2010 Volkswagen GTI: Time Marches On, 2012 GTI Revealed

I'd rather we get the Euro-style LED tails. (Very pricy on eBay.)

The new wheels and golf ball shifter are only for the autobahn packaged vehicles.

Gaudy and played out. I would disable them if possible.

Dude didn't point out that the climate control is also newly available for 2012.

I never liked the Detroit wheels but I'm not sure these are much better. They look like a Kia wheel and that isn't a good thing. I don't mind the LEDs up front though they look a bit awkward.

The real problem is what he said - the limited color choices. Black, red, white and gray (which looks like black). And only a black interior too.

hate 'em

like the golf ball style shift knob

Ugh, that video reminded me of how much I detest dealing with car salespeople. I do like the new LEDs, though, and prefer them to simply having the headlights (or de-powered high beams) on all the time. Maybe in 10 years we will look back and laugh at how gaudy LEDs were, but I think they are here to stay.

The lights I could take it or leave it the. Rims are cool I just wish that the Detroit's was at least an option they look really cool with certain colors (white Orange) the gti really needs a power bump or get significantly lighter especially when you consider its price today its a warm hatch by today's standards its not a hot hatch anymore

Goddamn, I dislike sales guys and their vapid, nonsense-speak. "Fantastically standard!"

Good going VW, take the only car in the segment that's cleanly styled and add gaudy LED marquee eyeliner. Classy.

Push start looks like a after thought.. DRL tho... i just don't get it maybe im not hip

Looks like the kid from the detail shop got loose with a camera and is pretending to be a salesman ...

Hmm. I like the Detroit wheels. I wish the golf-ball shifter wasn't only with the Autobahn pkg, wish you could get it with the standard plaid as well.

As for LED DRLs, I think the look is played out. Are their conversions at Pep Boys yet? LEDs as a whole are great and like someone said earlier, I'd much rather have the LED tails.

LED interior and exterior lighting is here to stay. The designs and applications will of course change, but who is going to go back to crappy light bulbs? At some point the LED DRLs will just be functional instead of functional and trendy.

Only interesting GTI coming... R20.

Hey guys, I heard rumors that there is going to be a new GTI coming out next year...? do you know if this is true? It seems to soon! plus this one may seem better because it who knows if the next GTI has a lower quality interior!

True bimmerjay.

LEDs are not going anywhere; more cars will have them standard as they are more efficient as DRLs. The only thing I can't really like is the push button start. It's hidden behind the wheel and looks like an afterthought. The shifter is meh, I'd rather have a smooth one.

FYI, this a Canadian spec car (Georgetown VW is in Ontario) so it's not quite the same as a US spec vehicle.

Hence all the references to hockey equipment, eh.

I hate the LEDs on Audis, there's too many of them, it detracts form their great looks, it looks cheap and gimmicky. Don't like them on VWs, either, I guess they are going on the Beetle too. Agree that Tailight LEDs are OK. Glad I got my GTI in 2011.

I hate the LEDs on Audis, there's too many of them, it detracts form their great looks, it looks cheap and gimmicky. Don't like them on VWs, either, I guess they are going on the Beetle too. Agree that Tailight LEDs are OK. Glad I got my GTI in 2011.

UGH. Thought this was US spec for a second.. darn.

LED DRLs = played the F out. It was nifty for a minute... I was willing to accept Benz and Porsche having them... but when they currently appear on Kias, it is time to reconsider the coolness. Now as a part of tail and headlight elements, I'm quite alright with them.

"Push start looks like a after thought.."

Nope - KESSY is one of the best keyless systems out there. Super transparent in operation and believe me - you don't need to actually lay eyes on the start button to find it. You need to be able to see your power seat controls down there on the side of the bottom cushion?

LEDs are good in that they are the DRLs instead of the Xenons - as for the looks, I agree with most posters - don't love 'em.

"Warm hatch..." Just get it chipped and stop worrying about all this "underpowered" nonsense. Really - $600 and an hour of shop time.

And for the guy who worries that the next-gen GTI is going to be lower quality...me, too. Hope I'm wrong.

bimmerjay, it's not the fact that they're LED that's the problem, it's the cheap LED rope light look that's the problem. BMW uses LEDs for their corona rings now and Cadillac uses them for their light pipes, and both of them look great.

I owned a 89 GTI 16v which I still miss to this day. This modern GTI still carrries the banner.

LED DRL's, tail lights and turn signals due offer a number of benefits. Mainly they are brighter so you are more visible. Second, they actually illuminate faster than filiment type bulbs so at higher speeds this gives driver's around you more time and distance to react to braking or turn signals.

LED headlights offer one main benefit, they are brighter because they are closer to daylight. Daylight is 6500 Kelvin and good LED headlamps are 5,500 Kelvin. This is why auto levelling is so important otherwise they would blind all on coming vehicles . Most Luxury cars with Xenon or LED don't use auto levelling because it is not a required in the US market. And most manufacturers such as Acura are only concerned with lowering their manufacturing costs while pretending to compete with the big boys (BMW, Mercedes, Audi) so they don't have auto levelling on their standard xenon lights. An uninformed consumer thinks they are getting a great deal on a RDX for example but then can't figure out why every car is flashing them at night when the vehicle is fully loaded. Meaning the front of the car is slightly raised pointing the headlamps up into the air blinding every vehicle coming at them.