These are the best pictures yet of Volkswagen’s iconic Golf GTI – we've caught the sixth-generation performance hotshoe undertaking final hot weather testing before its public debut at the 2008 Paris motor show on 2 October 2008.
Peel away that black masking and the car’s chunky new lines, fat bumpers, lowered ride height and goatee grille can easily be seen. Perhaps this is the new Golf that will finally get us interested after a lukewarm reception to the Mk6 Golf family hatch range.
We can also make out the Golf GTI's new exhaust layout – the new hot hatch is thought to ditch today's 2.0-litre blown engine for a brand new Audi-sourced turbo unit that is said to be cleaner, punchier and more economical.
Sounds good, but please tell me the VW Golf GTI's power hasn't taken a hit as a result…
The news is all good. The forced induction Audi-developed engine, which features a valve-lift system on the intake camshaft, as well as direct injection, is said to develop 208bhp at 4300-6000rpm – around 10bhp more than the current car, and developed lower down the rev range.
However, it’s the GTI's torque that improves the most – up from 207lb ft at 1800-5000rpm to a hefty 258lb ft that kicks in at 1500rpm and doesn't tail off until 4200rpm.
Hooked up to a seamless seven-speed DSG box, the GTI should whip to 60mph in 6.5 seconds and be electronically reigned in at 155mph, return close to 40mpg and post a sub-150g/km CO2 rating (current GTI – 6.9sec, 145mpg, 35.8mpg, 188g/km). Which makes it a pretty damn impressive engine in our opinion.
What else is new on the 'new' Golf GTI?
Expect the bulk of the current GTI’s architecture – suspension, brakes and steering – to be carried over from the current GTI. There's no word on pricing yet, but VW is claiming its newest Golf won’t be significantly more expensive than the outgoing model – which hints at a very attractive £21,000 or thereabouts.

Oh, and there’ll also be a turbocharged diesel GTD version on the way, powered by the company’s new – and very smooth – 170bhp 2.0-litre common rail engine. A hot hatch for the Noughties, if ever we heard of one.