ABOVE PAR

FINALLY, ALL THE frantic prodding on the new VW Golf GTI’s central touchscreen, while pulled over, yields a result: I find the screen that lets me choose the sweet spot, Sport, in the new threeposition traction-control system. (In case you ever need to know, and with questionable logic, it’s under Brakes, which in turn is under the Vehicle tile on the iPhone-laid-flat home screen.) Would a button be easier? It would, but let’s not condemn the Mk8 Golf for being too digital for its own good just yet.

The turbo 2.0-litre engine’s been idling for the best part of a quarter of an hour, so there’s no doubt its fluid temperatures are ready for action. It’s the familiar EA888 motor, mildly tweaked for the Mk8 GTI with increased fuel-injection pressure for marginally improved efficiency. Peak power is unchanged over the Mk7.5 GTI Performance at 180kW, though new mapping means a cleaner, crisper response to both the throttle