WATCH The Evolution Of The Volkswagen Golf GTI
The hot hatch that started the revolution. Quick, light and visually appealing - it set the benchmark for future generations. The successor to the MK1 variant and often referred to as the 'Jumbo', the second generation was considerably different in both aesthetics and performance. Its maximum power output was 102kW. There was also a Rallye Golf version released as a special edition. The GTI developed a more rounder shape than previous generations, still retaining specific elements that make it a GTI. Power output was increased to 110kW and also spawned a variaty of the other models including the VR6 and Cabriolet. The fourth generation GTI became the turning point for Volkswagen. It was the first GTI to come out of the factory turbocharged. It was also released in an R-line spec which was limited to specific countries. It produced 132kW from a turbocharged 1.8l 20-valve engine. Jeremy Clarkson hailed the Golf V GTI as the most complete hatchback he ever drove. The fifth edition GTI is probably the most well-rounded with significant improvement in looks and performance compared to its predecessors. The sixth generation GTI saw minimal extensive changes made to the exterior as opposed to the previous generation. It retained much of the visual appeal, distinct to the MK5. The seventh generation brought with it a host of changes and even more power than before. The DSG and paddle shift transmission setup was retained and power was increased slightly to 162kW. A special edition Clubsport and GTD were also released.
I like how this car brought happiness to the people around me.. So when they got to sit in this Beetle Cabriolet, they got excited and that kinda mood which created happiness is not something you will always get. Furthermore, its a Beetle that is so cute and has a smile at the front! With that said.. I brought my parents, and my nephew and niece out with this Beetle Cabriolet.. With this car.. I can have the top up or down anytime. Enjoy the natural breeze outside. What I like most about this car is front LED lights and the back lamps which are really nice as compared to its predecessor. I also like the power it has when I step on the accelerator. Thanks to the 4-cylinder, TSI petrol engine with 8 valves, turbocharged engine! I can also have an option to switch to Sports mode when I need more power and speed!
With colorful graphics, the navigation system's maps look pretty good, and it showed the accurate location of the car during our driving. But destination entry isn't very straightforward with this system. To enter a destination, you have to choose a menu area labeled Memory, an unlikely name, and then tediously choose letters from a rotary dial for city and street names. Besides entering an exact address, you can also choose a location from the map using a cross-hair system, also tedious, or choose from a limited database of points of interest. The navigation system's route guidance is similarly basic, with no advanced features such as text to speech or live traffic reporting. We found this interface tedious for inputting street and city names. We do like Audi's hands-free cell phone integration, which can be used either with a cradle or wirelessly, through Bluetooth, in the Audi R8. The system downloads the connected phone's contacts, making it easy to select an entry and call it while you are driving.
You can also manually enter names and phone numbers into the car's address book, or save them from the points of interest database. As with most recent Audis, we like the sound quality of the stereo, but don't care for the audio source choices. Our car came with an optional six-disc changer, mounted somewhat inconveniently behind the seats. This changer can't read MP3 CDs, a real rarity these days. Worse, there is no auxiliary audio input, and iPod integration isn't an option, as it is on other Audis. But it does offer two slots for SD cards, hidden behind the LCD, where you can load a few gigabytes worth of MP3 tracks. The interface for the cards is basic, just showing file names and folders. As we've seen on other Audis, there are two SD card slots behind the LCD. Our Audi R8 came with the basic sound system, consisting of seven speakers and a 140 watt amplifier.
We found the audio quality very good overall, with decent bass and well separated highs. We would really have preferred the optional Bang & Olufsen audio system, though, which uses a 465-watt, 10-channel amplifier and pumps music through 12 speakers. As with other options in the R8, we think that Audi should make them standard, considering the price of the car. As part of the car's Premium package, it gets a reverse camera and sonar parking sensors, a very useful feature in this car, where the seating position makes it difficult to see the front and rear. Under the hoodThe beating heart of the Audi R8, its 4.2-liter direct injection eight-cylinder engine, sits under a glass panel behind the cabin. An eight-cylinder engine under glass is on the menu with the Audi R8. Handling, as mentioned above, is really superb. We noted some understeer coming into the corners, but the car follows through on the turns very well. We pushed it hard and didn't detect wheel slip, while the balanced nature of the car gave us confidence to push it even harder. Fortunately, Audi's magnetic damping system and Quattro all-wheel-drive are standard on the R8.
