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"             When the new GTI arrives next October, it will sport an Audi-like grille and an optional nav system.       In bringing on the new Volkswagen GTI, retro styling alone isn&amp;#039;t the way to reconnect with fans of the original \u2014 after all, the Golf/Rabbit on which it was based was essentially just a box. Rather, the GTI mystique exists in the way the car handles and makes you feel when you&amp;#039;re behind the wheel. In this case, retro is in the substance, not necessarily the style.   Of course, there are retro cues like the red outline on the grille, the plaid inserts on the base cloth seats and the GTI badge. But what makes this GTI the real deal is the chassis and, most important, what&amp;#039;s under the hood. The original was a quick, 4-cylinder front-drive econobox that didn&amp;#039;t cost an arm and a leg. The legend faded with the introduction of every kind of GTI from an anemic 1.8-liter four that put out just over 100 bhp to high-priced VR6 models that, while quick, didn&amp;#039;t feel particularly nimble.   With the revamp of the GTI, VW has gotten the formula right. It&amp;#039;s back to 4-cylinder only, front-drive only and a snappy turbocharged 2.0-liter engine putting out 200 bhp and 206 lb.-ft. of torque. The transmission is a silky-smooth 6-speed manual, with the availability of the twin-clutch Direct Shift Gearbox transmission that shifts both automatically and manually.   Offered in a 3-door body style only (again, part of getting back to basics), the GTI has the modern, clean hatchback shape that&amp;#039;s quite appealing. Large headlamps flank two grille openings, one above and the other below the bumper line. Driving lamps are nestled into two large openings that also have ducts to direct air toward the 12.3-in. front brake rotors.   Five-spoke 17-in. rims, shod with P225/45R-17 Continental ContiSport-Contact2 tires, have a contemporary look (an optional 18-in. wheel package will be available when the car is launched in the U.S.). The rear of the car sports twin chromed exhaust tips and a subtle roof-mounted spoiler.   Inside, the sport bucket seats have extra side bolstering to keep you firmly in control. The steering wheel is thick with a grippy leather covering and a squared-off bottom that mimics a racer&amp;#039;s wheel. The dash has a high-quality look with large instruments and a new optional navigation system in the center stack. Large cupholders in the center console are divided by a slick little bottle opener that can be pulled out for duty. The shifter dispenses with the one retro touch, a golf ball dimpled knob, in favor of a more contemporary aluminum and leather affair that has a solid feel.   On a recent drive from Wolfsburg to the Paris auto show, the GTI revealed itself to be as spirited as the original with much better roadholding ability thanks to the shift from a twist beam rear axle to a sophisticated multilink setup, which means the inside rear wheel remains planted when pushing hard through a corner. The car is appreciably more stable with less tendency to tail-happiness, especially when backing off the throttle in mid-corner. The 2.0-liter turbo exhibits virtually no lag and with maximum torque available from 1800 to 5000 rpm, the GTI is very responsive in midrange passing maneuvers. The factory reports the car is capable of 0\u2013100 km/h (0\u201362 mph) acceleration of 7.2 seconds. Top speed in the U.S. will be electronically limited at 130 mph.   Shift, clutch and steering efforts complement each other. The clutch take-up is light and the shifter has short, precise throws, while the steering is nicely weighted with excellent on-center feel.   The GTI is simply fun to drive. And it will be kept simple with few options and few color choices (most likely black, red and silver, although white, which looked stunning on the Paris show stand, may still be in the running). This simplicity is designed to keep the price down, which is expected to be in the low $20,000 range. The only problem is the wait; we&amp;#039;ll see a new Jetta in the States before the GTI, due in part to the fact that all GTI and Golfs are now being built in Germany, rather than in Mexico. Next autumn can&amp;#039;t come soon enough. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/first-drives/reviews/a10315/2006-volkswagen-gti/>