Volkswagen Golf DSG 2005 review

He then lets the media loose with the fifth-generation VW Golf GTI on the Suttons Park driver training circuit at the recent vehicle launch in Canberra.

New VW Australia managing director Jutta Dierks warns "this is not a race track" and this is immediately evident in the off-camber corners and lack of run-off typifying the worst of Australian roads.

Like the Mt Cotton driver training circuit in Brisbane, there are traps to catch the unwary driver.

Explore the 2005 Volkswagen Golf range

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• Volkswagen Golf DSG 2005 review
• Volkswagen Golf GTI 2005 review
• Volkswagen Golf GTI manual 2005 review
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• Volkswagen Golf GTI 2005 review: road test
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However, a dozen high-speed laps in the new VW direct-injection turbocharged rocket confirm Stokell's advice.

Like the fifth-generation Golf, the GTI (Gran Turismo Injected) hugs the road without being harsh and with almost no body language, even through the first-gear chicanes set up to monitor speed.

And although the chassis is 15mm lower than standard and the suspension travel shorter, it didn't hit the bump stops on the track nor on the same stretch of road where the Jaguar S Type was banging away at its launch last year.

Because of the high grip levels afforded by a combination of front strut and rear independent multi-link axles and wide Continental SportContact 2 rubber, when traction is broken, things happen quickly with ESP switched off.

But don't expect Supernanny to be telling you to drive in the naughty lane when you have the electronic sabilisation program switched on. Intervention through a combination of drive and braking comes in slow and allows the driver to play a little, thanks to recalibration of the ESP from the settings in the standard Golf.

Consequently, you can use a bit of slide to help turn the vehicle and set up a pendulum type motion to usher you swiftly through a series of esses.

VW quotes figures of 0 to 100km/h in about 7.2 seconds for the manual, but 6.9 seconds for the DSG (direct shift gearbox).

Testing this on the track without a stopwatch was difficult, but two parts of the track proved their claims. One was a hump just after a first-gear chicane. No matter how hard I pressed the manual, I could not get the front drive wheels to spin as it crested the hump, yet it consistently did so with DSG.

The second was an off-camber bend between two hairpins. Here, it was almost impossible to shift from second to third and back to second in the manual, so you just had to ride it on the limiter.

In the DSG variety, snicking through the gears was so fast and easy, you could gain the extra momentum of third for those two precious seconds.

And you don't even have to take your hands from the 9:15 position on the steering wheel to effect the changes through the use of the paddle shifters.

DSG works on a twin-clutch system where the gears above and below the one currently engaged are already spinnning and ready to grab as soon as the drive gear is disengaged.

This GTI is also the first VW to marry FSI direct injection technology with a turbocharger and intercooler, like the new Audis.

It is a robust powerplant with a useful 280Nm of torque and 147kW of power well before you hit the 70000rpm limit.

There is no hint of turbo lag or turbo cut-in and no dips in power delivery right through the range.

This makes passing manoeuvres and accelerating out of corners a breeze.

Inside and out the GTI badging and styling is subtle. There are no whale tales, bonnet scoops or improbably low skirts to attract attention.

This GTI makes its point in performance, not in posing.