VW Golf GTI Pirelli Edition | Spotted

It’s silly season at the Nurburgring right now. Every day new spy pics appear in the PH inbox showing this or that undergoing the final stages of development, from electric M3s to really racy 911s. While the rest of the world is on holiday, development drivers and engineers are making the most of the good weather on industry pool days. There’s some good stuff coming, that’s for sure. 

A lightly fettled Golf GTI was a constituent of the pile, sharing track time with the new Audi RS3 GT. The GTI 350 was its rumoured name, so it was only natural to assume that the existing 2.0-litre engine would be used, given it’s already at 333hp in an R. But now the internet is suggesting that the special anniversary edition might finally get to share the 2.5-litre inline-five that makes its sibling so exciting. Cupra has been here before, of course, but the prospect of a run-out Golf with 400hp is obviously more invigorating than a Formentor that was never officially sold in the UK. 

Whatever engine it gets, we can be sure that the combustion GTI will not bow out without a special edition model; they’ve become as much a part of the hot Golf story as tartan seats and dimpled gearknobs over the past half a century. The 50 is the most recently announced one, of course, and over the years we’ve had everything from Clubsport S to TCR and G60 to Driver’s Edition (in the US). Plus, perhaps most famously of all, the Pirelli Edition. Technically speaking, the 1983 run-out model for the first Golf GTI was called the Campaign over here – Pirelli was the name used in Germany. But it had those brilliant P-slot wheels, and the name kind of stuck. So much so, in fact, that 25 years after the first Pirelli, VW made another – this is one of them. 

In 2008, a Mk5 Golf GTI Pirelli Edition was marked out by another 30hp (so 230 in total, as per the Edition 30), unique wheels, yellow contrast stitching (on tyre treaded seats), a different bodykit and smoked light lenses. There was a Pirelli badge on the boot and, of course, a set of P Zeros from the factory. Yellow wasn’t mandatory, but it was certainly the best colour to plump for to make the special status obvious. 

This five-door DSG looks absolutely glorious, wearing its 100,000 miles like a car that’s done half that. The yellow remains radiant, the special wheels are unmarked, and the seats still look pretty great. This is said to benefit from a recent cambelt and water pump replacement, which won’t have been a small job, plus a four-figure paint correction. So someone has been willing to spend the money on upkeep, which is encouraging. 

In fact, it would seem that all three previous keepers of this Pirelli have been diligent souls, as there’s never been an MOT advisory for this Golf in its entire life. While the records only go back to 2016 and 46,000 miles, to go without a blemish for nearly a decade and 50,000 miles is impressive. It wouldn’t be a surprise to find a matching set of P Zeros still. While the asking price of £15k is top dollar for a Mk5 GTI (it’s more than any R32 of the era on PH right now, in fact), you’ll surely do well to find another Pirelli this nice. And we all know how collectable limited edition GTIs are. Just imagine the frenzy if a five-cylinder one really does happen…

Engine: 1,984cc, four-cyl turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 230@5,200rpm
Torque (lb ft): 221@2,200rpm
CO2: 194g/km
MPG: 34.4
Recorded mileage: 97,000
Year registered: 2009
Price new: £24,385
Yours for: £7,999