MOST POWERFUL PRODUCTION GOLF GOES ON SALE IN THE UK

The eagerly awaited 2.8-litre 204 bhp Golf V6 with 4MOTION four-wheel drive is now on sale in the UK priced from £21,990 on the road for the three-door and £22,610 for the five-door.

The technical specification of the Golf V6 4MOTION is the most performance oriented of any Volkswagen yet introduced. It includes a 24 valve, 2.8-litre, 204 bhp V6 engine and a six speed manual gearbox - the same as those introduced earlier this month in the new Sharan V6 - and Volkswagen’s new ‘4MOTION’ permanent four-wheel drive system. This employs Haldex coupling to ensure that the power of the V6 engine is distributed between front and rear wheels according to available traction, giving greater driving safety particularly in tricky road conditions.

The new models are also equipped as standard with ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) which, working with the anti-lock braking system and ASR traction control, brakes one, two, three or all four wheels and automatically adjusts the engine’s output should the car begin to skid.

Power comes from the latest development of Volkswagen’s famous VR6 engine, now with four valves per cylinder and renamed V6. Variable valve timing gives greater torque at low and mid-range engine speeds and more power at high revs. Peak torque of 199 lbs ft is reached at 3200 rpm, lower and more accessible than previously. Engine emissions are of vital importance so the unit complies with the stringent D4 standard.

Not surprisingly, the Golf V6 4MOTION is the fastest accelerating hatchback Volkswagen has ever sold in the UK. Acceleration to 62 mph takes just 7.1 seconds and the Golf goes on to a top speed of 146 mph.

The Golf, however, doesn’t shout about its performance. Subtle styling clues - a unique design of 16" ‘Le Mans’ alloy wheel, a V6 grille badge with a red ‘6’, and twin chrome exhaust pipes - distinguish it from other models in the range.

These, as well as a distinctive ‘4MOTION’ gearknob, come on top of the already generous specification of the Golf V5. This includes electronic air conditioning, boot-mounted 6-disc CD autochanger, front fog lights, leather trim on the steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake grip, rain sensor and automatic dimming rear view mirror, sports seats and three rear head restraints and three-point seatbelts plus multi-function trip computer, remote control central locking with alarm, four airbags as well as a three year unlimited mileage warranty.

Optional equipment includes a full Recaro leather interior with heavily bolstered, heated front seats. Two grades of navigation system are offered, one with a monochrome screen and front-loading music CD player and a second, even more sophisticated, with 5" colour screen.

Music buffs might wish to upgrade the car’s standard sound system with Volkswagen’s Digital Sound Processor (DSP) which includes an external four channel, 70 watt amplifier. DSP gives the listener the impression of being ‘right in the heart of the music’ - a choice of five digital room simulations are offered with the system even set to take into account the different sound absorption properties of leather and cloth upholstery.

Gas discharge headlights are another option recently introduced to the Golf range. Supplied with high-pressure headlight wash and automatic self-levelling, glass lamps filled with xenon gas fluorescing under a high-tension electrical pulse emit two and a half times more light than conventional halogen-bulb units.