Over half a century ago, Volkswagen quietly gave birth to what would become the car that defined the modern performance hatchback, and as the German marque now celebrates this momentous 50 year milestone by recalling three dramatic GTI concepts, it is worth remembering that when the first Golf GTI or Grand Touring Injection, hit the scene in 1975, it looked anything but radical courtesy of its modest 1.6 liter four cylinder that put out 110 horsepower, and 113 mph top speed.
Built on the underpinnings of the original 1974 Golf, styled by the great Giorgetto Giugiaro, this two-door hatch featured the now iconic red stripe across the grille and plaid seats inside. Designer Gunhild Liljequist found her inspiration for the tartan upholstery in London’s punk scene, which gives the origin story a bit of cultural context. But what really mattered was the way the whole package came together, the golf ball gear knob, the thin rim steering wheel, the direct front wheel drive chassis, and the fact that Volkswagen originally planned to build just 5,000 units.
I have personally owned a derivative of the Golf platform in all-wheel drive guise for more than a decade, and I completely understand the appeal. It is that exact combination of everyday practicality and genuine pace that rewrote the rules for what a compact performance car could be. Strong demand eventually pushed first-generation GTI production beyond 461,000 units. This formula would prove to be immensely fruitful for VW, and one that has helped the GTI stay at the very top of the hot-hatch segment over eight generations across several body styles, including three-door, five-door, wagon, and clubsport variants, and 2.3 million units in total sales.
The MkII second car gained power steering and a revised 5-speed gearbox. The 16 valve version in 1987 pushed top speed to around 130 mph, and by the time the fifth generation launched in 2003, enthusiasts felt that the original spirit had returned in sharper form.
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If you are an ardent Top Gear fan, you probably remember Clarkson’s review of the beefed-up MK5 W12 Golf concept first seen in 2007. This is one of the three concepts that VW is now recalling. The highlight is the mid-engine 6.0-liter Bentley sourced (now-discontinued) W12 fed by pronounced side-air intakes, along with rear axle, brakes from a Lamborghini Gallardo, a transmission from the VW Phaeton for handling the immense torque, and front brakes from an Audi RS4.
Hailing from the glorious-Pïech era, who was also responsible for the might Bugatti Veyron, this SuperGolf puts out 650 horsepower, and is capable of 202 mph. This latest execution wears red as opposed to the original’s white color seen back in 2007, and continues to deliver a phenomenal soundtrack.
The other two GTI concepts are just as radical. The GTI Roadster concept, first seen in 2014, is an open-top two-seater that essentially pushes the Golf into supercar territory. Born in the Gran Turismo video game, it packs over 500 horsepower from a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 and features a true speedster style with scissor doors and the familiar red line carried across the front fascia and a dramatic rear-end with a fixed wing. Inside, you have room for two, with a yoke-style steering.
Finally, you have the Design Vision GTI concept, first seen at the 2013 Los Angeles auto show. Packing a 3.0-liter TSI V6 with 500 horsepower and 4-motion all-wheel drive, it offered an alternative, futuristic interpretation of the Golf silhouette, with aggressive strakes and a defining side line that still makes it instantly identifiable as a GTI despite its widened stance.
Today’s MKVIII-based Edition 50 produces 325 horsepower, can hit 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, tops out at 168 mph, and carries a time of 7:46.125 on the infamous Nürburgring Nordschleife. While the numbers have increased dramatically over five decades, the core principle remains the same: a compact, Front Wheel Drive hot hatch with genuine everyday usability.
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Images: Volkswagen
