Golf GTI Edition 50: Half a Century of Legend and the Most Powerful GTI Ever
Volkswagen is marking the 50th anniversary of the GTI badge next year with a new special edition that also happens to be the most powerful production Golf GTI ever built. The Golf GTI Edition 50 delivers 239 kW, or 325 horsepower, and 420 Nm of torque. It sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds and tops out at 270 km/h. Orders are already open, with prices in Germany starting at €54,540.
For nearly half a century, those three letters—GTI—have meant far more to Volkswagen than just a trim level. They’ve become a cult. Since 1976, more than 2.5 million GTIs have been produced, and the Edition 50 writes the next chapter in that story. It produces 18 kW, or 25 horsepower, more than the previous flagship, the Golf GTI Clubsport. The suspension keeps the classic MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear setup, sits 15 millimetres lower than the standard Golf, and comes with adaptive DCC dampers and distinctive 19-inch Queenstown alloy wheels finished in red glaze.
For those who want something sharper, Volkswagen offers the GTI Performance Edition 50 package for an extra €4,200. It brings semi-slick Bridgestone Potenza Race tyres on 19-inch forged Warmenau wheels, a titanium R-Performance exhaust system, and suspension lowered by another 5 millimetres. Front-end camber has been increased to -2 degrees for better handling, while the whole setup sheds around 30 kilograms. Test driver Benjamin Leuchter proved the package’s worth at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, clocking a lap of 7:46.13—the fastest ever recorded by a production Golf on the Green Hell.
This anniversary model celebrates its heritage through subtle details linking past and present. Inside, tartan-patterned sports seats feature dark green accents and red seatbelts, while the steering wheel carries a 50 Years GTI badge and paddle shifters for the DSG gearbox. The exterior mixes sharp contrasts: a black roof and mirror caps, dark exhaust tips, special sill trims, and a fade effect on the sides from black to Tornado Red.
Buyers can choose from five colours: Pure White, Moonstone Grey, Grenadilla Black, and two exclusive shades—Dark Moss Green Metallic and Tornado Red.
Where earlier GTI generations struck a balance between everyday usability and back-road fun, the Edition 50 leans closer to the track. Volkswagen clearly knows the future is electric, but before the next-generation e-GTI takes over, this petrol-powered anniversary model stands as a fitting finale. Fifty years on, the GTI still sounds—and drives—as good as ever.
