The updated Golf GTI available from October this year will adopt the Performance Edition bits and bobs to become standard kit.

VOLKSWAGEN AUSTRALIA had announced its intention to roll-out a Golf GTI Performance Edition 2 following the 2017 variant. But, instead, the car maker has announced it’s taking the ‘Performance’ parts and adding them as standard fitment to all MY19 Golf GTI variants.

“With the 169kW GTI no longer available, Volkswagen Australia was able to standardise the technical specification of the Performance Edition for all GTIs,” Volkswagen said in a statement. Pricing hasn’t been announced for MY19 vehicles.

The updated Golf GTI will be available to order from next month, standard with the gear from the Performance Editions, including the tweaked 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder making 180kW/370Nm, a seven-speed wet-clutch DSG, electro-mechanical front differential lock (although this isn’t really a differential lock, as we’ve explained here) and the ventilated front and rear disc brake package from the Golf R.

Ben Wilks, Volkswagen Australia General Manager of Marketing, said that the Mark 7/7.5 Golf Performance Range “continues to evolve six years into its life cycle” and, as is VW’s want, took another swipe at new hot hatch entrants, like Hyundai with the i30 N.

“Volkswagen has the unique ability to adapt and upgrade in this way, as opposed to carmakers that seek to emulate the GTI paradigm,” he said. 

Practical Motoring has reviewed the new Fiesta ST but we won’t see it in Australia until next year, in the meantime, the other baby hot hatch, the new Polo GTI will arrive in August priced from $30,990+ORC. It too runs a version of the EA888 2.0-litre turbo four from the Golf GTI boasting 147kW/320Nm.