Since the Volkswagen Golf GTI debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in 1975, the hatch immediately gained popularity not only because of its unassuming looks, but also of the superb driving experience one gains from it. Back then, the GTI, which stands for Gran Turismo-Injected, was powered by a 1,600cc four-cylinder engine with K-Jetronic fuel injection system that developed 110 PS and 140 Nm torque—allowing the 810-kilogram hatch to sprint from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 9.0 seconds before reaching a top speed of 176 kph.
Forty years after, and now on its seventh-generation, the all-new Golf GTI MkVii has finally landed on Philippine shores and ready to give Filipinos a taste of its iconic performance and fuel economy.