THE most powerful diesel-powered Volkswagen Golf has been announced with the arrival of a new GTD model.

Developing 200ps from a 2.0-litre engine the Golf GTD has a 0 to 60 acceleration time of less than 7.1 seconds, a top speed of 152mph and can average a claimed 54.3mpg at best. Emissions are rated at 137g/km.

That gives the GTD, which will be priced from £32,790, almost as much performance as the new Golf GTI.

The Golf GTD completes the GT-badged line-up of performance Golfs, complementing the ultra-low emissions GTE plug-in hybrid and high-performance petrol-engined GTI.

A flagship Golf R will be unveiled next month.

The GTD has a seven-speed DSG transmission and with two catalytic converters in the exhaust system, NOX emissions have been reduced considerably.

Keyless entry, a three zone climate control and electrically heated, adjustable and foldable door mirrors with integrated puddle lights are part and parcel of the GTD's specification while interior features include front sports seats finished in a grey version of the Jacara cloth used on hot VWs.

The GTD badge was introduced in 1982 with the Golf Mk I.The Golf Mk II and Mk III were also given a GTD variant while the Mk IV and Mk V Golfs shifted to GT TDI badging.

From the Golf Mk VI onwards the GTD was back, with the model contributing heavily to the seventh-generation Golf's UK sales split, in which around one in three Golfs sold was a performance model.