On the surface, the mid-life Mk8.5 update for the Volkswagen Golf looks like it solves a lot of the pre-facelift car’s many issues, but as enthusiasts, it’s hard not to focus on what’s not there. More specifically, for the first time in the Golf GTI’s nearly 40-year history, there won’t be a manual gearbox available.
It’s a sad moment in the GTI’s illustrious history, and clearly, Volkswagen’s Italian division agrees, because it’s created a run-out edition of the pre-facelift Mk8 intended to give the three-pedal GTI a proper send-off.
Called the MT Ultimate, VW Italy is calling it “the last Golf GTI with [a] manual gearbox in history.” Just 110 will be sold, a nod to the horsepower produced by the original Mk1 Golf GTI from 1975.
VW Golf GTI MT Ultimate – interior
It’s mechanically identical to any other manual Mk8 GTI, so makes 242bhp from its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot (as a reminder, the facelifted car produces 261bhp), and will go from 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds and on to 155mph.
It comes in three colours – Kings Red, Pure White or Black – and features the 19-inch Estoril alloys originally seen on the Mk8 Golf R, in either silver or black. It also comes as standard with VW’s IQ.Light LED matrix headlights, and the adaptive Dynamic Chassis Control suspension setup.
VW Golf GTI MT Ultimate – detail
On the inside, the MT Ultimate continues the throwback theme with the excellent ‘Jacara’ tartan cloth upholstery, although sadly in grey rather than red. Of course, being based on the pre-facelift Golf, it also has the infuriating haptic steering wheel controls that have thankfully been banished to the nether zone with the update. Each car gets a numbered ‘1/110’ plaque.
Want one? You’ll have to a) live in Italy and b) cough up €52,950. That’s roughly £45,000, an increase of a fairly alarming £7,000 over a standard manual GTI in Italy. Still – a numbered plaque!
VW Golf GTI MT Ultimate – detail
Alternatively, you could save yourself the bother of learning a new language (although sitting here in Britain in February, Italy sounds pretty appealing) and track down a nice second-hand manual Mk8. Here’s one we found in red, with a shade over 10,000 miles on the clock and the all-important cloth seats, for £27k.
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