- Volkswagen launched the GTI in Europe in 1976.
- To mark its birthday, the automaker is launching the limited GTI Edition 35 this summer in European markets.
- Prices in Europe will start from around $43,000, with the first deliveries slated in mid-June.
WOLFSBURG, Germany — Volkswagen launched the original Golf GTI in Europe in June 1976. To mark the occasion, the automaker is launching the limited Golf GTI Edition 35 this summer in European markets. Prices in Europe will start from around $43,000, with the first deliveries slated in mid-June.
With 233 horsepower on tap from its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder — 25 more hp than the standard version — VW says this is the most powerful production GTI to date.
The Edition 35 also sports lightweight 18-inch alloy rims and a revised front bumper, as well as a traditional "golf ball" shift knob.
Edition 35 logos appear on the front fenders, sill plates, head restraints and seats.
The Golf GTI Edition 35 will make its public debut in early June at the 2011 GTI Meet in Worthersee, Austria.
Inside Line says: That's one expensive GTI.
Add A Comment »
cb_racer says:
08:27 AM, 05/13/2011
@bonjo
I'm with you dude. What the !@#$ is wrong with VW? They never give us the good stuff, instead we get a cheaper Jetta...yeah great!
ttbuyer says:
07:54 AM, 05/13/2011
I only hope Inside Line will keep us up-to-date with what SEAT and Skoda are doing with their Europe-only cars too...
juan_mx says:
06:18 AM, 05/13/2011
The price of the "regular" GTI in Germany starts at around 27,300 euros ($38,800), so this anniversary edition is only 11% more expensive than the cheapest GTI there.
roscoe108 says:
05:01 AM, 05/13/2011
Personally, I've never ever experienced an issue with any of the VWs that we've owned in my family (MK IV/V Jetta, MK II/IV/V/VI Golf). But I guess it's impossible to lie with statistics, right?
rryckoff says:
11:16 PM, 05/12/2011
Re. THE PRICE...
That sounds crazy expensive because that's the price in Germany -- NOT the same when a given model is also sold in the US. The German price is always substantially higher.
Based on the past differentials, IF this model were to be available in the US (it would have to be 30th Anniversary, not 35), the price would probably be $29,000 - 32,000 - educated guess. The wheels, added trim and especially the long overdue added power would make this competitive, I would say.
Because of this pricing differential, I was surprised by Paul Lienert's comment at the end (he must know this, also).
wingsnwheels23 says:
07:07 PM, 05/12/2011
This is what the the mark vi should have been from the start. And THOSE WHEELS,.. should have been on the new GTI's in 2006. Those wheels are really perfect, a proper contemporary spin on the original version.
nickms3 says:
06:54 PM, 05/12/2011
What a complete rip off. You would have to be a complete idiot to pay that much for this unreliable piece of crap car. Also the R20 should be about 10 grand less. How could you charge more money for this thing?
norsairius says:
05:52 PM, 05/12/2011
I dunno what the big deal is about people saying VW is unreliable. I've never had an issue with the GTIs I've had, and they don't always get driven nicely either.
Granted, I would say their quality/reliability probably hasn't gotten better until only recently... so I think I may have just answered my own question in a way.
And yes, I am upset that this is not coming to the states. Even more upset that the Scirocco hasn't come over here yet.
90in55 says:
02:59 PM, 05/12/2011
As much as I love the GTI, I could never see myself paying such a ridiculous premium for a bunch of cosmetic upgrades. The extra horsepower should've been standard to begin with. And I've just about had it with those LED string lights. They're spreading across different brands and models like an out of control virus.
armswing says:
01:06 PM, 05/12/2011
Why do Americans hate Volkswagens?
-->Because they spend more time getting serviced than Jenna Jameson.