Volkswagen celebrates 50 years of the Golf GTI

Volkswagen announced plans for the Golf GTI’s 50th anniversary in 2026, including the GTI Edition 50, classic events and the first electric GTI. Read more.

For Volkswagen, 2026 will be a milestone year. The Golf GTI turns 50, marking half a century since the badge first appeared in 1976 and reshaped the idea of what a compact performance car could be.

The original GTI combined everyday usability with genuine driving excitement at a price that made performance accessible. Volkswagen initially planned a production run of just 5,000 units, yet demand exceeded expectations tenfold in the first year alone. By the end of its lifecycle, the first-generation Golf GTI reached 461,690 units, laying the foundation for a model line that has since surpassed 2.5 million cars worldwide.

This long-established DNA reaches a new peak in the anniversary year with the Golf GTI EDITION 50. Powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine delivering 239 kW (325 PS), it becomes the most powerful production GTI to date. Volkswagen offers a dedicated EDITION 50 GTI Performance package, featuring lightweight forged 19-inch Warmenau wheels, Bridgestone Potenza Race semi-slick tyres and a titanium exhaust system.

A near-production version of this model has already underlined its credentials on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, setting the fastest lap time ever recorded by a road-legal Volkswagen at 7:46.13. Orders for the Golf GTI EDITION 50 have opened in selected European markets, with first customer deliveries scheduled for 2026.

Beyond the combustion era, Volkswagen is also preparing the next chapter of the GTI story. In 2026, the brand will introduce the ID. Polo GTI, officially confirmed as the first fully electric GTI. With this step, Volkswagen signals its intention to transfer the core GTI philosophy into the electric age without abandoning its sporting roots.

The anniversary will also be celebrated on the classic car stage. The Golf GTI will take centre stage at major European events, starting with the Rétromobile show in Paris from 28 January to 1 February 2026, followed closely by the Bremen Classic Motorshow. Both events mark the opening of the 2026 classic season and underline the historical significance of the GTI nameplate.

Fifty years on, the Golf GTI stands not only as a symbol of Volkswagen’s past successes, but also as a bridge to its future. The combination of heritage, performance and electrification makes 2026 a defining moment for one of the most recognisable performance badges in automotive history.