When the first Golf GTI rolled off the assembly line in 1976, a whole new segment was born in the automobile world. A trend was set that several other carmakers tried to emulate but none could better.
The VW Golf GTI was the world's first true hot hatch, and even today after three-and-a-half decades, it continues to be arguably the best in class. And we say this after having driven the Honda Type-R, the Renaultsport Clio and more recently VW's own Golf R.
To celebrate 35 years of ruling the roost, VW is launching a special-edition GTI, which promises to be even better. The Golf GTI Edition 35 will have extra power to match its aggressive styling updates, which VW claims have been inspired by classic GTI design elements.
Total power has been upped to 235bhp — that's 25 horses more than the standard GTI — making it the most powerful production GTI to date.
The styling updates include a new bumper up front and special ‘35' badges on the front wings, seat headrests and sill plates. It also features a golf ball gear knob and 18in lightweight alloys on all four corners. The car, which will be officially revealed at the Wörthersee GTI meet in Austria next month, will be priced at around Dh158,000 in Germany.
VW's rally designs
Volkswagen's exploits in rallying were modest when it used to compete with front-wheel drive Group A GTIs in the mid-Eighties. However, inspired by its three consecutive victories at the Dakar Rally, Volkswagen has decided to take the plunge from 2013 with the Polo R WRC, a 300bhp car with a 1.6-litre turbocharged TSI engine and four-wheel drive based on the Polo chassis. Which is good news because there will be a road version.
