Please give us a moment to come down from our diesel-huffing high, we’re still tingling from first laying eyes on the 2014 Volkswagen GTD. Yes, we know, the Golf-based GTD—essentially a diesel-powered GTI—has existed for decades, but the latest iteration actually has a shot at making it to the U.S. market for the first time. We were impressed with the outgoing GTD—Volkswagen teasingly lent us one to test here on American soil—and the 2014 model brings even more power and refinement. Thus far, VW has only announced the GTD is headed for Europe but we’ve got our fingers crossed. The model bows at the 2013 Geneva auto show.

Gran Turismo Diesel

Fans of Volkswagen’s existing GTD and upcoming GTI will recognize the new GTD’s basic formula, which largely starts and ends with dropping a high-output diesel engine into a Golf imbued with the GTI’s handling gear. The 2014 GTD, based on the new seventh-generation Golf platform, gets a lowered sport suspension, 17-inch aluminum wheels, smoked LED taillights, a rear spoiler, and a body kit with a rear diffuser.

View Photos MARC URBANO, THE MANUFACTURER

In fact, the GTD looks nearly identical to the GTI concept VW showed at last year’s Paris auto show. (The latest, MkVII Golf–based GTI has yet to make its production-form debut.) The only differences between the two are the GTD’s signature gray striping in its front fascia and its exhaust-outlet arrangement of two clustered tips on the left side of the bumper, as opposed to the GTI concept’s split dual outlets. Just three exterior colors are available: Tornado Red, Black, and Pure White.

The GTD’s cabin is set apart by sport seats with a special tartan pattern, a black headliner, a sport steering wheel, stainless-steel pedals, a GTD shift knob, and unique instrument-cluster trim. The European model will come standard with ambient lighting, automatic climate control, park assist, and VW’s new modular touch-screen infotainment system.

Chug, Chug, Diesel, Chug!

The GTD’s GTI bits are great, but its main party trick lives under its sleek hood, where you’ll find Volkswagen’s new EA288 TDI direct-injected, 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel four-cylinder. The new engine pumps out 184 horsepower and a Ford Focus ST–shaming 280 lb-ft of torque, the latter peaking at just 1750 rpm. Those figures mark increases of 16 ponies and 22 lb-ft over the last-gen GTD’s 2.0-liter four. European buyers can choose between a six-speed manual and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

View Photos MARC URBANO, THE MANUFACTURER

Volkswagen claims the manual car can scoot from 0–62 mph in 7.5 seconds. That figure is probably somewhat conservative—this one is more powerful and likely lighter, and we clocked the outgoing GTD with a dual-clutch auto at 7.1 seconds to 60. Top speed should also improve. The old GTD was drag-limited in our testing to 135 mph, but the 2014 model can hit 143, according to VW.

Volkswagen of America has indicated to us that it would love to bring this GTD to the States, but an inquiry made for this story indicates that a final decision has yet to be made. Besides the fact that the GTD is just plain cool, VWoA’s rationale for wanting the car here is simple: TDI models are immensely popular, so offering up a sporty yet efficient diesel halo model (the last-gen GTD returned 31 mpg under our heavy right feet) is fairly low-risk. If enthusiasts ask nicely—and loudly—enough, the diesel fairy might just drop this gem under some American pillows. For now, the GTD heads for European showrooms in June.

MARC URBANO, THE MANUFACTURER

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