Volkswagen is gearing up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its iconic Golf GTI in 2026, marking the milestone with a series of classic car events, a record-setting anniversary edition, and the launch of the brand’s first fully electric GTI. Since its debut in 1976 with 81 kW (110 PS), the Golf GTI has sold over 2.5 million units worldwide, earning its reputation as the world’s most successful compact sports car.
The special Golf GTI EDITION 50 delivers an impressive 239 kW (325 PS), making it the most powerful production GTI ever, and is already available for pre-order in select European markets, with deliveries planned for 2026.
Volkswagen is also expanding the GTI lineup into the electric era with the ID. Polo GTI, set to launch next year with 166 kW (226 PS), applying the classic GTI philosophy to an EV for the first time.
The original Golf GTI was intended as a limited run of just 5,000 units, but demand far exceeded expectations, with ten times that number sold in its first year. Priced at 13,850 Deutschmarks in Germany, the first-generation GTI could reach a top speed of 182 km/h and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.0 seconds. In total, 461,690 first-generation units were produced.
Anniversary celebrations will kick off at Rétromobile in Paris from 28 January to 1 February and at the Bremen Classic Motorshow from 30 January to 2 February, signaling the start of Europe’s classic car season and honoring half a century of GTI heritage.
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