Fascination in just three letters

The concept is as simple as it is ingenious: a lightweight compact car, a powerful engine and a sporty chassis. At the market launch in 1976, nobody suspects that this 182 km/h fast Golf with the magic three letters GTI will develop into a true cult sports car. A free-revving 1.6-liter injection engine, and from 1982 a 1.8-liter injection engine, lets the speedometer needle of the Golf GTI with its flared black wheel arches, the black framed rear window and the red rimmed radiator grille fly to 100 km/h in just 9.2 seconds. The interior design is just as striking as the driving performance: red tartan for the center strip of the black sports seats, black headliner and a sports steering wheel as well as a golf ball gearshift lever knob. From the planned 5,000 units, 461,690 Golf GTIs are produced in the first series – which is crowned by the special edition of the 82kW/ 112 PS “Pirelli-GTI”.

Der Golf GTI im Motorsport
The Golf GTI also celebrated its first successes in motor sports, especially on the rallying circuit, shortly after its launch. Thus, the Golf GTI competed as a new championship car for six years from 1977. At the “Rabbit Cup” in the USA, Volkswagen quickly advanced to a record winner and multiple champion with the Golf GTI and its racing driver Paul Hacker. There were also records at the “VW Golf GTI Cup” in Germany. In the 1978 season, Walter Struckmann from Hanover won all ten races in a row with his Golf GTI. And Berthold Bermel from Krefeld took part in all Golf GTI Cup races from the premiere on Sylt in 1977 to the final in 1982 at the Nürburgring. The Golf GTI also won a world championship and two German titles in rallying. The Golf GTI also shone at the famous 24-hour race at the Nürburgring with almost 50 class and numerous group victories in the race held since 1970.

The successful follow-up model offers great variety under the hood: The Golf II GTI is available with five different engine variants that deliver between 79 kW/107 PS and 118 kW/160 PS. Conceptually and with its design DNA, it resumes the course of the first generation. The GTI insignia – especially the red stripe on the radiator grille and the check pattern on the sports seats – become cult. In 1986, the new 16V engine made its debut, producing 102 kW/139 PS and driving the GTI up to 208 kilometers per hour. As before, the significantly more spacious interior is dominated by sports seats, a black headliner and the four-spoke steering wheel with the four round horn buttons familiar from its predecessor. Finally, the sporty flagship is the GTI G60, which was launched in 1990 and has an engine output of 118 kW/160 PS.

In 1991 Volkswagen transfers the GTI insignia to the third generation. The double headlights of the second GTI generation now disappear under a single lens. In terms of performance, the car starts with 115 PS. One year later, the engine output climbs to 110 kW/150 PS with a new two-liter four-valve engine. Not only the performance is significantly improved, but also the chassis of the compact sports car. Visually, however, it remains rather in the background. And: for the first time in its history, the GTI is also available as a diesel – with a nippy, while at the same time economical TDI engine with plenty of torque. In addition, the anniversary model “20 Years Edition” is launched in 1996.

With a variety of engines, the fourth generation of the Golf GTI lures customers from 1998 onwards. The range extends from the economical TDI to the powerful 2.3-liter five-cylinder with 125 kW/170 PS. The turbo gasoline engine is also popular. Similar to its predecessor, the appearance of the Golf IV GTI is also rather understated. For example, it is the first and only GTI to do without the red stripe on the radiator grille. Instead, it offers standard extras such as BBS aluminum wheels, darkened rear lights and Recaro sports seats. A real highlight is the Golf IV GTI Edition 25, which Volkswagen presents in 2001 on the occasion of the 25th GTI anniversary. The special edition model, known among fans as the “Jubi-GTI”, is limited to 3,000 units and produces 132 kW/180 PS on the tarmac.

“For boys who were already men back then” – this is the slogan under which Volkswagen presents the fifth generation GTI in autumn 2004, thus heralding a comeback of the classic. The design is much more independent and incorporates quotes from the first GTI, such as the characteristic red trim line around the honeycomb grill and the typical bodywork in the interior. The new wheels are also particularly striking. The engine is also exclusively intended for the GTI: a turbocharged two-liter TFSI that produces 147 kW/200 PS. In conjunction with the new dual-clutch transmission (DSG), the GTI sprints to 100 km/h in just 6.9 seconds. The car achieves its top speed at 235 km/h. The slogan in the first brochure: “Competitive sport has never been so much fun.” On the occasion of the GTI’s 30th anniversary, a special “Edition 30” series is released, which has been upgraded to 169 kW/230 PS. Identically powered, the reincarnation of the Pirelli GTI is launched in 2007.

The sixth generation of the Golf GTI has even more GTI feeling to offer than its predecessor. The fine-tuning of the set-up is carried out by none other than racing driver legend Hans-Joachim Stuck. The new generation is followed by a Golf GTI that redefines the concept of traction with an electronic differential lock (XDS): A 240 km/h fast GTI, which with its 154 kW/210 PS strong turbo engine provides lots of fun. A GTI that offers audible dynamics with a sound generator and newly designed exhaust system (one tailpipe each left and right). The top speed increases to 240 km/h (DSG: 238 km/h). For the first time it will also be available as a convertible from 2011. The soft top opens in just nine seconds and storms to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds. The crowning glory of this generation is launched in 2011 on its 35th anniversary: the “Golf GTI Edition 35” with 173 kW/235 hp and a top speed of 247 km/h (DSG: 246 km/h). With a power-to-weight ratio of 6 kg/PS, the GTI is more agile than ever before and can reach 100 km/h in just 6.6 seconds.

The seventh GTI generation is launched in two performance levels in spring 2013. Volkswagen presents the seventh generation of the new Golf GTI in two power stages: 162 kW / 220 PS is offered from the basic version, 169 kW / 230 PS by the Golf GTI Performance. For the first time it is equipped with a differential lock for the driven front axle. Also a debut for the Golf GTI, it is now based on the Modular Transverse Construction Kit (MQB). This new technical platform makes the GTI up to 42 kg lighter than its predecessor and thus even more dynamic. The 230 PS version with manual transmission is the first Golf GTI with a speed of 250 km/h.

In November 2015, the Golf GTI Clubsport, which is powered by a boost of up to 213 kW / 290 hp, is also presented. It is launched on the market in 2016 and blurs the boundaries to motorsport. Only 5.9 seconds is all it takes to sprint to 100 km/h. One year later, the 228 kW / 310 PS Golf GTI Clubsport S then completely dissolves the motor sport boundaries. A highlight for GTI fans is also the Golf GTI TCR. The road version of the successful TCR racing car, which will be produced until 2019, impresses with 213 kW/290 PS and optionally with a top speed of up to 260 km/h. On board: particularly sporty standard equipment and a high-performance brake package.

Der Golf GTI TCR als Rennwagen
The Golf GTI TCR was developed especially for customer racing in the same named Touring Car Championship (Rennserien) racing series and participated in the TCR International Series and, from 2018, the FIA WTCR. The Golf GTI TCR with the team around Sébastien Loeb Racing (SLR), Volkswagen factory drivers Rob Huff (GB), Mehdi Bennani (MA), Benjamin Leuchter (D) and Johan Kristoffersson (S) competed around the world, for over five years, achieving more than 150 victories and over 500 podium results. Production of the Golf GTI TCR was discontinued at the end of 2019.

With the eighth generation of the Golf GTI, the legend of the world’s most successful compact sports car lives on in 2020 – setting new standards in the process. The new model is more networked, has a sharper cut and is more attractive to drive than ever before. The turbo engine now develops 180 kW/245 PS, with a maximum torque of 370 Nm, allowing the car to go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds (with optional 7-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox). The maximum speed is 250 km/h. In addition, the new networked Driving Dynamics Manager ensures even greater agility and sportiness. The system coordinates the electromechanical chassis functions centrally and at a higher level.

At the same time, however, typical GTI details are retained in the new generation. The classic check pattern has been refreshed and now adorns the likewise newly developed sports seats. There is no longer a traditional ignition system in the new Golf; it has been replaced by the standard “Engine/Start/Stop” button. An interesting detail here is that once the doors are opened, it pulses red until the engine is started. The three-spoke sports steering wheel of yesteryear has been transformed into a new multifunction sports leather steering wheel with touch controls and an optionally integrated “Travel Assist” button to assist driving the Golf at speeds of up to 210 km/h. The new Golf GTI Clubsport brings even more power and sound to the track. With 221 kW (300 PS) and 400 Nm torque, it is the new top model of the eighth Golf GTI generation and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.6 seconds. It is regulated to a top speed of 250 km/h.