VW GTI fortieth Anniversary Version provides a hot-hatch hurrah

The 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI will get a fortieth Anniversary Version with particular styling parts and a restricted manufacturing run of 1,500 models.

Whereas the GTI launched in Europe in 1976, this particular version celebrates the new hatchback’s 1983 North American launch because the Rabbit GTI. The hole between launches was so nice that the primary 12 months of the GTI in North America was additionally the final for the unique GTI Mk I in Europe. A Mk II model launched there the next 12 months, and within the U.S. in 1985.

The GTI fortieth Anniversary Version sports activities “40” decals, an illuminated grille, and gloss black 19-inch wheels from the European-market GTI Clubsport 45 mannequin, shod with summer time tires. VW is providing 4 exterior coloration decisions: Twister Purple, Opal White Pearl, Pomelo Yellow Metallic, and Urano Gray (which is exclusive to the Anniversary Version).

On the within, the particular version has a “40” badge for the steering wheel, Scalepaper Plaid fabric seats, and the standard GTI golf ball shift knob.

Mechanical bits are the identical as some other GTI, together with a 2.0-liter turbo-4 engine making 241 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. It drives the entrance wheels via 6-speed handbook or 7-speed dual-clutch transmissions.

The GTI was redesigned for the 2022 mannequin 12 months, transferring to the Mk VIII Golf platform and gaining options like commonplace adaptive damping and an elaborate Digital Cockpit interface with a ten.3-inch digital instrument cluster and touchpad controls on the steering wheel.

Pricing begins at $34,150 with the handbook transmission and $34,950 with the dual-clutch gearbox, each together with vacation spot. These are will increase of $3,025 for the handbook and $2,525 for the dual-clutch transmission over the bottom GTI S, however VW stated it intends the fortieth Anniversary Version to fit between the S and the SE trim ranges.

The GTI fortieth Anniversary Version is not the one special-edition VW sizzling hatch for the 2023 mannequin 12 months. VW can also be promoting a Golf R twentieth Anniversary Version to mark 20 years of all-wheel-drive sizzling hatches. It will get carbon-fiber inside trim and a sunroof delete to decrease the middle of gravity, and it is going to be restricted to a manufacturing run of 1,800 models.