50 Years of the VW Golf GTI: Anniversary Party at Klausen
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the legendary three-letter name, there’s a top-notch joyride in store: VW Golf GTIs from all eight generations are heading over the Klausen Pass. Autosprint is tagging along.
Copying is the highest form of homage. Wait a minute—didn’t the VW Golf invent the GTI? Yes and no. The abbreviation for «Gran Turismo Internazionale» (an Italian racing class), later «Gran Turismo Injection» (fuel injection), existed even before the Golf 1 GTI—for example, at Maserati in 1962. But it was the Golf GTI (which, by the way, was almost named TS or GTS at first) that made it so popular that others copied it. Citroën, for instance, or Suzuki. But: There can only be one.
Not much power? Not much weight!
In 1976, VW cautiously planned to produce 5,000 of this model. Small hot hatches were merely niche products; compact cars that were wild yet still suitable for running errands didn’t exist anywhere yet. Nearly 462,000 Golf 1 GTIs were eventually produced, and 2.5 million Golf GTIs have been made in the 50 years since.
The 1976 Golf 1 GTI has just 81 kW/110 PS. But it’s up against a weight of just over 800 kilos. At the Klausen Pass, we sit on flat checkered seat cushions, grip the thin steering wheel tightly, shift gears diligently—and marvel at how fast, nimble, and roaring this 3.71 (for comparison: Golf 8 GTI 4.29) meter-long, thin-sheet-metal car whizzes through hairpin turns and leaves bulky SUVs in the dust. Pure pleasure on 13-inch wheels—and the proof: a lighter car is the key to driving fun.
More modern without losing any of the fun
Switching to the Golf 2 GTI, a 1990 16V with 95 kW/129 PS. A huge leap forward! The feeling of having no chance in a crash is gone—but so is the nearly unobstructed all-around visibility. For us, it feels like the best of the first three GTIs: the light spirit of its forefather, combined with the solidity of today’s «Golfs.» On to the Golf 3 GTI. Our 1995 16V with 110 kW/150 PS would still be perfectly suitable for everyday use today: airbags, foam-padded plastics, electric aids—is it really 31 years old? Only the high RPMs are a bit jarring: Wait, no sixth gear?
Unfortunately, due to time constraints, we have to skip generations four through seven, which are special edition models. They were brought along by members of the Swiss GTI Club. Toward the end, a quick look at the 2026 Golf 8 GTI, the «Edition 50» anniversary model (starting at 56,700 francs) with 239 kW/325 PS. An all-arounder—more digital, safer, more comfortable, and roomier. Boring? Not a chance: switch on Sport mode—it’s a blast! A cornering machine that revs right up: the GTI stays true to itself.
