The Paris Motor Show introduced the world to the new variants of the Golf, with the GTI, GTD, and R models.

The GTI, which makes 210 horsepower, will dash from 0-60 in around 7 seconds and can hit a top speed (in stock form) of around 150 miles per hour. The GTI has become known as a wallet friendly sports model, but for those who are interested in an alternative fuel, VW has its new GTD. Where the GTI has been a gasoline powered sports trimline, the GTD offers similar styling and 170 horsepower created by a diesel engine.

The most exciting news is the introduction of the new R series. The previous R32 was popular, but it was not without its shortcomings. With the sport compact class being controlled by the Mitsubishi Evolution and the Subaru STi, all wheel drive has become the way to go for both aceeleration and hard cornering, so the VW engineers took that into consideration and to the pleasure of many VW enthusiasts, the new R features an AWD system. Along with that, a 270 horsepower engine drives all four wheels, and to finish the package the R receives an improved aero package.

The new GTI is expected to hit showrooms in the spring of 2009 and the GTD is expected to drop around the same time. The R will most likely debut in the fall of 2009, and while price is still up in the air, the new Golf trimlines will help to put the Volkswagen name atop the sport compact market.