India, June 6 -- A Volkswagen range without a Golf is like idli without sambar. It's been the staple model of the German automaker's line-up for 50 years and is possibly the brand's most iconic model since the Beetle. The Golf lives up to the Volkswagen name: People's Car. More than 35 million Golfs have been sold worldwide-except in India. Until now.

Why didn't VW bring its most celebrated model to India before? Because there's no market for large hatchbacks here. At best, it would be a niche segment. And that's exactly where VW is slotting the Golf, not as a mass-market car but one for enthusiasts, by bringing it in only in the revered GTI avatar.

The VW Golf GTI is the benchmark for performance hatchbacks globally. It's the quintesse...