The VW Golf GTI Edition 50 is the most powerful production GTI ever made
The VW Golf GTI Edition 50 is the most powerful production GTI ever made
Special edition celebrates 50 years of the Golf GTI and already has a 'Ring record to its name
Skip 12 photos in the image carousel and continue reading
Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures.
1
/
12
Meet the Golf GTI Edition 50. We already knew it was Volkswagen's fastest ever production car around the Nürburgring in the hands of, er, the extremely handy Benny Leuchter, and now we discover it's the most powerful production GTI in its 50-year history.
So, let's have at those numbers. It gets a tuned version of VW's turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder EA888 petrol engine for 321bhp/310lb ft total outputs, up on the Golf GTI Clubsport's 296bhp/295lb ft and up even more on the standard Golf GTI's 261bhp/273lb ft.
Advertisement - Page continues below
Indeed, it's only slightly down on the all-wheel-drive Golf R's 328bhp, with which it shares the same torque figure. And it's already beaten that car around the 'Ring. All that power helps it see off the zero to 62mph sprint in five and a half seconds.
Volkswagen has retuned the DCC adaptive dampers, adjusted the front differential lock and revised the steering, while the optional GTI Performance Package sees a tweaked suspension setup including 20 per cent stiffer springs, sitting 20mm lower than the GTI and 5mm lower the GTI Clubsport.
There's also new shoes in the shape of lightweight 19in forged alloy wheels on semi-slick tyres – reportedly saving around 4kg per corner – plus an Akrapovič titanium exhaust that saves a further 11kg. Not bad for a summer shred.
Looks the part too, with VW having given its 50-year anniversary special the glow up treatment in the form of a black roof, mirrors and exhaust pipes, plus GTI 50 decals on the mirrors and spoiler. Five colours are available, including Moss Green and Tornado Red, the latter worn by various Golf GTIs in the past.
Advertisement - Page continues below
No word on how many will be built, or how much it's going to cost, but expect a slight hike over the existing Golf GTI Clubsport's £43,215 starting price. Tempted?
Top Gear
Newsletter
Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox.
Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
Success Your Email*
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Auto Blog
an hour ago
- Auto Blog
5 Ways The GTI Edition 50 Cements Its Legacy As A Hot Hatch Icon
Golf GTI Edition 50 Is One Of The Best Ever We're not here to debate which generation of the Volkswagen Golf GTI is the best, but we are here to tell you that the newly launched Edition 50 is certainly up there. A year ago, Volkswagen announced that the eighth-generation GTI would be getting an anniversary edition, as is traditional every five years, but at the time, it seemed that this would be no more than an appearance package, with nothing under the skin to set it apart. Fortunately, the bigwigs in Wolfsburg came to their senses, and the engineers were allowed to create a front-wheel-drive Golf that has now lapped the Nürburgring's Nordschleife quicker than any other. That's quite an achievement, so let's start there and explain why it's particularly noteworthy. 1. The Quickest Volkswagen At The Green Hell The Golf GTI Edition 50 set a lap time around the 12.9-mile route of the Nürburgring of 7:46.13 and 7:41.27 on the 12.8-mile course, and although that's not quite as quick as the Honda Civic Type R, it is quicker than the more powerful Golf R, which also has the benefit of AWD. It's also worth noting that the Edition 50 set a faster lap than the Mk. 7 Golf GTI Clubsport S, and that's important because the Clubsport S was a highly limited model (only 400 units) with two fewer doors, no rear seating, and even a smaller battery. This, by contrast, is basically an upgrade package, and although you also have to add the optional Performance package to get the most out of the Edition 50, the changes are not so extreme as to mitigate the practicality inherent to the GTI nameplate. 2. More Power And Torque Than Ever The standard GTI offers 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, but this one delivers 321 hp and 310 lb-ft, matching the Golf R on torque and trailing its horsepower output by just 7 ponies. In addition, that's 6 hp more than the 2025 Honda Civic Type R. At this point, some might be saying that Volkswagen could have given the Edition 50 just as much power as the R, but the engineers prioritized chassis balance and traction. Chasing power is easy, but putting it down effectively is not. By showing restraint under the hood, Volkswagen has allowed the Golf R to remain at the top of the performance VW tree while still delivering the most powerful FWD Volkswagen yet. 3. It's A Lot Lighter Than It Looks The Edition 50's 19-inch Warmenau forged wheels weigh just 17.6 pounds each, saving 6.6 lbs per corner, and even the Bridgestone semi-slick tires wrapped around them have lost weight, saving 2.4 lbs each. This means lower unsprung weight, and therefore, sharper handling. With an Akrapovič titanium exhaust lobbing another 24 lbs from the curb weight, the GTI Edition 50 saves over 60 lbs in total. That's an impressive figure, especially since the car looks no more stripped-out than any other GTI and retains all the creature comforts and cargo capacity that make this a fine daily driver. 4. A Triumphant Design Volkswagen's stylists have let their hair down more than usual, but they've also shown restraint. The pattern on the seats pays homage to the tartan fabric that has always made a GTI so charming, while red seatbelts (calling to mind the Mk. 3 Jubilee Edition) help make each drive feel like an occasion. We also can't deny that making the foot pedals red is a cool touch. Sure, they'll get dirty, and their bright coloring certainly grabs attention in a more overt fashion than we're accustomed to from Volkswagen, but for a vehicle that celebrates half a century of hot hatch hilarity, it's a perfectly judged touch. Other fine details include dark door pull handles, special door sill plaques, and a GTI 50 logo on the steering wheel. Outside, the black vinyl is perfectly judged, allowing the aggressive front end to flow into the side sills, with a subtle black roof spoiler and tinted taillights tying it all together. This vinyl application is also a little throwback to the previous-gen Clubstport. Finally, the red accented wheels won't be to everyone's taste (they make the wheels look smaller than they are, for one thing), but they'll certainly make it clear to all who see them that this is no ordinary GTI. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. 5. Still Just A GTI, And That's A Good Thing Despite its lower weight, higher horsepower, and 20-mm lower suspension, the Edition 50 is still a GTI at heart. Although capable of blasting around one of the most technically complex and dangerous racetracks in the world in less time than a Lamborghini Murcielago LP640-4, a Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, and even a 997.1 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, the GTI Edition 50 retains the usability, comfort, and accessibility that made the GTI a global icon. One of the coolest anecdotes that perfectly illustrates Volkswagen's ability to extract excitement from an everyday recipe is that, in setting the Edition 50's lap time, the automaker employed a clever little trick to lower the center of gravity: folding the rear seats flat. That means you don't need any special equipment or tools to get the most out of your own GTI Edition 50, and for something capable of beating machinery once considered the pinnacle of performance, that's quite the feat. About the Author Sebastian Cenizo View Profile
Auto Blog
an hour ago
- Auto Blog
Mercedes Boss Hands The Combustion Engine Another Lifeline
Mercedes Isn't Going All-Electric Anytime Soon Mercedes has been teasing AMG's first in-house all-electric vehicle, a 1,000-horsepower-plus super sedan that will redefine Affalerbach's definition of an Autobahn animal. On the other end of the spectrum, the entry-level CLA has arrived with similarly brilliant all-electric technology, and the automaker had previously announced intentions for all its products to be EVs around the end of the decade. Those plans have continually shifted as demand has, and based on comments Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius recently made to German publication Auto Motor und Sport, they're seemingly shifting again. When asked if the decision to offer the GLC SUV as an EV and also with a hybridized combustion engine was a stopgap measure, Källenius responded, 'The electrified, high-tech combustion engines will run longer than we originally expected. We have made this course correction.' Mercedes Following Toyota And BMW's Lead Source: Mercedes-Benz The CEO added, 'I believe the most rational approach in the current situation is for an established manufacturer to do both [EV and gas] and not neglect one technology.' If those sorts of comments sound familiar, BMW CEO Oliver Zipse and Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda have expressed similar sentiments, saying that focusing all one's resources on exclusively building cars that are not yet fully supported in terms of worldwide infrastructure and demand is simply implausible for any automaker that wishes to exist long enough to see global EV adoption take hold en masse. To be fair, Källenius hasn't just come to this realization now. Last year, he announced plans to move the EQS and S-Class under one nameplate, and Mercedes, like most of its peers, has always accompanied its all-electric goals with the condition that they are subject to market conditions. And let's face it, the market for new luxury EVs is not exactly booming. Expect To See More Of Everything, Including EVs 'The new CLA is the greeting from the kitchen of an entire family,' Källenius said. 'Then the core segments will follow with the electric versions of the GLC, C-Class, and E-Class. We still have an incredible amount in the pipeline.' As we touched on above, Mercedes is dropping the EQ 'sub-brand,' which was essentially a gamble based on the supposition that EV buyers wanted association with the Mercedes brand but also a unique identity. It was also a marketing ploy because Mercedes EQ models looked vastly different from traditionally named and powered Benzes, but the combination of a new name and jellybean styling led one dealer to tell Automotive News (subscription required) in 2023, 'Our cars need to be 'want' cars. The S-Class has maintained good loylty because it's aspirational. An EQS is not something that most people aspire to own.' Källenius' comments indicate that, like BMW (which sells identically styled i7 EV and 7 Series sedans), future EVs will look similar to their combustion-powered counterparts, and those hybridized counterparts will now likely be sold well into the next decade. The shift in styling strategy has already begun. The all-electric G 580 with EQ Technology has a silly name, but it looks like the solid G-Wagen it is. Notably, Porsche is also now working on a new gas Macan after the EV's sales failed to sustain the nameplate, reports Autocar. In America, both the old gas and new electric Macan are sold concurrently, but in Europe, cybersecurity laws meant Porsche had to move on, and with the 718, too. Now, it may be returning to combustion, but have no doubt, more EQs and electric Caymans will still be developed. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. About the Author Sebastian Cenizo View Profile
Auto Blog
2 hours ago
- Auto Blog
Spied: Lexus LFR Supercar Benchmarked Against 805-HP Mercedes-AMG GT
The first proper Lexus supercar since the LFA nears production For the maker of the iconic LFA, it's been a while since Lexus had a truly competitive performance car. The RC F is dated and on its way out, the LC is more of a grand tourer, and the IS 500 was never a true IS F successor. Fortunately, new spy shots of the Lexus LFR – a street-legal version of the GR GT3 concept – indicate that the Japanese brand is still working hard to perfect this overtly sporty, low-slung supercar. In a new video shared on Instagram by journalist Jonny Lieberman, it also appears that Lexus is benchmarking the LFR against one of Mercedes-AMG's hottest sports cars. Previous Pause Next Unmute 0:00 / 0:10 Nissan's revolutionary self-driving tech hits Japan's streets Watch More V8 Hybrid Powertrain Possible Filmed driving around Angeles Crest in Los Angeles, the camouflaged LFR was following a Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance. This particular Merc uses a 4.0-liter twin turbo V8 and plug-in hybrid system to develop 805 horsepower and 1,047 lb-ft of torque, enough for a 2.7-second 0-60 mph blast. If this is what Lexus is planning to match, it would be quite a few levels above the LFA – although, we don't expect a hybrid to match the sonic perfection of the high-revving LFA's V10. Lieberman confirmed this is a 'brand-new supercar platform,' and suggested a starting price of about $185,000 when it arrives in 2026. That's significantly less than the LFA's starting price of $375,000, so the LFR is not a direct successor to the LFA. However, the LFR would still become the most expensive new Lexus on sale right now. Exotic Proportions On Full Display Source: Jonny Lieberman/Instagram Although the details remained hidden, this latest video once again showed off the LFR's exotic looks. It sits low to the ground and looks even wider than the GT 63 it was following. This one doesn't have a rear wing, as previously seen on some test mules, but that could be an upgrade that forms part of an aerodynamic package. The taillights appear to be ultra-slim horizontal units that stretch all the way across the back, but this could be an illusion created by the camo wrap. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Other previous rumors suggest the LFR will have a carbon fiber tub, which should enhance rigidity while keeping the weight down. With news that Lexus will also have its own version of the next Toyota Supra, the Lexus brand could soon be bolstered by not one, but two new sports cars. Considering how long it has been since the GR GT3 concept was revealed, we hope to see the production model early next year. About the Author Karl Furlong View Profile
