Visually, the GTS is distinguished by its Cayenne Turbo - style nose and new 21in alloy wheels, which have necessitated 14
mm wheelarch extensions.
Not exact matches
Its floorpan sits 20
mm further from the road than the regular C3 - probably not enough to cross the Darién Gap, but perhaps a little more suitable for kerb - hopping - while tough - looking plastic
wheelarch and sill extensions lend it the obligatory toughened - up look.
Bulging
wheelarches hide front and rear tracks that have been widened by 60
mm and 4
mm respectively, while at the rear is an aggressive diffuser that generates enough downforce to negate the need for a Civic - style spoiler.
It looks the part, thanks to both a raft of styling changes (mirrors, wheels,
wheelarch extensions, exhaust tips, grille and brake calipers, to list but a few of the changes) and the stance - enhancing effects of a 6
mm track increase front and rear and a 10
mm drop in ride height.
Back at the nose, the vents ahead of the front
wheelarches have an airflow - taming strake that also adds to their looks, while the front wings are marginally broader to accommodate wheels that have grown 10
mm in width.
The RS4 Avant's spec includes 19in forged - aluminium wheels (20in items will be optional), Nogaro blue paint, oval tailpipes, a bespoke diffuser insert and a roof - edge spoiler - along with
wheelarch blisters that are 30
mm wider than a standard A4's.
Allroad models sit 34
mm higher off the ground, with plastic
wheelarch claddign and underbody protection to mark it out.
Cosmetically, the Golf R 400 is again production - ready restrained, with a body that's 20
mm wider, flared
wheelarches, new sill extensions, 19 ″ alloys with increased offset, a redesigned front bumper with carbon fibre splitter and aerodynamic wings, an «R» badge on a Lemon Yellow background and a horizontal bar across the grill, also in Lemon Yellow.
Objects of up to 1,172
mm can then be slid in between the
wheelarches.
The body is 20
mm wider on each side, with flared
wheelarches that are reminiscent of those on the 1988 Rallye Golf G60.
The 620
mm load floor height was at the upper end here — only the Daily and Transit were higher — while the Crafter falls mid pack for ceiling height (1660
mm) and for the width between its
wheelarches (1340
mm).
There's
wheelarch intrusion at the sides but that's normal for the class and the total load length is 1,275
mm.
The load length is 1,800
mm and the width between the
wheelarches is 1,230
mm so even the L1 can get 2 europallets inside.
This comes as a result of firmer springs and dampers and a wider track, requiring the addition of a set of
wheelarch extensions each measuring 30
mm.