How fast are old performance cars compared to current fuel-efficient models? This is one question that Auto Express wanted to find an answer to, so it decided to run a series of drag races between old performance cars and current fuel-efficient models from the same manufacturers and nameplates to see which is faster.

In today’s episode, the second-generation Volkswagen Golf GTI meets the seventh-generation VW Golf 2.0 TDI. While the GTI is powered by a 1.8-liter naturally-aspirated gasoline engine developing 119 horsepower and 159 Nm of torque, the Golf 2.0 TDI comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel unit that packs 150 horsepower and 320 Nm of torque.

Considering these figures, the result of drag race should be a no-brainer. However, if we add the weight factor into the equation, the Golf GTI Mk2 may still have a chance against the Golf 2.0 TDI Mk7.

You can see if it did in the video below.

By Dan Mihalascu

VIDEO