Most powerful Golf GTI yet marks model’s golden jubilee – and becomes fastest VW at the Nürburgring
The new Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 will cost £47,995 in the UK, making it the most expensive iteration of the brand’s stalwart hot hatch yet – and costlier than the four-wheel-drive Golf R.
It is the most powerful and “the most dynamically adept” in the model’s 50-year history.
The special hot hatch was unveiled last year as part of the golden jubilee celebrations for the GTI badge, first introduced in 1975.
It builds on the existing Mk8.5 car but uses a more powerful iteration of VW’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder EA888 petrol engine, which now delivers 321bhp and 310lb ft.
That represents a 60bhp and 37lb ft hike over the standard Golf GTI and a 25bhp and 15lb ft increase over the more track-focused GTI Clubsport. While the four-wheel-drive Golf R 20 Years retains a small power advantage, at 328bhp, the special GTI matches that car’s torque output.
The extra reserves help the Edition 50 improve on the GTI Clubsport’s straight-line performance, with 0-62mph taking 5.5sec (down 0.1sec) and 0-124mph in 16.9sec (down 0.4sec). This brings it closer to rivals such as the Honda Civic Type R (0-62mph in 5.4sec). Top speed is again limited to 168mph.
However, engineers behind the project insist the focus wasn’t on raw output. “It is also the most capable on the track,” said chassis development boss Lars Frömmig. “Performance is about much more than just power.”
The foundation for the Edition 50’s chassis revisions is a reworked version of the GTI’s standard MacPherson-strut front and multi-link rear suspension, which is now 20mm lower than the GTI and 5mm lower than the GTI Clubsport.
Key changes include revised spring and damper rates and significantly increased negative front camber, which is now around −2.0deg. This is achieved through stiffer upper suspension mounts, modified wheel carriers and uprated bushings in the lower control arms.
At the rear, the Edition 50 reintroduces a twin-attachment track rod – reminiscent of the Mk7 GTI – and new wheel carrier geometry for greater lateral stiffness and toe stability under load, particularly in fast direction changes.
VW has also recalibrated the electromechanical steering, DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control) and VDM (Vehicle Dynamics Manager) to suit the Edition 50’s more aggressive hardware set-up.
Complementing the chassis upgrades are 235/35 R19 Bridgestone Potenza Race semislick tyres, developed specifically for this car. They are 1.2kg lighter per tyre than previous-generation Potenza Races and paired with 19in forged aluminium Warmenau wheels.
The tyre and wheel combination alone is said to reduce unsprung mass by more than 2kg per corner compared with the Clubsport’s cast wheels and standard rubber – a key factor in improving steering response, says Frömmig. A further 11kg can be shed with the optional Akrapovic titanium exhaust system.
Beyond weight, the semi-slicks improve grip in both dry and wet conditions and increase sidewall stiffness for better support under load – all aimed at greater lap-time consistency and real-world drivability.
According to Frömmig, the Edition 50 turns in more decisively and offers significantly greater body control than the existing GTI variants. He said: “There’s less roll and a more progressive build-up of lateral force. We’re absolutely serious about performance in this car.”
The Edition 50 has already made its mark with a 7min 46.13sec lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife – the fastest time recorded by any production VW, including the four-wheel-drive Golf R 20 Years.
It retains the same exterior styling as the GTI Clubsport but with subtle giveaways such as black graphics on the lower parts of the doors, red wheels, ‘50’ stickers on the roof spoiler and black tailpipes.
