IT'S the petrol-powered Golf that thinks it's a diesel and it is about to bring a new dimension to the world of Volkswagen eco cars.

The VW Golf TSI BlueMotion will be arriving in September when it will become one of the first non-hybrid petrol cars with tax free emissions below 100g/km.

Priced from £19,740 it is £1,695 dearer than the diesel Golf BlueMotion but comes with more equipment and very impressive fuel economy.

VW claims an official fuel return of 65.7mpg with a CO2 figure of 99g/km and putting the latest Golf through its paces it was good for 55 to the gallon with ease under everyday conditions.

Driven carefully and the BlueMotion technology showed incredible potential and we notched up an astonishing average consumption of 83mpg over a 50 mile route through the - admittedly flat - countryside around Amsterdam.

That drive in a manual model used every bit of the Golf's eco armoury to the full at an average speed of just over 30mph and was not indicative of how the car will be used in the real world but demonstrated what is possible if you drive with a light right foot.

Do the math, as they say, and with petrol costing some 30p a gallon less than diesel then the new BlueMotion Golf can save motorists around 3p a mile - that's £360 a year for the average driver.

The new Golf TSI BlueMotion has a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine the same as VW uses in the up! city car and tuned to deliver 115ps.

Such is its pulling power it has more torque per litre than the current Golf GTI and that results in some remarkable urge even at low revs.

Either as a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG semi-automatic - which costs from £21,810 - there is no compromise on all-round performance. Both have brisk acceleration of 0 to 60 in 9.7 seconds, a top speed of 127mph and the fuel figures are the same.

The TSI BlueMotion is based on the Golf Match as opposed to the S trim of the diesel version and the extra kit includes additional stability controls and more safety devices in the form of seven airbags and VW's post collision braking system.

It also has cruise control and is fitted with stop/start to further boost economy and as a driver aid there are a number of displays in the vehicle's software to help get the best out of the engine.

The car sits more than half an inch lower than a regular Golf and the BlueMotion treatment includes additional aerodynamics in the shape of subtle front and rear spoilers, a new-look grille and underbody panels to improve airflow around the body.

It is also fitted with low rolling resistance tyres but to save weight VW has removed the spare wheel and the car comes with a puncture repair kit.

The engine itself has low friction features to improve efficiency and as a three cylinder it is lighter than similarly powerful four pots while it is also fitted with a high pressure fuel injection system to optimise combustion.

It really is a car which offers the best of all worlds and can perform in a lively manner or be driven for excellent fuel return - the choice is up to the driver.

For a three cylinder it also sounds very refined and is smooth through the gears with either box.

The petrol BlueMotion Golf hatch will be available in both three and five door body styles with the latter priced from £20,395. Eco versions of the Golf estate and the SV compact MPV are also on the way and use the same powertrain.

The manual Golf estate BlueMotion is just as economical at a claimed 65.7mpg and is priced from £20,940 although with the DSG box it climbs above the emissions threshold at 103g/km (62.8mpg).

The larger bodied Golf SV BlueMotion is priced from £21,200 and is also rated at 62.8mpg for the manual and 61.4mpg for the DSG.