Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 available to order in Europe

To commemorate 50 years since the first Golf GTI model was launched, Volkswagen has opened the European order books for its new Golf GTI Edition 50 model, with deliveries set to arrive in Q1 2026.

Heralded as the fastest and most powerful GTI production model to date, the GTI Edition 50 is equipped with a 2.0-litre engine that delivers an output of 321bhp and 420Nm of torque. A MacPherson front axle and a four-link rear axle form the basic layout of the chassis. Overall, the anniversary model is 15mm lower than a classic Golf, with its standard variant already featuring DCC adaptive suspension control on 19-inch alloy wheels.

The GTI 50 logo can be found in places like its rear spoilers and door sills

A sportier upgrade is also available with the optional GTI Performance package. This includes 235mm Potenza Race semi-slicks from Bridgestone on 19-inch forged wheels, a lightweight R-Performance exhaust system with rear silencers in titanium, and a new Performance chassis lowered by another five millimetres. This package also makes the GTI Edition 50 up to around 30kg lighter.

The anniversary model features numerous exclusive design highlights, such as the check-patterned sporty seats with dark green details and red seat belts, the multifunction leather sports steering wheel with 50 Years GTI badge, and integrated shift paddles for the seven-speed DSG.

On the exterior, the GTI 50 logo is placed on the roof spoiler and the insides of the exterior mirrors. Other exclusive features include special trim on the door sills, a roof with black paintwork, black exterior mirror housings and black tailpipe trims on the exhaust system, and a side stripe on the side members with a colour gradient from Black to Tornado Red.

Five exterior colours are available on the GTI Edition 50: Pure White, Moonstone Grey, Grenadilla Black metallic, and - exclusively for the anniversary model - Dark Moss Green metallic and Tornado Red.