Geneva Motor Show Offers First Glimpse of 2021 VW Golf GTD

Volkswagen is set to debut the GTD variant of its top selling hatchback, the VW Golf, at the Geneva Motor Show this March.

Putting the much-maligned Dieselgate issue in the rearview mirror, the 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTD boasts what the German car brand calls “cleanest turbo diesel injection (TDI) engine ever to be installed in a Golf.”

The stellar emissions are made possible by the employment of VW’s new twin dosing technology, which is an updated version of the brand’s recently developed selective catalytic reduction (SCR) exhaust gas treatment system. With twin dosing, the Golf GTD’s TDI engine is able to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by a staggering 80 percent, which is plenty healthful to the environment.

In the twin dosing system, Adblue— liquid solution of urea (the stuff found in urine)—is injected selectively upstream of two SCR catalytic converters which are arranged in series. The introduction of AdBlue produces a chemical reaction that converts dangerous NOx into two harmless products – water vapor and nitrogen.

According to VW, only SCR exhaust gas treatment systems have been used in Volkswagen models with diesel engines since 2018.

“Thanks to a new twin dosing SCR with double AdBlue injection, NOx emissions will be greatly reduced as compared to its predecessor,” VW claims. “This makes the TDI in the new Golf GTD one of the cleanest combustion engines in the world.”

Built on the updated version of VW’s signature MQB platform, the new diesel engine is also the Golf’s most powerful engine to date. Although performance numbers are yet to be revealed officially, insiders are claiming it will be at 197 hp—an improvement of 16 horses over the predecessor.

“Once again, Volkswagen will introduce one of the most economical and at the same time sporty compact models to the market with its Golf GTD. A significant increase in performance is accompanied by lowest emissions: The Performance TDI’s efficiency has been significantly optimized and CO2 emissions have been cut even further, all while simultaneously improving responsiveness,” goes Volkswagen’s announcement for the 2021 Golf GTD’s Geneva attendance.

The Geneva Motor Show, one of the biggest automotive events in the world, is scheduled to run from March 5, Thursday, to March 15, Sunday. It will be hosted at the Palexpo, a convention center located at the heart of the Swiss City.

Also Read: Keep Your Diesel Engine Running in Tiptop Shape with These 4 Magnificent Tips
2020 Audi Q7 Refreshes Design, Adds New Engine and Tech