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Six generations introduced in Golf GTI’s 33 year history 

Dubai, 29 September 2009 - The Golf GTI is a phenomenon, a brand within the Volkswagen brand, an automobile world view and an unmistakable design statement that has now attained sales of 1.7 million units. It is an original among sporty compacts.
With the first generation of the Golf GTI, Volkswagen presented a Golf of the purely sporty type. Launched in the Middle East in 2009, the sixth Golf GTI brought back this legend more powerfully and even sharper and more confident than all of the others before it. The new GTI whose chassis systems – with standard electronic transverse differential lock (XDS) – redefines behaviour in curves and traction. A 240 km/h fast GTI that is more fun to drive with its powerful 155 kW / 210 hp turbo engine and yet only consumes 7.3 litres super unleaded (0.7 l/100 km improvement). 

Let us fade back to 1973 when Volkswagen launched a very sporty version of the Beetle. The "Yellow and Black Racer”, as it was called, differed from the normal Beetle in that it had a black hood and engine cover, slightly wider tires (5.5 instead of 5 inches), sport seats with head restraints and a proper leather steering wheel. Technically, it was still the same old Beetle with 1,600cc, 50 hp, no more. Despite its relatively modest output, this "aggressive model from Volkswagen" even caused a stir in the German parliament.
Yet, to the dismay of a few insider experts it was popular among the public. This fast looking Beetle model sold out in no time at all, and this paved the way for a two-year project in Wolfsburg that – even within the company – only a handful of people would know about.

On 18 March 1973, memorable from today’s perspective, an internal memo was written to a few colleagues from the Research & Development department, that Volkswagen should consider putting together a proper sports model. After all, a new vehicle with the project code EA 337 (the internal code name for the future Golf) had reached the final stages of development – and a modern front-wheel car with high-performance would open up a completely new group of customers for Volkswagen.
At first, only Chassis Specialist Herbert Horntrich and Development Chief Hermann Hablitzel were at least somewhat receptive to the idea. However, other like-minded colleagues such as Anton Konrad, Volkswagen’s PR director at the time were particularly taken with the idea. Konrad, who had been Manager of the Formula V association for many years, was also aware, however, that the seedling called sportiness needed to be cultivated with extreme discretion within the company. The high development costs for the new model that would be launched as the Golf in 1974 had already put a strain on the company’s finances.
Konrad invited the secret developers of this "Sport Golf" work group to meet at his home. Taking a Scirocco prototype with a rock-hard chassis, they lowered the suspension dramatically, souped up the basic 85 hp 1.5-litre Scirocco engine to about 100 hp with a two-stage carburetor and crowned it with an exhaust pipe that resembled a stove pipe and sounded like one too.

Today, Konrad remembers the car as "a roaring monster". The secret team soon agreed that this was not what they wanted. The Sport Golf should have a sporty image, but it should be civil in a more reasonable version. The result was not quite as ferocious, but it was still quite fast. The whole undercover group felt much better about this new model but Development Chief Professor at Volkswagen was informed about the sporty car, who reported briefly and succinctly: "It’s far too expensive, you’re all mad."
However, the secret team would not be deterred. The prototype based on the Scirocco was officially declared a chassis test platform, but its development continued unofficially. The engine was fine tuned, while the chassis was configured for the proposed beefy tires, 205/60 HR 13 would be the tire size.

Not surprisingly, the "chassis test platform" caused a great stir when Hablitzel & Co. demonstrated their latest projects to Volkswagen management in Spring 1975. Even Development Chief Professor was now taken by the Sport Golf in a Scirocco outfit – and he gave his approval. At the end of May, an official vehicle proposal was sent to the development department: A sporty version of the Golf is needed.

At the same time, sales sensed the good market opportunities for a sporty Golf, and Volkswagen still needed a crowd pleaser for the upcoming International Motor Show in Frankfurt. The project suddenly acquired momentum from all quarters. Six prototypes with different configurations were created, ranging from a speedster trimmed for maximum sports car performance to a modestly understated version. All the fine details would set the future GTI apart from its less powerful rivals. The red stripe on the radiator grille, for example, and the larger front spoiler, modest plastic wheel well extensions, matte black frame on the rear window, black roofliner, golf ball knob on the gearshift lever and checked pattern of the seat covers.

Immediately chassis development was declared a top priority. To cut costs, the width of the wheels was reduced from 6.0 to 5.5 inches and the tire size shrunk to 175/70 HR 13. However, also stabilizers were added for the front and rear axles and a spring/damper configuration was developed, that provided a perfect synthesis of comfort and sportiness. An ultra-modern 1.6-litre fuel-injected engine delivering 110 hp was also produced.

The former undercover team finished its work right on schedule. When the 46th Frankfurt International Motor Show opened its gates to the public on 11 September 1975, a red wonder celebrated its debut at the Volkswagen booth: the Golf GTI concept car. "The fastest Volkswagen ever" boasted the advertisement – and that was no exaggeration. The GTI accelerated from a zero to 100 km/h in about nine seconds, leaving considerably larger and more expensive cars behind. The cautiously announced price was still at least less than its key German rival. As a result, car show visitors were so enthusiastic about the car that company management had no other choice than to build a special series of 5,000 cars.

The GTI was eventually launched in mid-1976. Despite the higher price, dealers still managed to sell ten times the planned sales volume in its first year on the market. And that came as no surprise: "Climbing an Alpine pass in the GTI – this is one of the most exciting driving tasks that a car enthusiast can have" is how the German automotive magazine "auto motor und sport" extolled the GTI. That sums it up, even 33 years later.