The outside design is instantly recognizable Golf. There are some small details to tell the difference. On the front, there was a red line that went across the grille and was continued inside the headlights. The bigger front bumper included some air-scoops and the narrow grille had a honeycomb mesh design. The aerodynamic side-sills made the car look sportier, and so was the rear roof-spoiler. Standard 17” light-alloy wheels were fitted. In the rear, it featured twin exhausts on one side.

Inside, there were some classic design cues and some modern touches. The three-door version featured a longer door when compared with the 5-door version, but offered the same roomy interior for the backseats. The instrument panel though it was modern, with big round dials for the speedometer and tachometer. Between those two there was a small LCD display for the on-board computer. The infotainment unit was on the center console and it could feature a navigation system.

The all-wheel independent suspension and the optional adaptive dampers made the car planted to the road.