What is WLTP type approval? Do you know why it’s not getting approved?
I would guess the clue is here:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/vca/fcb/wltp.aspManufacturers will be required to obtain approval under WLTP from 1 September 2017, with this becoming mandatory for all new cars by September 2018.
So VW hadn't done it until now, but will need to have it by September 2018 - so now is the time.
The results will place vehicles into categories and I'd assume that the manual versions are likely to have sufficiently poor results that its not worth making them...
WLTP testing is very different to the old EU test cycle, no longer will you see stupid unobtainable figures for fuel economy or CO2 emissions. Good results will need good technology, not gaming the test - and everyone has been gaming it to some degree (even if not by the infamous VW software!)
That's my take on it, yet I don't understand why the GTI isn't mentioned.