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
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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.
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.