Skip advert
Advertisement

250bhp VW Golf GTI

Tuner APS helps the new VW Golf GTI hot hatch fight the Ford Focus RS

Fancy a mk6 Golf GTI but worried it’ll struggle against today’s wealth of mega hatches? Northants-based tuner APS can ease your woes. It’s revealed a Stage One upgrade for the sixth incarnation of the original hot hatch that takes its power closer to the Leon Cupra R, Focus RS and Mazda 3 MPS that dominate the hot hatch power stakes.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The standard car’s 207bhp and 207lb ft of torque rise to 250bhp and 292lb ft with the ECU remap, with some marked results on the Golf’s performance figures – the 0-60mph time drops to 6.2sec and the top speed meets the class best at 155mph.

Set aside £599 if you want to APS your GTI, making it a cheap fix while you wait for the VW Golf R to come along. There’s even a guarantee that lasts the length of your official manufacturer’s warranty.

Click to see our group test of powerful tuned hot hatches

Read about the Golf’s cousin, the Volkswagen Scirocco RFollow evo Magazine on Twitter for the fast car latest

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

VW Golf GTI Edition 50 v Toyota GR Yaris Aero v Honda Civic Type R: hot hatch stars go head-to-head
Golf GTI v GR Yaris Aero v Civic Type R
Group tests

VW Golf GTI Edition 50 v Toyota GR Yaris Aero v Honda Civic Type R: hot hatch stars go head-to-head

Volkswagen and Toyota have just released the best versions yet of the GR Yaris and Mk8 Golf GTI. Does either have what it takes to overcome the brilli…
2 Aug 2026
I put budget tyres to the test in the wet, and the results were terrifying
Cheap tyres
Opinion

I put budget tyres to the test in the wet, and the results were terrifying

Skimping on tyres may save you a few pounds, but at what cost, ponders Barker
30 Jul 2026
A week in a Porsche 911 GT3: why the world’s best sports car isn’t quite perfect
Porsche 911 GT3 Touring
Long term tests

A week in a Porsche 911 GT3: why the world’s best sports car isn’t quite perfect

A week in the Porsche 911 GT3 reveals why even the world’s best sports car can’t get it all right
3 Aug 2026