The hot hatch to cool cruiser Volkswagen Golf GTI cabriolet (yes, it exists) upgraded

Poor Volkswagen Golf GTI cabriolet.  Even relentless Volkswagen devotees don’t know it even exists.  With the Golf GTI hatch taking all of the stage lights, and the Golf cabriolet enjoying the reputation of all the nice Golf qualities with the bonus of open-top bodied elegance at a reasonable convertible price, the GTI cabriolet misses out on attention.

Overlooked

Golf fanatics keep going back to all the generations of their favourites, but hardly ever are the names GTI and cabriolet uttered together.  The Golf GTI cabriolet has been with us since March 2013, based on Golf 6.  This is the 1st time VW builds the cabriolet with the GTI performance and appearance.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI cabriolet is one of the often-overlooked cabriolet options, though deserves consideration, as buyers are missing out on a bargain.  It has received an engine upgrade to the Golf 7 GTI 162kW and much higher 350 Newtons.  The DSG gearbox is the only option here, and the fitting one, with performance just slightly lower than the GTI DSG hot hatch, at 6.9 versus 6.5 seconds sprints, due to the cabriolets 100 extra kg’s.

Will you believe its cost of R 470 300 (for the current version) is less than an Audi A3 cabriolet 1.4T S auto, and much lower than a BMW 220i convertible automatic’s near R 508 000?  MINI has just revealed pricing of its new MINI Cooper S Convertible, which in auto is priced at about R450k.

Upgraded

There is no shortage of GTI features, complete with all the leather and black and chrome bits, and the same red touches like the parallel red lines in the grille, and red stitching to uplift the interior.

The upgraded GTI cabriolet gets sportier extensions for the bumpers and side sills, adding that extra bit of subtle body kit.  The wheels are also changed from the telephone-dial circular spokes to the Golf 7 GTI 5-spoke wheel. 

A sporty spoiler lip is fitted to the edge of the bootlid, rounding off the sporty cabriolet look in a restrained but those-who-know-will-notice-it way.

The soft-top can now be ordered in cloth colour other than black – choose from Garnet Red (dark red / burgundy) or Deep Blue.  Spec it in a monochrome same-shade look, or be bold and show off your discovery of the GTI cabriolet roof by contrasting it.  Try white with blue roof, or silver with red roof, or mix n’ match.

Golf and GTI and cabriolet in one

This car is a Golf, a GTI, and a cabriolet, in one.  The Golf GTI cabriolet has a feature you cannot have on your GTI hatch – its soft-top folds away flush between the rear headrests and the boot, so no need to have a open-fold-close bootlid procedure.  From hot hatch to cool cruiser in 9.5 seconds.

Local pricing or timing has not been announced, though expect the same bargain of GTI power and appeal with cabriolet style and joy. 

Yes, the Volkswagen Golf GTI cabriolet exists.  It is filed under Golf cabriolet – not under GTI at this local webpage.