VW Golf GTI concept (2012) first pictures

Volkswagen surprised the Paris motor show attendees with this production-ready Golf GTI concept car shown today. Although dubbed a concept, everything looks and feels like a showroom ready hot hatch. Expect to see the real thing at next spring's 2013 Geneva motor show.

The new model takes the conservative polish of the new Golf Mk7 and applies just enough visual aggression to give Wolfsburg's GTI some restrained attitude. It looks rather like our exclusive scoop pictures, and features the same trademark red GTI pinstripe line running into the headlights that we revealed back in March 2012.

Powering the new Volkswagen Golf GTI is a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder, tuned to produce 217bhp - up ten on today's Mk6 GTI - although buyers can spec a Power Pack for around £900 more, lifting peak power to 227bhp.

It's enough for a claimed 6.6sec sprint to 62mph and 153mph flat out. Yet the new Golf pocket rocket manages 47.1mpg, an 18% improvement.

The new Golf range arrives in UK dealers in January 2013, the GTI following some six months later.

There's a snazzy golf ball gearknob and a 175mph speedo in front of you, the tacho is redlined at 7300rpm, and you sit on a set of trademark tartan-trimmed sports seats.

By Tim Pollard