Month: October 2020

The three iconic letters makes its official debut on the latest iteration VW Golf. 

Ever since the launch of the new 8th iteration of the Volkswagen Golf, the question on every enthusiasts’ lips is: When will the GTI come? Well, the wait is finally over, as VW today has announced that bookings for the Mk8 Golf GTI are now open. 

Having sold nearly 2.3 million Golf GTIs since the GTI nameplate debut on the Mk1 Golf back in 1976, Volkswagen intends to continue this hot hatch success with this latest iteration of performance hatchback. To that end, VW claims that this GTI is full of innovation, perhaps to keep it up to date with the ever competitive field of supercar-rivalling hot hatches out there. 

The main feature touted by Volkswagen regarding this latest GTI is perhaps its new Vehicle Dynamics Manager. Working in tandem with the electronic XDS differential lock and the optional DCC damping system, this new feature is supposedly able effectively eliminate understeer. And as a result ‘provide an even more precise driving experience’ when behind the wheel of the new GTI. 

This driving experience though will probably be further enhanced by what is under the bonnet of the GTI. Powering the latest performance Golf is VW’s newest evo4 generation of its EA888 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder. Mated to a seven speed dual-clutch DSG transmission and still driving solely the front wheels, this engine is capable of pumping out 245 PS and an impressive 370 Nm of torque, hence is capable of rocketing this hot hatch to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). 

Much like the previous generations of GTIs, several distinctive GTI trademarks can still be found on this Mk8 version. On the outside, the signature red pin stripe running across the front grille still remains. This time however it is accompanied by an illuminated LED strip below it. New for the Mk8 GTI is also the distinctive honey comb fog lights on the front apron. An interesting design first seen on the concept car that has made it into production. 

At the sides, a small GTI decal gives away this Golf’s sporty potential. While out the back, a roof spoiler, diffuser and two round tailpipes located at the outer sides complete the GTI look. 

Inside, the tartan seats so iconic to the GTI remain. Sadly though, the famous golf ball shifter synonymous to the GTI is now a small nub sticking out of the centre console. Aside from the three spoke sports steering wheel and a now standard keyless go feature, the interior is pretty much standard Mk8 Golf fare. 

Prices for the Mk8 Golf GTI in Germany start at 37,607.38 euros (RM 184,000). Although there are undoubtably more powerful, better handling and even perhaps better looking hot hatches out there, it is still nice to see the three letters so symbolic to the hot hatch breed is still available on the latest iteration of VW’s iconic hatchback. 

More information can be found in the press release below: 

Things continue apace with the new Golf: following the sales launch of the new Golf GTE just a few days ago, the next flagship model of the Golf family is now also available – the new Golf GTI. This sporty model has enhanced the product portfolio since 1976. 

Jürgen Stackmann, Member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management responsible for Sales, explains: “For over four decades, the three letters GTI have stood for sporty driving pleasure and technology at the highest level. We thank our customers for 2.3 million Golf GTI sold. The new GTI is full of innovation. It too will set new standards and thrill our customers.”

Networked and with active driving dynamics. Like its predecessors, the latest version of the Golf GTI has also been equipped with groundbreaking technical features. The turbocharged engine now develops 180 kW / 245 PS, its torque is 370 Nm. The agility and sportiness has been perfected with the new, networked Vehicle Dynamics Manager. This higher-level control system centrally coordinates all electromechanical running gear functions. DCC running gear with variable shock absorbers is optionally available so that GTI drivers can choose their own very individual setup using the standard driving profile selection. The result is an even more precise driving experience.

Digital and innovative. The digital displays of the standard Digital Cockpit and infotainment system start up as soon as the doors are opened. Discover Media – including streaming and internet – is installed here as standard, while the 10-inch Discover Pro system is optionally available as the maximum specification level. A new and individual feature is the possibility of activating a custom GTI design. Here, the rev counter is displayed in the middle of the Digital Cockpit. The new standard background lighting bathes the displays and many other illuminated interior areas in a spectrum of 30 freely configurable colours.

Unmistakably GTI. Typical GTI details are also preserved in the new generation. The classic checked pattern has been given a new, fresh look, and now covers the also newly developed sports seats. The new Golf no longer has an ignition lock – this has been replaced by an Engine Start/Stop button (standard equipment), which is notable in that after the doors are opened, it pulses red until the engine is started. The three-spoke sports steering wheel of old has been transformed into a new multifunction leather sports steering wheel with touch controls and an optionally integrated Travel Assist button to permit assisted driving of the Golf up to speeds of 210 km/h.

The design of the new Golf GTI also matches its added driving dynamics. At the front, the wide air intakes, low-positioned standard LED headlights and unmistakable signature light on the radiator grille are particularly distinctive. The latter is illuminated for the first time by a narrow LED strip, which flows on the left and right into the headlight modules. At the rear, the roof spoiler, diffuser and two round tailpipes located at the outer sides are striking distinguishing features of the sporty GTI variant.

Volkswagen’s Touareg TDI has been the recipient of a substantial amount of attention lately. After all, the V8-powered SUV was already at the head of its class for looks, performance, and power. However, having the complete package sometimes isn’t enough — a rare notion that’s been proven true, yet again, by ABT Sportsline.

VW’s transcendental Touareg TDI has been taken under the company’s wing for another aftermarket tuning package that seeks to augment the vehicle’s performance-ready DNA. The original vehicle, which presents itself as a very viable 416-horsepower contender in the SUV realm, has been amplified by the company’s newly-developed ECU, allowing it to reach a staggering 500 horsepower overall. And while the TDI was already hot-off-the-line thanks to its staggering 664 lb-ft of torque, ABT’s implementation has boosted it to a healthy 715 lb-ft, giving it even more guts for those moments when depressing the accelerator might seem like the most attractive proposition. If you’re interested, head over to the company’s configurator to turn your factory-fresh Touareg TDI into something a bit more formidable.

LEARN MORE: ABT

Volkswagen has unveiled station-wagon variants (ahem) of the Golf 8 and, even though the South African subsidiary of the Wolfsburg-based brand has sold estate versions of its compact premium hatchback before, the pair of newcomers are unfortunately unlikely to be offered in our market… and, arguably, that is our loss.

In Mzansi, the popularity of station wagons has waned throughout the past few decades. If our market’s rampant uptake of double-cab bakkies signed estate cars’ death warrant, the proliferation of compact family cars (SUVs/crossovers) was effectively the executioner. In his video review of the outgoing Subaru Levorg, which ultimately never came to our market, Ciro De Siena lamented the scourge of anti-stationwagonism.  

The R-Line treatment gives the Golf Estate a purposeful presence; not the tail-light designs, which are unique to the variant.

Would Volkswagen South Africa reconsider launching the Golf 8 Estate here if the brand produced a GTI version (there’s been an R model before, although, again, it never left Europe)? The newcomer certainly looks particularly attractive in R-Line trim… at 4 630 mm in length, the new Estate is 66 mm longer, by virtue of an extended wheelbase, but similar in width and height to its Golf 7-based predecessor.

Endowed by purposefully sporty bumpers (replete with GTI-esque fog lamp clusters on the Alltrack), as well as upsized alloy wheels, the newcomers resemble their 5-door hatchback siblings up to the B-pillars, from where the pair’s roofline slopes downwards towards the edge of the tailgate. A steeply raked rear screen and variant-specific tail-light clusters further distinguish them from their hatchback siblings.

When specified with Active Info Display, the Golf Estate’s cabin feels tech-dominated. The brightwork’s tasteful, though.

But whereas the Estate is a more practical alternative to the Golf 8, the Alltrack offers 4Motion all-wheel drive, extra ground clearance, subtle black body cladding. To put it in context, it’s a Hyundai Kona rival – but would it stand a chance against a horde of fashionable compact family cars in our market, however? Maybe not, but bear in mind all-wheel-drive is the exception, rather than the rule, at the top of the light crossover/SUV segment.

An extra 38 mm of rear legroom, plus a more-than-useful luggage bay capacity of 611 litres and a claimed 1 642 litres of utility space (with the 60:40 rear seatback folded) might sweeten the deal for buyers whose children are teens who are going through their respective growth spurts.

The Golf Allroad’s hot hatch-like tyres and rims suggest it may never traverse anything tougher than icy- or mild dirt roads.

Volkswagen has further equipped the newcomers’ load bays with shopping bag hooks and tie-down loops, while 12V and 230V power outlets, an electrically-extending tow hook and a powered tailgate, which can be opened with a swipe of a foot underneath the rear bumper, are optional.

The Estate’s line-up of 3- and 4-cylinder turbopetrol and diesel engines will mirror that of the Golf Mk8 hatchback in Europe. Volkswagen claims the Alltrack can tow up to 2 000 kg (braked) up a 12% slope, but we’ll bring you more details of the ranges’ line-ups when they become available.

The newcomers are said to offer 1 642 litres of utility space with the 60:40 rear seatback folded.

Now the only question remains whether the Wolfburg-based brand is planning GTI, GTE (petrol-electric hybrid), GTD (turbodiesel) and R versions of its Golf 8-based station wagon. Autocar speculates that VW will be eager to leverage the reduced CO2 emissions of the GTE package and install that in the Estate. Would you be interested in buying a Golf 8 Estate (in either GTI or R guise) should they become available in our market?

Brabus and Mercedes-AMG cars go together like lightning and thunder and their latest offering goes like lightning and most certainly brings the thunder.

The latest model to be upgraded is the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4-Door Coupé 4MATIC+ and the changes are both significant and impressive in equal measure.

Welcome the Brabus ROCKET 900 “One of Ten” which as you guessed is a limited edition and it packs 900 PS (888 hp; 662 kW).

To start with, they increased the displacement of the the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 to 4.5-litres which includes a special precision-balanced billet crankshaft with a stroke increased to 100 millimetres. In addition to that, they have installed two special Brabus high-performance turbochargers which feature a larger compressor unit than the factory production components and a special core assembly with reinforced axial bearing. This most certainly generates extra heat so there is also an integrated carbon ram-air intake system on either side of the radiator grill. There is a new stainless-steel exhaust system and to cope with the gargantuan power boost the ECU has been recalibrated.

The four-door will now pump out 888 hp (662 kW) amd 1,250 Nm (922 lb-ft) of torque but torque has been limited to 1,050 Nm (774 lb-ft) to protect the drivetrain. This allows the monster to sprint to 100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds and from 0 to 200 km/h in just 9.7 seconds. Top speed is limited at 330 km/h which makes one of the fastest and most powerful four-seat coupes in the world.

As you can see the exterior is not exactly stock and is quite possibly the most intimidating package we have seen for the GT 63 S.

The widebody kit, which widens the car by 7.8 cm, is crafted from carbon-fibre and lined with kevlar which mean the changes are light and strong. These changes are not just for looks either as the design team went into the wind tunnel to develop the multi-piece carbon rear wing and rear diffuser.

In true Brabus style, the sky is the limit for your interior customization.

Wrapping up the package is a set of high-tech forged wheels available in 21 and 22 inches.

At €435,800 (approx. R8,3 million) the ROCKET 900 is far from a bargain, but there will only be ten built and each will be bespoke to the customers’ desires.

It is no track weapon, but it might just be the ultimate daily driver. One thing is for sure, not much will be passing the Brabus ROCKET 900 on the Autobahn.

Fudbalska reprezentacija Bosne i Hercegovine u svojoj je historiji imala bezbroj sjajnih pojačanja ‘sa strane’. Prilike su takve da su brojni Bosanci i Hercegovci raseljeni po cijelom svijetu, mnogi od njih prihvatili su zov domovine kada im se ponudio dres, a bilo je onih koji su ga nosili bez da su pritom imali ikakvu povezanost sa Bosnom i Hercegovinom. 

Prisjetit ćemo se Ricarda Santosa Laga. Nakon jedne sjajne sezone u Širokom Brijegu dobio je Baiano bh. pasoš i poziv u reprezentaciju, koji mu je kasnije pomogao da napravi transfer u Rusiju, a nešto veći trag kasnije će ostaviti Mirko Hrgović.

Kada je BiH igrala sa Hrvatskom ovaj Sinjanin je doživio emotivni udar. Ispričao je jedne prilike da mu je ‘Lijepa naša’ u tim trenucima odzvanjala srcem.

“Kad je intonirana himna Bosne i Hercegovine moji saigrači su stavili ruku na srce, a ja nisam, valjda jedini. Ali kako da to učinim kad tu gestu odanosti nisam uradio za moju himnu”, kazao je u prošlosti Hrgović.

I na najnovijem spisku bh. selektora Dušana Bajevića našao se jedan stranac. Zmajevi će oktobarski ciklus utakmica započeti duelom protiv selekcije Irana u kojem će priliku dobiti brojne novajlije, a jedan od njih je i Novopazarac Almedin Ziljkić koji je do pasoša došao zahvaljujući supruzi i, prije svega, sjajnim igrama u dresu banjalučkog Borca.

“Svi mi kada počnemo igrati fudbal maštamo o nekim klubovima, o igranju za reprezentaciju… Evo, danas se i zvanično moje ime našlo na spisku Dušana Bajevića i ne mogu ništa drugo reći osim da sam jako ponosan.”

“Ovo je nagrada za sav trud koji sam uložio u proteklom periodu. Iskreno, nisam se ni nadao da će doći do ovoga. U januaru sam predao za bh. pasoš, i to kako bi olakšao Borcu da se više ne vodim kao stranac, jer znate kakvi su propisi. Sve ovo je došlo iznenada”, prva je reakcija Almedina Ziljkića za Reprezentacija.ba portal.

A porodica? Kako su reagovali u Novom Pazaru?

“U blagom šoku su. Roditelji kao roditelji… Sretni su i ponosni, baš kao i prijatelji, pročulo se i tamo za poziv.”

Hoće li biti neobično igrati za Zmajeve? Rođeni ste u Srbiji, svi su vam tamo…

“Nisam razmišljao u tom smjeru. Okej, činjenica je da nemam baš dodirnih tačaka sa Bosnom i Hercegovinom, ali sada kada sam dobio poziv osjećam se jako sretno i motivisano da pokažem koliko mogu. Mogu obećati svima da ću, ako dobijem šansu, dati i više od maksimuma. Takav sam. Ne znam drugačije.”

Poznajete li neke igrače?

“Naravno. Danilović mi je baš dobar drugar, igrali smo donedavo zajedno, a radujem se i što ću vidjeti Saničanina, Todorovića, Pirića, Rahmanovića, Tatara… Sve su to sjajni momci. O Džeki ili Pjaniću suvišno je bilo šta govoriti, veselim se i što ću njih upoznati, a moram istaći i da posebno cijenim Gojaka zbog njegovog mentaliteta. Nikada ne odustaje. Zato je i dogurao do Serie A i Torina.”

Ispostavilo se da ste napravili više nego dobar potez kada ste u februaru 2019. godine došli u Borac.

“Ljudi u Borcu su vjerovali u mene kada mnogi nisu. Ponekad sam i ja sumnjao. To su stvari koje ne mogu zaboraviti i zato se trudim na svaki način da vratim to. Danas je sjajno biti igrač Borca jer se zna ‘ko pije, ko plaća’, uprava zaista radi sjajan posao, ali nekima i to smeta.”

“Na Balkanu je očito mentalitet takav da svi vole više sažalijevati kada ne ide dobro. Ne smijemo stati na ovome. Puno se uložilo rada i truda da Borac postane ponovo važan faktor u bh. fudbalu.”

U Premijer ligi ste još igrali za Slobodu i Tuzla City. Je li bilo kad interesa od sarajevskih klubova?

“Prije godinu, godinu i pol bilo je nekih priča za Željezničar, ali više ‘mahalske’. Niko mi se nije javio konkretno s ponudom, tako da…”

Interesantno je da jedini u porodici nosite prezime Ziljkić.

“U svim dokumentima stoji Ziljkić, mada svi moji se prezivaju Zilkić. Greška je napravljena u prošlosti i tako je ostalo. Nema veze, nije velika razlika (smijeh).”

Dosta o fudbalu. Recite nam ko je Almedin kada nema treninga i utakmica?

“Posao, kuća, džamija. Kada nemam obaveza obično igram PlayStation ili vrijeme provodim sa suprugom s kojom ću se uskoro ostvariti i kao roditelj.”

“Nemam nikakve komplekse. Živim profesionalno, ne volim noćne izlaske, a posvećen sam također i humanitarnom radu. Sa prijateljem sam u jednoj organizaciji kroz koju nastojim da pomognem ugroženim ljudima na bilo koji način. Vremena su takva da danas kada nekome kupiš drva znači mnogo”, dodao je Ziljkić na kraju razgovora za Reprezentacija.ba. 

Mateo Sušić igra sjajno u Cluju. Povrede s kojima se mučio prošle sezone nisu ostavile traga na ovog bh. fudbalera koji se zbog sjajne partije protiv Young Boysa našao i u idealnoj postavi 2. kola Evropske lige.

Nadao se Sušić da bi mu zapaženi nastupi mogli donijeti mjesto u reprezentaciji Bosne i Hercegovine, čiji je posljednji put član bio još 2017. godine, međutim na kraju su se Dušan Bajević i saradnici odlučili za druge opcije. Ostaje žal…

“Volio bih naravno da sam u reprezentaciji, da budem među najboljim igračima iz svoje zemlje, ali šta mogu… I ranije sam govorio da je selektor taj koji bira kakav mu profil igrača treba na kojoj poziciji i na meni je da to poštujem”, kaže Sušić na početku razgovora za Sportske.ba.

Ove sezone je, računajući sva takmičenja, nastupio na 13 utakmica.

“Standardan sam, rezultatski dobro stojimo i nema razloga da ne budem nezadovoljan. Pogotovo kada se osvrnem na prošlu sezonu tokom koje sam imao baš pehova s povredama”, kaže nekadašnji fudbaler Zrinjskog koji se u Cluj vratio prošlog ljeta.

“Nakon nekoliko godina provedenih u Sheriffu pojavila se želja sa novim izazovom. Moldavsko prvenstvo je kvalitetom počelo ići silaznom putanjom. U moje zadnje dvije godine bili smo toliko nadmoćni da je na kraju pitanje bilo samo koliko bodova više ćemo imati od ostalih klubova. Zato sam poželio da idem, a kada mi se javio Cluj da im pomognem u pohodu na Evropu, nisam morao dva puta razmišljati. Danas ide i bolje nego što sam zamislio.”

Sušić i društvo u Evropskoj ligi su ostvarili jednu pobjedu i remi.

“Grupa je malo lakša nego prošlogodišnja, barem po imenima, ali je također zahtjevna. Trener nas je, recimo, mnogo upozoravao na CSKA iz Sofije koji u svojim redovima ima jako dobre strance. Mi smo ih pobijedili, no onda su oni remizirali sa Romom usred Rima. To dovoljno govori. Protiv Young Boysa smo remizirali i time trebamo biti zadovoljni imajući u vidu da su oni prvaci jedne Švicarske, mada smo možda mogli i pobijediti kada vidimo kako je išla utakmica. Šta je, tu je. Okrećemo se narednim utakmicama.”

A naredna utakmica u Evropskoj ligi je protiv Rome.

“Poželio sam Džeki da ponovo ostane na klupi (smijeh). On je njihov daleko najvažniji igrač, među najboljim strijelcima Rome je u historiji, tako da neće biti dobro po nas ako bude igrao od prve minute. Ipak, potrudit ćemo se maksimalno, pa šta bude”, poručio je Sušić na kraju razgovora.

Reprezentacija BiH 12. novembra će odigrati prijateljsku utakmici sa Iranom, a nakon toga slijede susreti u okviru Lige nacije 15. novembra u Amsterdamu sa Holandijom i tri dana kasnije u Sarajevu sa Italijom.

Selektor Dušan Bajević jučer je danas spisak igača i ponovo sve šokirao.

Poziv Bajevića je ponovo dobio golman Maribora, Kenan Pirić koji je zadnji put bio na klupi Maribora 15. avgusta, a zadnji put je stajao na golu Maribora 22. jula.

Po kojem kriterijumu je to Kenan Pirić zaslužio poziv, nije nam poznato, kao i mnogima koji su ostali šokirani kada su vidjeli da je opet dobio poziv u reprezentaciju.

Turski reprezentativac Hakan Calhanoglu mogao bi u januaru napustiti redove Milana.

Prema pisanju italijanskih medija, Milan i turski veznjak nisu postigli dogovor oko produženja saradnje i sve je izvjesniji njegov odlazak iz kluba.

Navodno, Hakan Calhanoglu u novom ugovoru zahtjeva platu od 6.5 do 7. miliona eura godišnje što bi ga po visini primanja stavilo u rang Zlatana Ibrahimovića i Gianluigija Donnarumme, no milanski klub trenutno nije u situaciji da ispuni njegove želje.

Rasplet situacije prati Manchester United, koji bi rado doveo turskog veznjaka i to već u januaru kada će ga Milan najvjerovatnije staviti na tržište s obzirom da mu u ljeto naredne godine ističe ugovor.

Milan je u četvrtak navečer pobijedio prašku Spartu s 3:0 uz pogodak Zlatana Ibrahimovića, ali i promašaj s penala.

Ibrahimović je mogao lako do novog gola, ali penal koji je sam izborio nije uspio da pretvori u gol za 2:0. Ove sezone mu ide sjajno, ali kada je u pitanju izvođenje penala…

Ovo je bio Ibrin treći promašaj s bijele tačke u posljednja tri mjeseca i po tome je najgori u ligama petice.

Jedini je koj ije promašio čak tri penala na prethodnih pet izvedenih u ligama petica.

Bez obzira na sve, švedski napadač je trenutno prvo ime Milana i sa šest pogodaka u Seriji A prvi strijelac Serije A, a dva gola postigao je u prva dva kola Evropske lige.

Turski internacionalac Hakan Calhanoglu (26) mogao bi u januaru napustiti redove Milana, javlja talijanski Tuttosport.

Milan i turski veznjak nisu postigli dogovor oko produženja suradnje i sve je izvjesniji njegov odlazak sa San Sira.

Navodno, Calhanoglu u novom ugovoru traži plaću oko sedam milijuna eura godišnje što bi ga po visini primanja stavilo u rang Zlatana Ibrahimovića i Gianluigija Donnarumme. Međutim, čelnici ‘Rossonera‘ trenutno nisu situaciji da ispune njegove zahtjeve.

Rasplet situacije pozorno prati Manchester United, koji bi vrlo rado doveo turskog virtuoza i to već u januaru kada će ga Milan najvjerojatnije staviti na tržište s obzirom na to da mu u ljeto naredne godine ističe ugovor.

Transfermarkt procjenjuje Calhanoglua na 30 milijuna eura.