The Pirelli slogan `Power is nothing without Control' has a myriad of interpretations. Most obvious is political. This simple phrase says it all when it comes to the automobile. So when Volkswagen released the highly respected Golf GTi ---- with a Pirelli badge on it --- it would be expected to meet the ideals of the Pirelli slogan.

You will not be disappointed. Particularly when the limited edition Pirelli GTi has been injected with more power, up from 147 kW to 169 kW. Significantly, the Pirelli GTi has not only Pirelli boots, but Pirelli titanium lookalike wheels with the `P' on the outer edges.

And yes, written on the wheel hub is the Pirelli slogan.

This is not the first Pirelli GTi. That honour goes to a variant of the first generation, second series Golf GTi way back in 1983. Some 10,500 limited edition cars were sold in Europe in just six months. Then, the Pirelli GTi name was put in mothballs until this latest offering.

The upgraded partial-leather seats are embossed with a Pirelli tyre tread which adds a cushiness to the sports pews.

The turbo charged 1984cc four cylinder engine is mated to Volkswagen's six speed direct shift gearbox, known as the DSG.

It's the dual clutch format and shifts cogs quicker than humanly possible. In addition the slick technology helps reduce fuel consumption. For those in the know, this is a head turner.

Our road  test car was the three door hatch with a small, but significant, Pirelli badge on the hatch back. The engine is Volkswagen's most powerful four cylinder, thanks to its turbocharged, direct injection technology.

Sports cars should have a heap of torque on tap through the mid range and this is where the Pirelli GTi excels. All 300 Nm of torque is available from 2200 rpm to 5200 rpm which means lots of grunt running through the front wheels for the Pirelli rubber to tame. And, it's a job they do extremely well as you'd expect from a well-sorted car like the Golf GTi.

 

The three door is a pocket rocket with agility to burn which is the underlying goal of the dalliance between VW and Pirelli.

Expect a return of 7.9 litres/100 kms from the car, driven in ideal conditions with a light right boot.

The Pirelli comes in two guises only, three door and five door, both with the DSG transmission, and will set you back $47,990 for the three door and $48,990 for the five door.