Happy Birthday, Golf GTI!
An icon turns 50: the sports version of the legendary compact car has been on the market for half a century. To celebrate, fans receive a special edition that packs a punch.
GTI - these three letters have long since become a legend in the automotive world. Countless fans around the world have been bitten by the GTI bug since the first generation of the model rolled into dealerships in 1976. Today, 50 years later, the fascination with this sporty compact car continues unabated. To celebrate its milestone birthday, fans of this legendary model are being rewarded with the most modern, most powerful and also most expensive production GTI in history - the Golf GTI «Edition 50» (see box).
It all began in 1974, when a small group led by VW press officer Anton Konrad secretly developed a «Sport Golf», laying the foundations for a genuine automotive legend. The Golf, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, was given a proud 110 hp as the GTI, as well as striking design features such as a red radiator grille frame, body seats and the iconic golf ball gear knob. Sales began in 1976 - around 462,000 units were sold by 1984, 33,147 of which were sold in Switzerland.
Stronger than ever
The second generation was the most successful GTI to date: between 1984 and 1991, 628,000 units were built worldwide, 43761 of which were sold in Switzerland. Subsequently, the performance data continued to increase, but sales figures declined in parallel. The Golf GTI VII (2013 to 2021) had up to 310 PS, but was only built 231,698 times worldwide, only 4939 of which went to Switzerland.
The eighth model generation has been on sale since 2020. With 245 hp, a networked driving dynamics manager and comprehensive digitalization, the GTI is more modern than ever - but compact cars are simply no longer as popular in the modern era. By the end of 2025, only 2005 units had been sold in Switzerland. Nevertheless, the Golf GTI remains a model that is an integral part of the automotive world and is a real success story with over 2.5 million vehicles sold, 140,598 of them in Switzerland.
«Edition 50»: Now Wolfsburg is really letting it rip!
With 239 kW/325 hp in a VW Golf? It sounds crazy on paper - but it feels fantastic on the racetrack. Despite heavy rain during the test drive on the Castellolí circuit, the «Edition 50» anniversary model impressively demonstrated what is possible in a GTI. Thanks to the adaptive DCC suspension, semi-slicks on forged 19-inch rims, electronically controlled front axle lock and progressive steering, the compact sports car is a serious best time chaser. The «Edition 50» is based on the current GTI Clubsport, but is 25 kilograms lighter thanks to a titanium exhaust system and has been lowered by a further 5 millimetres. Special interior details and an exclusive paint finish round off the range. It costs from 56,700 Swiss francs. The optional GTI performance package is available for 3500 francs.
