How much power and torque does a Mk6 GTI REALLY have?

[jozeff]

Hi Guys,

Come Sunday i will be the proud owner of a Mk6 GTI Reflex silver DSG. This will be my wifes car

I currently drive a BMW 130i M sport and when i drove the Mk6 GTI... i was never in my wildest dreams expecting the GTI to be so good.... The turbo was so exciting and made the hairs on the back of my head stand up! The DSG changed gears seamlessly and changed them at the times i would have chosen to if it were a manual.

I am however curious.... i know the DSG is lightning fast and probably contributed mainly to the feeling of seamless acceleration of the GTI, but it sure did feel like it had almost as much torque as my 130i. (My 130i has 195kw and 315nm at 2500-5500rpm).

Has anyone got any dyno figures?

[Finance_Analyst]

I think you are experiencing turbo rush my man!

No doubt the kick in the back when the turbo spools up (after some very minor lag) will be felt compared to a N/A engine (recall the shove in the back my old WRX STI gave). However, the 130i (my dad has a E90 330i) sounds better (as that Beema 6cyl sings so nicely and is not muted by the turbos - hence why it sounds even better than my brother in laws 335i) and is a bit stronger in the top end due to the extra 2 cyl and 1000cc. So, I would think that at the traffic light GP, the GTI may get ahead (although the FWD V RWD wheelspin may be a factor - GTI will feel faster) but the 130i may get it after that with more 'muscle' underneath.

[SMOK3Y]

it sounds like the 130i has a turbo as it has a good torque spread (315nm 2500-5500) na cars usually just have a peak torque figure?
im probably wrong though lol

[jozeff]

it sounds like the 130i has a turbo as it has a good torque spread (315nm 2500-5500) na cars usually just have a peak torque figure?
im probably wrong though lol

Sorry my apologies, i've just had a look at the spec sheet. Its 315nm from 2750rpm and 195kw at 6500rpm

---------- Post added at 09:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:57 AM ----------

But dammit i refuse to believe the GTI only has 155kw!!!! it feels more like 170, 180??? or perhaps the torque is understated? cant wait till Sunday!! (reckon my wife can drive the 130i and i'll take the GTI?)

[Finance_Analyst]

Sorry my apologies, i've just had a look at the spec sheet. Its 315nm from 2750rpm and 195kw at 6500rpm

---------- Post added at 09:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:57 AM ----------

But dammit i refuse to believe the GTI only has 155kw!!!! it feels more like 170, 180??? or perhaps the torque is understated? cant wait till Sunday!! (reckon my wife can drive the 130i and i'll take the GTI?)

Just wait till you get the Stage 1 tune with 189kw - feels more like 200+!

[AdamD]

Sorry my apologies, i've just had a look at the spec sheet. Its 315nm from 2750rpm and 195kw at 6500rpm. But dammit i refuse to believe the GTI only has 155kw!!!! it feels more like 170, 180??? or perhaps the torque is understated? cant wait till Sunday!! (reckon my wife can drive the 130i and i'll take the GTI?)

Well, the GTI is rated at 280Nm stock, in a flat-as-a-tack torque curve from 1700rpm through 5300rpm. The BMW's peak is not a lot higher, but doesn't get there till over 1,000rpm higher in the rev range. Turbo torque delivery almost always feels much more aggressive than with an NA motor, so in many respects it can feel quicker even when it's not. The 130i is a quick car.

In terms of power, remember that power is just a product of torque and revs, so the 195kw peak figure there means the BMW is stronger up high in the rev range, where the GTI has long since dropped off due to its lil' K03 turbo having run out of boost, and a simple lack of capacity.

A stage 1 GTI is rated at anywhere from ~350Nm to over 400Nm depending on the tuner, and that figure is typically onboard by about 2200rpm. It's that truckload of torque that makes it feel so strong. Even the DI 3.6l V6 in a Commodore only manages 350Nm.

[mythik]

About this much.

[Ideo]

The 130i is a muchg better drivers car though.

[Tim]

not really the 130i has a very intrusive ESP system. The GTI is quite a fun frisky car to drive. I think the GTI is better because its worse if that makes sense?

[Guy_H]

130i with a quaife differential is a pretty good thing, a 135 with diff is better. Mind you a GTI with a plate differential & some extra power would be a match for a tuned 135i in most situations.