A hole in... seven? - New VW Golf GTI Pictures

It's a car which has set the standard for hot-hatches across the industry, and with the possible exception of the lukewarm 4th generation, the ubiquitous Volkswagen Golf GTI has now reached its seventh incarnation; and officially released pictures and details from Volkswagen prove that once again, it's no wallflower.

Outside, the Golf 7 boasts the GTI's trademark red-highlighted grille, twin chrome exhaust pipes and GTI badging. The differences this time lie in the body kit; an arguably more aggressive styling, with a deep front bumper with striking air intake slashes, integrated fog lights and dramatic 18-inch 'Austin' alloys. A rear diffuser features on the back of the seventh GTI, ensuring its sporting appeal remains undiluted, yet typically understated.

Inside styling sticks to tradition too, with tartan seats (another GTI trademark) stout, sporty, flat-bottomed steering wheel and Volkswagen's rock-solid build quality. Economy figures stand at 47.0mpg on a combined cycle, with CO2 dropping to 139g/km, marking solid improvements in environmental areas of performance.

The 2.0-litre TSI engine kicks out 217bhp, with a 'GTI Performance' option bringing this up to 227bhp, a small increase on the outgoing model, as is its 0-62mph time of 6.5 seconds, 6.4 for the GTI Performance. The GTI and GTI Performance are faster outright than the outgoing models too, maxing out at 152 and 155mph respectively.

Prices were also posted; the standard Golf GTI will cost around £24,500 when sales start later this year. As with most releases at this time, the Golf is to be officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next month.