It's something hot hatch fans have been waiting for with bated breath and later this week it'll hit our streets running as its local launch gets underway.
Just to whet our appetites, and cause some emergency financial planning meetings among fans, VWSA has released the pricing and specifications for the all-new Golf GTI.
The manual model is going to set you back R368 300, while the DSG retails at R382 800.
Only the standard five-door model will be available in South Africa (other markets get a 169kW 'Performance' version), but the one we're settling for is still meaner than the one before it.
While the power output of its 2-litre TSI engine increases slightly, from 155kW to 162kW, there is a substantial gain in maximum torque - from 280Nm to 350Nm.
Let's remember that it's also 42kg lighter than before (from 1393 to 1351kg), thanks to VW's new 'transverse matrix' MQB platform.
As far as VW is concerned, the new GTI will dash to 100km/h in just 6.5 seconds, and reach a top speed of 246km/h, or 244 in the case of the six-speed DSG. The combined fuel consumption figure - attained on a test cycle that GTI owners would sneer at - is 6.0 litres per 100km.
Inside the new GTI, the 'Vienna' leather sports seats have been retained and other notable standard features include dual-zone climate control, cruise control and a 'Composition Media' eight-speaker sound system linked to a 5.8-inch touch-screen.
There's a tantalising options list, of course, tempting buyers into items like 'Discover Pro' satnav, parallel parking assist, Bi-xenon headlights and Adaptive Chassis Control.
Available too, is an optional 400W sound system available exclusively in the GTI - made by Danish brand Dynaudio.
Watch this space for local driving impressions of the new GTI later this week.