When the original Volkswagen Golf GTI reached showrooms in 1976 it created a genre; almost 50 years and 2.5 million cars later Volkswagen is preparing to toast the icon with the Golf GTI Edition 50. Unveiled at the Nürburgring 24-Hour race, the anniversary special brings the strongest GTI power figure yet – 239 kW (325 PS) – and chassis tuning lifted straight from the hardcore Clubsport models. Production begins in Wolfsburg at the end of 2025 with first deliveries slated for Q1 2026, just in time for the GTI’s half-century.
Powertrain: More horses, same heart
The special edition Volkswagen Golf GTI packs more performance than any GTI model before it, but does so with enhancements to the existing 2-litre turbo-petrol powertrain that drives the front wheels.
| Engine | 2.0-litre EA888 evo4 turbo-petrol |
| Power | 239kW |
| Torque | 420Nm |
| Transmission | 7-speed DSG |
The Golf GTI Edition 50 gets a 44kW and 50Nm bump on the regular Mk 8.5 hot hatchback, which is expected to improve the 0-100km/h time to be in the low five-seconds.
Chassis & handling upgrades
| Component | Edition 50 standard | With optional Performance pack* |
| Adaptive damping | DCC Sport (re-tuned) | Performance chassis: 20 % higher spring rates, −5 mm ride height |
| Tyres & wheels | 19-inch alloys, Bridgestone Potenza Sport | 19-inch Warmenau forged alloys (-3 kg) wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza Race semi-slicks |
| Exhaust | Twin stainless tips | Akrapovič titanium system (-11 kg) |
| Additional kit | Progressive steering, electronic diff lock | Uprated engine mounts, bespoke software for sharper throttle & diff response |
*GTI Performance package is unique to Edition 50.
Nürburgring proof: 7 min 46 sec
In April 2025, Volkswagen development driver and Nürburgring specialist Benjamin Leuchter hustled a Golf GTI Edition 50 with the Performance pack around the 20.8 km Nordschleife in 7:46.13, the quickest officially recorded lap for any production Golf. Leuchter called it “the most precise and rewarding Volkswagen I’ve ever driven”.
Design cues – subtle menace
There are a few visual changes to the Edition 50 for the Volkswagen Golf GTI as well. On the exterior, you’ll find GTI 50 badges on the roof spoiler, door sills and the inside of the outside rearview mirrors. It also gets blacked out elements such as the roof, mirror caps, tailpipes and the 19-inch wheels. There’s also a side stripe decal that fades from black to red along the bottom.
Volkswagen is offering the Golf GTI Edition 50 in five paint options, including two homage colours – Dark Moss metallic and Tornado Red.
Interior highlights
The special cosmetic treatment for the special edition Golf GTI is visible inside the cabin as well. In the Edition 50, Volkswagen offers iconic GTI tartan sports seats with Racing Green pinstripes, red seatbelts and suede-look bolsters. Other interior details include:
- New multifunction leather wheel with GTI 50 logo and aluminium shift paddles.
- Latest MIB4 infotainment with 12.9-inch display and illuminated slider controls.
- Red ambient lighting and GTI-specific start-up graphics.
Limited numbers, unlimited appeal
Exact production volume hasn’t been disclosed but Volkswagen confirms the Edition 50 will be built for a single model year. Pricing is due later in 2025; expect a premium over the current Golf GTI Clubsport. As Thomas Schäfer, VW brand CEO, put it: “GTI is more than a badge – it’s our lifeblood. The Edition 50 honours that legacy and shows the badge has a future, compromise-free.”
Key figures
| Model | Golf GTI Edition 50 |
| Engine | 2.0 TFSI 4-cyl turbo |
| Power | 239 kW (325 PS) |
| Torque | 420 Nm |
| Transmission | 7-spd DSG, front-wheel drive |
| 0–100 km/h | ≈5.5 s (est.) |
| Nürburgring lap | 7:46.13 |
| Production start | Q4 2025 |
| First deliveries | Q1 2026 |
Verdict
By blending the everyday usability that has always defined the Volkswagen Golf GTI with serious chassis hardware and the highest power figure yet, the Edition 50 looks set to be a fitting birthday gift to the icon and its fans – and a highly collectable swansong for the pure-petrol GTI breed.
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