It’s 40 years since the first Golf GTI rolled off the production line. The work of a six-man team headed by Anton Konrad, it’s surely one of the most iconic hot hatches of all time. So to celebrate, Top Gear has decided to have a peek back through the hot production Golfs that have graced the streets, from the original, classic GTI through to the rather good R via a few outrageous concepts.
Have a wander through the pics and let us know your favourite in the non-shouty place below.
MkI GTI
Despite being unveiled at the 1975 Frankfurt Motor Show, Brits had to wait two years to get their hands on VW’s 110bhp 1,588cc four-pot. The minuscule MkI only weighed 810kg, which meant it could hit 60mph in nine seconds and reach 100mph. In ‘82 a 1781cc model joined the lineup.
MkII GTI
Nine years after the inaugural hot Golf, the GTI’s second coming was ready. It got a new chassis, 110bhp 1781cc four-pot engine and swollen, slipperier styling.
MkII G60
As well the normally aspirated GTI, VW threw a supercharged G60 model into the lineup. It produced a then-blistering 160bhp.
MkII Rallye Golf
Built as a homologation special, the Rallye got a supercharged four-pot engine, four-wheel drive, flared arches and rectangular headlights. Around 5,000 were built and they cost twice as much as a standard Golf when new.
MkII Golf Limited
The Limited counts itself among the most rare hopped-up factory Golfs. It’s got 210bhp goes to 142mph and it’s stuffed with top-spec options - all are four-door models (save for two three-doors) and have 15-inch BBS RM wheels, a twin-headlight grill, tinted taillights and special badges.
Pic courtesy of vwvortex.com
MkIII GTI
Now sinking into comfortable middle age, the third generation GTI got a 2.0-litre engine when it landed on the forecourt in 1992. Thanks to 188 extra kilos of heft, it wasn’t as agile as the MkII. Even the 148bhp 16-valve engine, which appeared in 1993, couldn’t help matters.
MkIII VR6
Fitted with snazzy semi-v 2.8 and 2.9-litre VR6 engines (they’ve got one cylinder head but offset pistons) the Golf VR6 got to 60 in 7.1 seconds.
MkIII 20th Anniversary GTI
To commemorate 20 years of GTIness, VW gave us this – it got chequered Recaro seats, lots of red detailing and 16-inch BBS split rims.
MkIV GTI
When VW launched the fourth generation GTI in 1998 it offered a model for all performance tastes. Two engines were available in four different states of tune.
MkIV R32
In 2003, VW fitted a Golf with a 237bhp 3.2-litre VR6 engine. It also stuffed in every conceivable option available to the MkIV’s platform before sticking an R32 badge on the front.
MkIV V6 4Motion
As well as a 201bhp 2.8-litre V6 engine, the 4Motion got super-grippy four-wheel drive.
MkIV GTI 25th Anniversary
Built to celebrate the GTI’s release, the limited 25th Anniversary models were made up of 900 petrol-powered __cars and 900 diesels.
MkIV GTI 20th Anniversary
No, we’ve not got ourselves in a muddle - the 20th Anniversary was actually released after the 25th. It was built to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the GTI in America. 4000 were shipped to the United States and 200 to Canada.
MkV GT Sport
Effectively the Lamb Bhuna of the Golf world, the slightly spicy sub-GTI came with a 1.4-litre twin-charged petrol engine or a 2.0-litre diesel lump when it launched in 2009. It got the GTI’s brakes and its suspension was lowered by 15mm.
MkV GTI
The success of the fruity 25th Anniversary Edition inspired the faster-still MkV. It got a 2.0-litre TFSI engine with a six-speed gearbox and 15mm lowering springs. You can spot a few nods to MkI GTI, too - there are tartan chairs and a traditional red grill surround.
MkV Pirelli
Built in collaboration with rubbersmiths, Pirelli, the hot MkV GTI came fitted with a warmed over 2.0-litre TFSI engine, which made 30bhp more than the standard GTI, getting it to 60mph in 7.0 seconds. Unsurprisingly, it also had Pirelli tyres.
MkV R32
With 10bhp more than its predecessor thanks to a tinkered inlet manifold, the 3.2-litre VR6 engine makes 247bhp and 236lb ft of torque. 0-62mph takes 6.5 seconds or 6.2 seconds if you ticked the DSG gearbox option. It also got four-wheel drive and enormous 345mm brakes.
MkV GTI Edition 30
Another five years, another anniversary edition. On sale at the end of 2006, the Edition 30 had 30 extra horses than the standard GTI, a front spoiler and tinted rear lights, a la Golf R32. Colour coding, 18-inch wheels and exclusive trim materials were also standard, and you got a fancy little Edition 30 plaque. Which is pleasant.
GTI W12
Fitted with a mid-mounted twin-turbo W12 from a Bentley Continental, Audi R8 rear subframe and a Lamborghini Gallardo’s rear axle and brakes it stands out as the most preposterous Golf ever. It was built for the Worthersee GTI Festival in just eight weeks.
MkVI GTI
Essentially a thoroughly facelifted MkV, the VI GTI got the Scirocco’s direct-injection EA888 2.0-litre turbo four-pot, which upped power from 197bhp to 207bhp on the previous generation.
MkVI Golf R
Launched in 2010, the R’s got 59bhp more than the MkVI GTI, 18-inch wheels and four-wheel drive. 62mph comes in 5.7 seconds and it’ll carry on till 155mph.
Golf R Cabriolet
OK, so this one’s just a concept, but it still deserves a mention. It’s a scalped Golf R, so it gets four-wheel drive and a 266bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre four-pot engine.
MkVII Golf GTI
Sat on the VW Group’s new MQB platform comes this, the seventh generation of the GTI. Now available as a 217bhp/258lb ft 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot, or a 227bhp ‘Performance Pack’ version. Go for the latter, and prepare to be amazed.
MkVII Golf R
What’s this? Only the fastest, most powerful production Golf ever built. It’s got a 2.0-litre turbocharged four cylinder engine, just like the GTI, but quite unlike the GTI, the ‘R’ produces 296bhp; 29bhp more than the last Golf R.
It’s also got 4WD and will crack 62mph - in DSG form - in just 4.9s.
Golf R Estate
Like a regular Golf R, only more practical and therefore better. Read the review here.
Golf GTI Clubsport
The Clubsport is a sort-of halfway house between a regular GTI and the AWD R. It has 261bhp from the usual 2.0-litre turbo four (a 34bhp increase over a GTI PP), but a maximum of 287bhp is available for 10 seconds at a time when you floor the throttle. So in practical terms, it loses little to the 296bhp R. It remains FWD, but has had a bit of suspension work done and its diff retuned for better handling. We like it.
Golf GTI Clubsport S
A Nurburgring record holder, and with 306bhp, the most powerful front-wheel drive production Golf ever. Lacks rear seats. You can read more about it here.
Golf R Variant Performance 35
A nod to the 35 years VW has been gathering enthusiasts together in Worthersee, this snazzy R Estate concept has a smidge more power than standard (345bhp), but the real news is the stereo. It’s vast - 12 speakers and 2,500 watts. Right then.
Golf GTI Heartbeat
Another Very Powerful concept Golf to celebrate the GTI’s 40th. This one has 394bhp - all routed through the front-wheels, naturally - Bilstein coilovers and a massive stereo. Read all about it here.
Golf GTE Concept
We end on last year’s Worthersee concept, the Golf ‘GTE’.
It features the 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine from the Polo R WRC car; an engine that has helped Volkswagen claim the WRC crown. It’s slotted up front under that long, swooping bonnet and packs 295bhp, and is backed up by a pair of electric motors.
One of these electric motors has been positioned up front, inside the housing of the six-speed dual-clutch gearbox, while the second sits on the rear axle. Yep, it’s an all-wheel-drive Golf. Both motors produce an equal 113bhp, but unequal torque: the front motor kicks out 243lb ft, the rear 199lb ft.
Total torque stands at 494lb ft, and Volkswagen assures us that wherever possible, the concept runs purely on electricity, up to a range of 31 miles.
Things get more interesting when you choose not to run purely on electricity, because when you select the ‘GTE’ mode, you get the full, banzai, 396bhp. That means 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 174mph. Now that’s a Golf.
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