2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI Dark Shine
When the apprentice team first got its Golf, the car was as plain-Jane as you could imagine - stock body, draped in white. Essentially given a blank slate, the team got to work by adding a variety of distinctive touches that add up to create something very special looking. The contrasting colors meet in the middle of the vehicle amidst a collection of offset stripes and arrows, seen prominently in the flanks and along the hood and roof. Accent lines can be found stretched along the shoulder line in the sides, through the front grille and into the headlights, and along the perimeter of the wheels. The yellow is also extended to the brake calipers. The new color scheme was entirely hand-painted, seeing a good deal of sanding and polish to perfect the finish. Design-wise, the look is ideal for a show car. In the rear, for example, the grey stripe along the roof hatch accentuates the small trailing roof spoiler, extending the car visually, while the forward-slanted stripes in the profile make the car appear racked, pushing it forward aggressively.
This is added to by the tucked stance from the dropped suspension, large wheels and low-profile tires, as well as the smoked taillights. Open the door, and you鈥檒l see the grey-and-yellow color scheme continued. The front seats come from Recaro, with upholstery done in a grey leather that matches the Daytona half of the exterior. The rear bench is also done in grey. The central tunnel is covered in a titanium black-colored Alcantara material, while the side bolsters and backrests on the Recaros are covered in black carbon leather. You鈥檒l find yellow lettering with the GTI logo on the bucket seats, plus contrasting yellow stitching. There鈥檚 also yellow piping around the perimeter of the seats. The doors have also been reupholstered, and brandish more GTI logos. Meeting the driver鈥檚 hands is a multi-function steering wheel wrapped in titanium black Alcantara, marked in the 12 o鈥檆lock position, with the yellow used for the surrounds of each of its three spokes and the offset stitching.
Yellow accents can also be found in the shift boot, air vent surrounds, gauge cluster surrounds and instrument needles. Sprinkled throughout the cabin and in various spots on the exterior you鈥檒l find the German phrase 鈥淒er See ruft鈥︹€? which translates to 鈥渢he lake calls,鈥?referencing the car鈥檚 debut at Worthersee. And since high-end stereo components are practically required just for entry at such car festivals, the Dark Shine GTI was outfitted with a top-of-the-line 3,500-watt audio system. This is comprises eight speakers in the cabin and three subs in the hatch, with the central subwoofer lit by LEDs and partially contained in glass. The amplifier is also nicely lit, recessed in the trunk under a glass covering. It鈥檚 all extremely clean and precise, exactly what you鈥檇 expect from a show-winning entry. Controlling the uber-audio is an external tablet interface. Powering the GTI is a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four cylinder TSI engine, which produces 210 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque when new off the assembly line.
However, the Dark Shine鈥檚 powerplant has been modified to lay down 389 horsepower and 359 pound-feet of torque, with peak torque available at 4,700 rpm. Details on what went into creating this pumped-up output are a bit sparse, but we do know there鈥檚 a good deal of breathing changes. On the intake side of things is a carbon-fiber air box, while past the cylinders is a handcrafted stainless-steel exhaust system with enlarged, black-tailpipe trim. The ECU gets a custom tune, while the intercooler and turbo downpipe both get upgrades. The DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox also gets a few tweaks to the control unit for what I can only assume to be more aggressive shifts. While extensive, I鈥檓 not convinced the above list is enough to liberate some 179 horsepower and 101 pound-feet of torque from the 2.0-liter four. I wouldn鈥檛 be surprised if there was a new turbo and several external supporting mods as well, but that鈥檚 up for speculation. Delving into the VAG parts bin, the team also fitted the Dark Shine with eight-piston brakes from an Audi RS Q3 up front, plus single-pots from an Audi RS6 in back. Gotta love that modular fitment.
