Passat, Scirocco, Golf, Polo, Lupo and up! Today, Volkswagen has no less than three GTI models in its portfolio: the new up! GTI, the new Polo GTI and the iconic Golf GTI. A GTI triumvirate like this has existed twice before: most recently between 2000 and 2005. Then it was the Lupo GTI that added to the GTI spectrum below the Polo and Golf. And in 1977, 41 years ago, in parallel with the Golf GTI it was the Scirocco GTI and Passat GTI that had the privilege of carrying the three legendary letters on their radiator grilles. The Passat, however, only as a concept car. When it went into production in 1979, it was called GLI rather than GTI. Be that as it may: all Volkswagen GTI models have been united since 1976 by perfectly balanced dynamic handling. It is the secret behind the success of the GTI concept – an alliance of high drive system agility, low weight, crisp and yet comfortable running gear, assured front-wheel drive and an ergonomically optimal seating position behind a high-grip sports steering wheel.
The milestones of the GTI models produced to date in summary:
1976
Golf GTI / 110 PS at launch (based on Golf Mk1)
Scirocco GTI / 110 PS at launch (based on Scirocco Mk1)
1977
Passat GTI / 110 PS concept car (based on Passat Mk1)
1981
Scirocco GTI / 110 PS at launch (based on Scirocco Mk2)
1983
Golf "Pirelli GTI" / 112 PS at launch (based on Golf Mk1)
1984
Golf GTI / 112 PS at launch (based on Golf Mk2)
1986
Golf GTI 16V / 139 PS at launch (based on Golf Mk2)
1990
Golf GTI G60 / 160 PS at launch (based on Golf Mk2)
1991
Golf GTI / 115 PS at launch (based on Golf Mk3)
1992
Golf GTI 16V / 150 PS at launch (based on Golf Mk3)
1996
Golf GTI "20 Years of the GTI" anniversary model / 150 PS at launch (based on Golf Mk3)
1998
Polo GTI / 120 PS at launch (based on Polo Mk3)
Golf GTI / 150 PS at launch (based on Golf Mk4)
2000
Lupo GTI / 125 PS at launch (based on Lupo Mk1)
2001
Golf GTI "25 Years of the GTI" anniversary model / 180 PS at launch (based on Golf Mk4)
2004
Golf GTI / 200 PS at launch (based on Golf Mk5)
2006
Polo GTI / 150 PS at launch (based on Polo Mk4)
Polo GTI Cup Edition / 180 PS at launch (based on Polo Mk4)
Golf GTI "30 Years of the GTI" anniversary model / 230 PS at launch (based on Golf Mk5)
2009
Golf GTI / 210 PS at launch (based on Golf Mk6)
2010
Polo GTI / 180 PS at launch (based on Polo Mk5)
2013
Golf GTI / 220 and 230 PS at launch (based on Golf Mk7)
2015
Golf GTI Clubsport / 290 boost PS at launch (based on Golf Mk7)
2017
Polo GTI / 200 PS at launch (based on Polo Mk6)
2018
Launch of the up! GTI / 115 PS at launch (based on up! Mk1)