GTI Edition 50 celebrates a half century of hot Golfs

A half century after the arrival of the Mk1 Golf GTI, Volkswagen has revealed the hot new Mk8.5 Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50. This is essentially the successor to the Clubsport S.

This new Edition 50 is about as hardcore as a Golf GTI gets. 

At almost 240kW from the EA888 turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol it also stumps up with 420Nm. By comparison, the standard GTI makes 195kW and 370Nm. Golf GTI Edition 50 is said to hit 100km/h from standstill in 5.5 seconds, right up there with Civic Type R. Top speed is limited to 269km/h. 

It’s hardly a stripped out three-door lightweight special like its forebear either. This retains the practical five-door body and rear seats, along with a fully-loaded cabin and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Power goes to the front wheels only, the grounding of it assisted by an electronically controlled limited slip differential. 

Read our test of the Current Golf GTI.

When fitted with the optional GTI Performance Pack, the Edition 50 gets all-new suspension kinematics. There’s more negative camber, 20 per cent stiffer springs, retuned adaptive dampers, stiffer rear wheel hub connections and firmer bushes. The DCC (dynamic chassis control) and VDM (vehicle dynamic management) are tweaked to suit the new set-up. So too is the steering.

It also rides 15mm lower on forged 19-inch alloy wheels that, together with Bridgestone Potenza Race semislick tyres, reduce unsprung weight by 8kg. An Akrapovic titanium exhaust system subtracts another 11kg off the total weight compared with the GTI Clubsport.

“It is also the most capable on the track,” said chassis development boss Lars Frömmig. So VW is clearly wanting to rival the best in class for driver engagement. And it is already the fastest of any production VW around the Nurburgring, posting a time of 7min and 46.13 sec.

Styling changes are relatively restrained. There are two heritage colour options not available on standard Golf GTIs, Moss Green and Tornado Red. Meanwhile, the forged wheels are finished in red and black and the front and rear lights have smoked inners. And there’s a unique stripe on the sill but the look is the opposite of outrageous. 

Inside is a special tartan fabric trim along with microsuede inserts, plus red seatbelts and Edition 50 badges. But the seats themselves are standard GTI pews. The twin-screen layout is standard fit, and comes with customisation options. 

VW has not yet said how many it intends to build or what the price premium over the GTI will be. However, we do know that the first RHD deliveries are due early in 2026.