“Physical handling limits” always come into play when the safety reserves of a chassis need to be determined. The actual boundaries of the current VW Golf GTI’s physical handling limits were revealed when race car driver Hans-Joachim Stuck took to the wheel of the Golf GTI Mk6. Just a few laps in Hockenheim or on the Nürburgring or a few kilometers in the “Maritime Alps” on the mountain roads above Nice were sufficient for the former Formula-1 driver and endurance race world champion to very analytically describe why the Mk6 Volkswagen Golf GTI drove at the level of significantly more expensive sports cars and – this is crucial – managed to also excite the drivers of such extremely expensive sports cars.
Stuck: “It becomes immediately apparent just how precisely the GTI tracks steering inputs. And this steering precision is directly reflected in driving quality. The production car chassis offers practically no hint of body roll. The car’s quasi lack of roll and pitch results in very safe driving behavior. However, the GTI not only handles with sports car stiffness; it is also very comfortable. The electronic damper control of its new DCC system, in particular, produces an ideal synthesis of great comfort and excellent handling properties in the GTI. There are of course many sporty cars that are simply too stiff. Yet this one is always right. That must be stated very clearly.”
The 6th Volkswagen Golf GTI is equipped with a sport chassis; its front end was lowered by 22 millimeters, and its rear by 15 millimeters. The entire architecture of springs, dampers and rear stabilizers was completely re-tuned. In front, the familiar strut-type suspension operates with helical springs and telescoping shock absorbers. In the rear, an innovative multi-link suspension ensures that the ESP system seldom needs to intervene. The braking system is also extremely durable. Distinctive here are the red painted brake calipers. Now it is time to visit a Volkswagen dealer near you for a test drive.
