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VW iconic hot hatch reborn

Fans of the original Golf GTi are in for a treat after Volkswagen announced a new version of the seminal hot hatch – in South Africa.

The Volkswagen Citi Golf R-Line has the boxy, retro looks of the Mk1 Golf GTi, but has been brought up-to-date to make it easier to live with.

With a 1.8-litre, 121bhp engine the South African-built Citi Golf R-Line will hit 62mph in around 8.5 seconds and reach a top speed of more than 115mph – similar figures to the Mk1 GTi after its 1981 revisions.

The 1980s cabin has been replaced with a solid dashboard lifted from the Skoda Fabia, and has an MP3/CD player as standard; although there's no power steering and air-conditioning only comes as an option.

Outside, only its five door-only bodyshell, new taillights and 'R' badging separate the R-Line from its early 1980s predecessor.

It retains the evocative red edging around the front grille, twin headlights and golf ball gearknob which became early Golf GTi trademarks.

Sadly, Volkswagen's South African operations will make just 100 R-Line models, which have already been sold out. But the good news for Golf aficionados is it will build a standard 1.8i model later this year.

Volkswagen builds the Citi Golf as a low-cost supermini, using a production line shipped from VW's plant in Pennsylvania, USA.

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