GOLF GTI

About the Golf GTI

Volkswagen planned 5,000. It built 461,690 of the first generation alone, and more than 2.5 million GTIs since. The formula went on sale in June 1976: a Golf with an Audi-sourced 1.6 making 110 PS, 810 kg, tartan seats, a golf-ball gear knob and a red line around the grille. It reached 100 km/h in 9.0 seconds, cost 13,850 Deutschmarks and left coupés costing 10,000 marks more behind. The press called it the democratisation of the sports car. Every generation since has kept the deal and moved the numbers: 16 valves and 139 PS in the Mk2, a turbo in the Mk4, 200 PS in the Mk5, a front differential lock in the Mk7, 325 PS in the 2026 Edition 50. It hasn't been a straight line. The Mk3 launched with 115 PS and fans asking for more bite, and Hagerty calls the early Mk4 more Golf than GTI. Both times, the next one came back harder. The manual is gone now, and the first electric GTI wears a Polo badge. Say GTI to an enthusiast anyway and they picture a Golf.