Wednesday 11th May 2011

VW Reveals Golf GTI Edition 35

Volkswagen marks GTI's 35th birthday with most powerful production Golf GTI ever

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Volkswagen is to celebrate the 35th anniversary of its Golf GTI with this, the Golf GTI Edition 35.

For human beings, 35 is not generally a birthday that is approached with relish but, although the Golf GTI has got a bit chunkier with age, it's still a pretty fine hot hatch and so 35 years is certainly a marker worth celebrating.

VW is doing this by lobbing an extra 25ps at the engine, giving it 235ps (or 232bhp in 'real' money) and thus making it the most powerful production Golf GTI to date

In addition to the extra power, the Golf GTI Edition 35 also gets a selection of extra 'classic' GTI design elements, as well as a few bits and bobs specifically created for the latest anniversary model.

There's a revised front bumper and lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels on the outside, while the cabin gets treated to the return of the famous 'golf ball' gearknob.

The Edition 35 also gets the usual special edition cosmetic tweaks, in this case a '35' signature on the front wings, sill plates, head restraints and on the centre panel of the seats.

This latest anniversary model will make its world debut at the GTI event at Wörthersee in Austria at the beginning of June.

Order books open for the Golf GTI Edition 35 in the UK later this year, but prices and full UK specification are yet to be announced.

 

 

 

[drewbagz]

Have had a 25th Annie and an Edition 30 before now i have been anticipating the Edition 35 for some time and would be rude to buck the trend, however, with the R now running in essence the same engine, the appeal to go for the Edition 35 has diminshed somewhat and am now torn between getting a year old R for the same money or getting a new 35?

The benefits for the R now vastly out weigh in my view getting the edition 35, as both my annie and edition 30 i had re-mapped by VWR to give them comparable performace to the previous R32's given that the turbo engines are 'beefed' up a bit to slot nicely between the GTI and the R32's all be it in FWD rather then 4WD. But now you can do this with the R.....

If your a purest you go for the R because VAG have already done the hard work, and if you like to fettle with things you, well you go for the R now don't you.

Think i just answered my own question.

[powwerr]

So Mr Salesman, Why should i buy this 35 Edition instead of the R over there?


Em, well........em.......One has fwd and the other is awd?

[zcacogp]

Somehow it feels as if VW are flogging a very old horse with the "Xth aniversary" models of the GTi.

The point about the GTi was that it was totally new, and utterly unlike any genre of car seen before when it was launched. And simply brilliant compared with anything else at that price point. What VW should be doing is finding the next earth-shattering thing, not resting on the faded laurels of 35 years ago.

(And that's from a BIG Golf GTi fan.)


Oli.

[300bhp/ton]

I don't know what it is (maybe its irrational ) but these cars just fail to pucker my interest. It just looks so dull.

Part of me would like to like them, but then there's part of me that is glad I don't

[Chicane-UK]

[LuS1fer]

I prefer the Mini 35 and it's notable the Mini made it to 35 true to its roots (for better or worse...) while the Golf is on its 6th reinvention.


235ps is not to be sneezed at but I for one would prefer something special at that price point.

[FWDRacer]

When you look at how brash the competition has become, the Golf is a more subtle and very creditable alternative. This package only makes it more desirable - it is a class act. Residual values on these Ltd Ed Golfs may be another selling point - has been historically.

The alternatives - New amorphous Ford ST, or Megane blob or a VXR which has all the wrong associations, innit.

[Motorrad]

Special edition bks just like the earlier MKIII and MKIV and MKV edition/anniversary cars. VW sure know how to charge for next to nothing.

[Fish]

Scirrocoo R

[LuS1fer]

Also worth noting that in the US on cars like the Vette, Camaro and Mustang, they get anniversary badges and upgrades for free, just marks the event.

[Nuclear_Tom]

If I was in the market for a new hot hatch, this would be top of the list (albeit in 5 door!).

I love the wheels and seats, the extra poke would be handy too.

I do agree with the previous comments though.

[Garlick]

Ah, a new Golf. Looks a bit like a norm.................

[George H]

So I'm guessing it will be manual only on this with the return of the golf ball gearstick?

Think I will take a standard GTI with DSG instead. The standard Monza alloys look better too imo.

[LuS1fer]

FWDRacer said:

When you look at how brash the competition has become, the Golf is a more subtle and very creditable alternative. This package only makes it more desirable - it is a class act. Residual values on these Ltd Ed Golfs may be another selling point - has been historically.

The alternatives - New amorphous Ford ST, or Megane blob or a VXR which has all the wrong associations, innit.

Are you seriously suggesting it's that different?

[Colonial]

Not a fan.

The R offers so much more.

[drewbagz]

George H said:

So I'm guessing it will be manual only on this with the return of the golf ball gearstick?

Think I will take a standard GTI with DSG instead. The standard Monza alloys look better too imo.

No the Edition 30 was available with both manual and DSG, both had the golf ball gear knob, only the DSG was a little less gold ball like;

[McGtfour]

I think it looks good and after my encouter with an 11 plate Golf GTi that to my horror came past me quite easily the other day whilst having a 'sprited' drive out i'm liking them even more!

I know I don't have a 500bhp flame spitting monster but I really wasn't expecting that!

[aka_kerrly]

Looks good and colour really suits it but maybe there could be a few more visual signs that it is a bit more than a GTI. I guess then the issue is if VW do like Ford did with the Focus ST/RS and go for a wilder bodykit and lairy colours the cars develop an association with council scum and people with poor taste.

I agree with others that this may cause a bit of a problem with Golf R sales as some people maybe under the impression the Edition 35 is even more special/limited than the Golf R. Certainly if the residuals of the previous limited editions golfs are to go by these will make good private purchases.

Garlick said:

Ah, a new Golf. Looks a bit like a norm.................

I do hope there is a element of tongue & cheek as the VW bashing on this forum is downright pathetic at times to the extent that people think they will get PH brownie points to come up with pointless comments.

If a new golf is no interest then why bother to open the topic let alone annoy those who are interested with uninteresting unfunny waffle (note that is not directed just at Garlick)

[Garlick]

aka_kerrly said:

I do hope there is a element of tongue & cheek as the VW bashing on this forum is downright pathetic at times to the extent that people think they will get PH brownie points to come up with pointless comments.

If a new golf is no interest then why bother to open the topic let alone annoy those who are interested with uninteresting unfunny waffle (note that is not directed just at Garlick)

I like a VW product, but I think this suffers from terminal dullness in an age where cars don't have to be dull. I'll take an R over it, but ideally I'd be in a Phaeton

This 'special' edition just doesn't do it for me, and I can't pretend it does.

[300bhp/ton]

drewbagz said:

George H said:

So I'm guessing it will be manual only on this with the return of the golf ball gearstick?

Think I will take a standard GTI with DSG instead. The standard Monza alloys look better too imo.

No the Edition 30 was available with both manual and DSG, both had the golf ball gear knob, only the DSG was a little less gold ball like;

Wow, how cheap, tacky, nasty and shiny do those plastics look