A new era of hot hatch performance has arrived, and Volkswagen fans are in for a thrill.
The German carmaker has unveiled the Golf GTI EDITION 50, a blistering anniversary model marking half a century of GTI power and pedigree.
With 325 PS under the bonnet and a blistering Nürburgring lap time to its name, this is the fastest and most powerful production Golf GTI ever built.
Designed as a tribute to five decades of the GTI legacy, the EDITION 50 is more than just a birthday badge.
This is a race-ready, road-legal celebration of one of the world’s best-loved performance hatchbacks.
Volkswagen will begin production in Wolfsburg later this year, with deliveries set to start in early 2026.
At the heart of the EDITION 50 is a reworked 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, based on the one found in the GTI Clubsport.
It now pumps out 239 kW and 420 Nm of torque, giving it an extra punch over the standard GTI and even its Clubsport sibling.
Racing driver and VW test ace Benjamin Leuchter took the EDITION 50 around the Nürburgring Nordschleife in just 7 minutes 46 seconds, the fastest lap ever recorded by a production Golf.
“This GTI is the sharpest and most intuitive car I’ve driven from Volkswagen,” said Leuchter.
Drivers can take the performance up another notch with the optional GTI Performance package.
That includes a retuned chassis, semi-slick Bridgestone tyres, lightweight 19-inch forged wheels and an Akrapovič titanium exhaust that not only saves weight but adds an unmistakable note of aggression.
Inside, the cabin gets the full motorsport treatment with red seatbelts, chequered upholstery and a GTI 50 logo on the steering wheel.
On the outside, expect black styling accents, a roof spoiler, GTI 50 badging and bold side stripes.
Two new paint options join the line-up for the first time: Dark Moss green and the returning hero Tornado red, a colour long associated with Volkswagen’s fastest machines.
The Golf GTI EDITION 50 is not just a nod to the past, it is a statement of intent.
A car that blends nostalgia with cutting-edge engineering, and one that proves the GTI spirit is alive and well for its 50th year and beyond.
