Half a century is a long time, but as the saying goes, time flies when you’re having fun. The Golf GTI isn’t just the archetypal hot hatch; it’s been around for nearly 50 years, with the original making its debut at the 1975 Frankfurt motor show, so Volkswagen’s done something truly special to celebrate. This is the 320 horsepower Golf GTI Edition 50, and it’s the quickest production Golf ever around the Nürburgring.
This special Golf starts with the sharpened GTI Clubsport and turns up the wick to near-Golf R levels. We’re talking 320 horsepower from a tweaked version of Volkswagen’s ubiquitous two-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, pretty serious output for a front-wheel-drive hatchback. While the only gearbox on offer is a dual-clutch automatic transaxle with an integrated limited-slip differential, that should offer an objective performance edge over a manual.
However, the updated engine is only half the story, because the optional Performance package is where the real magic happens. Not only does it come with stiffer springs that drop the ride height by an extra five millimeters and retuned adaptive dampers to match, it also gets stiffer strut mounts, a titanium muffler, forged wheels, and Bridgestone Potenza Race semi-slick tires that should offer serious grip, considering they’re an evolution of the track tires available on the Lamborghini Revuelto. This wheel and tire package shaves nine pounds a corner over the standard setup, a reduction in rotating unsprung mass you should be able to feel.
As a result, the Golf GTI Edition 50 bagged a Nordschleife time of 7:46.13, not as quick as a Honda Civic Type R but a shorter time than those put up by the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadifoglio, the old V8-powered Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S, and the original Lamborghini Murcielago. Granted, the Murcielago’s more than two decades old now, but this comparison paints an amazing picture of progress.
It’s uncommon for such performance to go visually unmarked, of course, so Volkswagen’s tweaked the look of the Golf GTI Edition 50 to make it stand out. In addition to the Clubsport bumper and spoiler, this thing’s rocking a whole lot of black and a whole lot of red. You get black paint on the spoiler, mirrors, and exhaust tips, red seat belts, red pedals, red accents on the black wheels, a stripe that fades from black to red, and the usual smattering of special badging.
Inside, plaid cloth and velour upholstery look absolutely delightful. I’ve always felt that velour is the posh ancestor of Alcantara, as it offers a similarly tactile finish with far greater depth than just simulated suede. Ever noticed how dense the carpets in a renowned estate or a Rolls-Royce are? Same thing.
From what we’ve seen, the Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 looks fabulous. There’s just one unknown: Volkswagen hasn’t said if the Golf GTI Edition 50 will make it to America. Given how the new powertrain would require EPA re-certification and how the whole car would be subject to tariffs, I’m not sure if it’ll make its way over here in an official capacity. However, even if it doesn’t, it gives stateside fans something to look forward to once the 75th anniversary of the first GTI rolls around.
Top graphic image: Volkswagen
Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.
It’s nice. Lovely wheels… they look like those ‘clover’ type wheels that Alfa Romeo put on the Giulia, except with colored inserts. But I’m gonna be totally honest: I’ve had a few VWs, both air and water cooled, and I’m kinda over them, especially the recent generations. All their EVs: the ID3/4 and Bus leave me with severe ‘meh’ and we never got the other EVs they offered in Europe (including the ID3 and Up!) and we never get the small interesting VWs that are the spiritual successor to the original Golf 1/Rabbit such as the Lupo and various Up! models. As for what we do get: it’s mostly the Jetta (which on paper offers decent value for money, but only if you ignore what it’s like to own any late model VW when it’s a decade old) and a panoply of small to medium-large crossovers, which have almost zero appeal to me personally, though of course that’s what everyone builds and buys. Which leaves the Golf, the most VW VW, which left American shores not too long ago except for the GTI and Golf R, and now maybe this GTI Edition 50 if it comes here. Sorry, but none of it excites me enough to put aside my experience as an owner of 10-20+ year old VWs: they tend to be as expensive and complex to maintain as a Mercedes, Audi, or BMW when they get to middle age and beyond. And to me, that’s just not worth it anymore.
I almost always love plaid seats, but stuffing two different kinds of plaid, as well as two differnt solids (the grey velour-looking stuff on top, and the black fake/real leather on the sides/backs) and red piping… well, it’s all a bit much for me.
Also, they ought to at least offer a manual transmission in the GTI Edition 50 as a no-charge option, even if it is slower than the dual clutch autobox.
I’m sure it’s going to be hella expensive. But they’ll probably only build a finite number of these, so they’ll sell, and some VW dealers will undoubtedly charge premiums on top of the already-substantial MSRP.
Again: I understand the appeal, but I’ll pass. If I had to own another GTI, and was willing to deal with the myriad pains of owning an older VW, I’d get a Mark 7.5 for a third of what this thing will list for.
Suddenly, no longer interested.
“Objective”? Who TF cares about that?
I kinda wish they would make a GTI’d Taos.
320hp? That is insane. When the first GTI’s came out, touching 70hp was the big shit. I had an 85 GTI. Super Red. Loved that car. Raced against my collage buddy with a new Civic SI. He won. Nuff said
Had lots of VAG products over the years including a second gen Scirocco, a GTI as well as various Audis but I think that they’ve lost their way. The controls are now “all computer” which I hate, and to me a GTI without a manual option is a crime against humanity. At least give me the option.
Seconded. I don’t care how much faster the DSG is, I want to row my own, and I don’t want screens in my face while driving. The interior is now a tragedy, and the exterior is no prize either.
Why does it have to look like it lost the lower half of its bumper on a speedbump?
You mean that was on purpose?
I feel like this would be an easy sell if it was a manual, but a special, limited edition this fast will probably put you within spitting distance of an R. Then it’s a tough decision between a Golf R and an S3 which is heavily dependent on your body style preference and tolerance of depreciation. If you’re [VAG] trying to send MQB out with a bang before electrification then just go full send on the Golf R with an RS3 motor or something.
It’ll cost $50,000+ too, if it even makes it to the US.
It sucks how everything even slightly spicy commands a $15,000 premium before ‘market adjustments.’
I had to laugh (inside) at the 5mm drop in ride height. No doubt that it was worth 30 seconds on the Ring.
Was curious how much faster the CTR was and it sounds like it was one of the more cheaty laps. It was a special edition without AC and stuff. Suspected more power too. Makes this lap look pretty impressive.
Especially considering the spicy Golf variants aren’t exactly designed to be the track rats of the hot compact segment. I mean this one is obviously souped up, but it shows that there’s a lot of performance in that platform that VW leaves on the table. I mean…this is more or less common knowledge and there’s a reason why so many people mod them, but it’s cool to see a factory version with a warranty that’s this fast.
And how much compliance will disappear? One of the things that was attractive about Golfs and Jettas to me was the balance between handling and ride quality.
If my buddy’s S4 was any indication, it would be something I wouldn’t want to drive daily. The ride was very, uh, busy and its lowered stance and my 68-year-old knees made clambering out of the passenger seat a challenge.
I mean, if compliance is what you’re after the plain GTI and GLI are there and even the R isn’t overtly stiff. There’s also the Audi A3/S3 as well as the Integra in the exact same price range. This GTI is clearly designed to be a limited run one that chases track times, so of course it’s gonna be compromised.
My $25k 2017 GTI with the M6 feels like an absolute steal when I compare it to anything today. I know the DCT/DSG is faster than a manual and was when I bought mine but I never regretted it for a second.
The power on this sounds like it would be a lot of fun, but the fact that I’d never be able to buy it, and couldn’t responsibly afford it at $50k or whatever this is going to cost just leaves me a bit flat.
I love hatches. My 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth was a hoot (and got it up to 76k miles w/ little problems), I always thought GTI’s were cool. But I’m enjoying my GR Corolla too much to switch.
I’ll get one and park it next to my last-gen Scirocco.
Wait.
BTW, 320hp and FWD has gotta be a hoot.
I have a mere 286 horsepower and front wheel drive and I can confirm, it’s a hoot
Where’s the new GTI, Volkswagen?! Where’s the Edition 50, deadbeat?
What are you talking about?
We know your partners, Audi, have been tweaking the 2.0 like crazy!
My partner? Audi? Do I look like I have a partner? Do you see four rings on this grille?
We know you’re good for it, VW! What about the Edition 50?!
Obviously it’s not a Golf R.
i want one
I don’t think I’ll ever be wooed back into a VAG product that doesn’t have a Porsche badge but if one of the psychotic GTIs variants came to our shores I’d at least go test drive one. Unfortunately they almost never do because we can’t have nice things…
I’ve softened on VAG stuff as long as it’s interesting. I’d be willing to tolerate some additional maintenance headaches on a nicely-spec’d Golf or Scirocco or something like that, but it doesn’t make sense to go through that on a poverty-spec Jetta or one of their crossovers/SUVs.
My GTI was a headache, my mom’s Allroad grenaded itself at all of 60,000 miles, my sister’s Tiguan was tortured by the dreaded VW sunroof and spent months in the service bay before she got sick of it, I mean woof. VAG has been nothing but torture for me and my family.
…but it’s not like my Kona N has been problem free either. Unfortunately I think overboosted turbo 4s in spicy compacts are always going to be a bit temperamental, although I’m sure some GTI Bro will be here any second to talk about his 400 horsepower MK7 that has 250,000 miles and has never needed more than an oil change lol.
Anyway I’m a full 3 years removed from my GTI at this point, and while I wouldn’t go back to a regular MK8 if this or a Clubsport made their way here I’d consider one. For whatever reason I find the idea of the ultimate GTI to be way, way cooler than a Golf R. GTIs have the legacy and have always had a sense of whimsy about them.
Golf Rs have always felt too clinical to me and I feel like they’ve become a cliched choice for the well to do enthusiast who wants to fly under the radar. I haven’t driven a MK8, but I drove a MK7 back to back with a MK7 GTI and I genuinely had more fun in the GTI. The Golf R is point and shoot with no drama. The GTI wants to roast its tires at every opportunity and is a bit more of a handful because you don’t have the crazy AWD system to sort things out for you. To me that’s more fun.
I do wonder if VAG’s just aren’t compatible with US roads or something, because my UK family has owned tens of different VW’s and Skodas over the years, and they’ve all been fine in terms of reliability. Nothing amazing, but no better or worse than various Fords and Peugeots we had.
(I’m not including my brother’s Land Rover in the calculations, because some reputations are deserved)