A much more sophisticated vrrrphaa.. the new Golf 8 GTI, born a stunner!

I recently discovered a French artist by the name of Edith Piaf. How this happened is because of Volkswagen. The new Golf 8 GTI TV ad has a really calming song in the background in isiXhosa, if you have heard it then it is most certainly stuck in your head and randomly plays at odd moments when you are going about your day. What’s the relation here to Edith Piaf you may wonder? The song is originally sang in French by the songstress and it’s called non, je ne regrette rien meaning no regrets in French. Volkswagen translated this song into isiXhosa sang by Nonku Phiri for the launch of the new Golf 8 GTI. I have to tell you the song couldn’t be more appropriate for this car because you would absolutely have no regrets by purchasing this car which in my opinion is perfect.

The Golf 8 GTI has taken a different direction when coming to design and refinement, nothing like its predecessors especially when coming to the interior. Volkswagen has taken it up a notch as far as premium is concerned, the eight is much sleeker, elegant and minimalistic in design language. Entering the Golf 8 GTI will have you wondering why it seems like it has so much space. That’s because everything you need is placed on the touchscreen infotainment system, that’s right no more buttons! Climate control, Media/radio volume for example are placed just underneath the screen and only require a touch not the normal hard presses we’re accustomed to. Less buttons yet more tech! Yes, Volkswagen has made it possible.

To say the car is good looking would be playing it humble, and there’s no room for modesty when coming to the GTI, it is the car it thinks it is! The reactions I have seen while driving around in the Golf 8 GTI needed to be documented. Children were amazed, and adults were in disbelief. Back to the TV ad, my expectation when I got news of this assignment, was of course that red baddie so it took all of 3 seconds to get over the fact that it was white. I forgave it immediately because colour doesn’t matter with the Golf 8 GTI, the black rims and mirrors gave it the contrast it needed for it to stand out, not that it wasn’t going to stand out anyway. The GTI in South Africa is worshipped and loved, it is simply the people’s car, I say this confidently because South Africans put names on the things they love; Vrrrphaa!

Speaking of the vrrrpha, the 2.0-litre 4 cylinder turbopetrol develops 180kW with a torque peak of 370Nm thanks to the fast shifting 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DSG). I am not going to claim to have put the car through the paces, what I can guarantee you is performance, a responsive acceleration and superb handling. This one isn’t made for the adrenaline junky guys alone, it has the sophistication for the laid back guys, and ladies.

When it comes to the Golf GTI we can sit and debate about the price all day, or the competition in the premium hatchback segment but all of that will in no way affect the eight selling like hotcakes in the next couple of months, because Volkswagen got their hands on a winning formula with this model and it would take a lot to push it out of the number spot.