For the 50th anniversary the Volkswagen Golf GTI’s unveiling, the automaker has cooked up the Edition 50, which features a few more spuds under the bonnet, a dash of styling changes, and a sprinkle of chassis upgrades.
Based on the already uprated Clubsport edition, the Edition 50 boasts a revised 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that now delivers 239kW and 420Nm.
It continues to drive the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automated transmission. The Edition 50 can reportedly complete the 0-100km/h dash in 5.5 seconds, or 0.1s faster than the Clubsport.
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For reference, the standard GTI makes 195kW/370Nm, while the Clubsport punts out 221kW/420Nm. The Edition 50’s engine is also 4kW more powerful than the one fitted to the all-wheel drive Golf R.
The original 1976 Golf GTI had a 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine making 81kW and 140Nm, and came fitted with a four-speed manual transmission.
The extra power is matched to retuned steering and revised Dynamic Chassis Control settings. Compared to the regular eighth-generation Golf GTI, the Edition 50 sits 15mm lower to the ground.
For those who want a few more frills, there’s an optional GTI Performance pack, which lowers the ride height by a further 5mm, has 235mm Bridgestone Potenza Race semi-slick tyres, and stiffer springs for better response and reduced pitching and rolling.
It also comes with 19-inch Warmenau forged alloy wheels that weigh just 8kg each — down 3kg on the 19-inch standard wheel — and an Akrapovič titanium exhaust, which saves a further 11kg.
The GTI Edition 50 is available in five exterior colours: three (Pure White, Moonstone Grey, and Grenadilla Black Metallic) which are available on elsewhere, and two (Dark Moss Green Metallic, and Tornado Red) that are exclusive to the Edition 50.
Visual tweaks include a black roof, unique side sill trim, black wing mirrors and exhaust tips, and a stripe along the bottom of the doors that fades from black to red.
There’s also “GTI 50” logos to be found the steering wheel, rear wing, wing mirrors, and side step protectors. On the inside there are red seat belts, and sports front seats trimmed in faux velour with a check pattern and thin Racing Green stripe.
As we learnt last week, the Edition 50 is the fastest Golf around the Nurburgring Nordschleife track with a time of 7 minutes 46.13 seconds in the hands of race driver Benny Leuchter. It beat the 7 minute 47.31 second time set by Mr Leuchter in an all-wheel drive 2022 Golf R.
Production of the Edition 50 is set to start at the end of 2025, and the first customer vehicles won’t be delivered until 2026. Pricing has yet to be announced, and Australian availability isn’t confirmed.
In a chat with CarExpert at the local launch of the new Mk8.5 Golf range, general manager for product at Volkswagen Australia, Arjun Nidigallu, said the German brand’s local arm is actively looking into how the GTI Clubsport could fit into the local lineup, but noted, “There are some technical things with the GTI Clubsport – engine and suspension variations that we need to make sure we have clearances for the Australian market”.