VW Golf GTI Excessive (2010): the maximum GTI

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

16 May 2010 07:07

The Volkswagen Group has fallen in love with the Austrian hot hatchfest that is Wörthersee. Barely a year goes by when an outrageous Audi or VW isn't being wheeled out to Europe's GTi fans – and 2010 is no different. The new VW Golf GTI Excessive is not as extreme as its name suggests, but rather it's a gently tweaked-up version of one of the most rounded hot hatches on sale today.

Although the 2.0 TSI engine is untuned, a new exhaust system liberates an extra 4bhp, taking power to 211bhp and torque to 211lb ft (available all the way from 1700-5200rpm). 

Errr, so that's not a very hardcore Golf GTI conversion then...

Changes are more cosmetic – and VW says it will probably launch a retro-fit styling pack to make your Mk6 Golf GTI look like the Excessive. That means a deeper front airdam, sill extensions in gloss black and the now de rigueur rear diffuser. LED rear lights, titanium-tipped exhuast pipes and a subtle wing distinguish the rear. Inside sit a pair of bucket seats and trim mixing brushed aluminium and gloss black.

The chassis receives more sporting revisions to keep the Excessive planted through the twisties. This GTI has a set of firmer springs and recalibrated dampers, plus a wider track allowed by 30mm wheelarch extensions housing bulbous 19in BBS alloys shod with 235/35 ZR19 rubber.

Brakes are uprated, too. The discs are now 370mm at the front, 310mm at the rear.

The Wörthersee Show: the background

The hot hatch show started in 1982 and has drawn a string of VW concepts: the Golf GTI W12 appeared in 2007, the Scirocco GT24 followed in 2008 and in 2009 Wolfsburg wheeled out the Polo Wörthersee 09 show car.

By Tim Pollard