Volkswagen Golf GTI lineage

  • Oct 6, 2011
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Over three decades ago the Volkswagen Golf kicked off the hot hatchback revolution. Ever since, a lot of car manufacturers have brought out performance hatchbacks but none of them have managed to capture the essence that makes up the Golf GTI. Here is our compilation of the lineage of the iconic Volkswagen Golf GTI

The original Golf GTI was launched in 1977 and it went on to become a phenomenon. For starters it was faster than most sports cars of its time. It was a basic small hatchback powered by a powerful engine for its time and combined to its low kerb weight the car became an instant favourite of the petrolhead. As a hatchback the Golf GTI was a very practical car, it could seat five people in comfort so it served the purpose of a family car, it had a spacious boot for all your shopping and if the rear seat was folded down there was enough space to carry some very large items. The Golf GTI had combined real world practicality with real world performance, a recipe that has been savoured by husbands, fathers and bachelors alike for thirty four years now.

 

                                                                                                                                Golf GTI Mk I


Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk I (1977-1984)

 

The original GTI was launched with a 1.6 litre in line four cylinder engine which delivered 108 bhp. It went from 0-100 km/h in 9.0 seconds (which is faster than most passenger cars today in India) and went onto a top speed of 180 km/h.

In 1982 the Mk I Golf GTI was given a bigger 1.8 litre engine that developed 110 bhp. The car had the same top speed of 180 km/h but the 0-100 km/h time fell to 8.2 seconds. In its lifespan the Mk I Golf GTI registered sales of 17,039 units in the UK.

 

                                                                                                                                 Golf GTI Mk II


Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk II (1984-1992)

 

The second generation Golf GTI was launched with the 1.8 litre four cylinder engine from the Mk I. It now had 8 valves in total but produced the same 110 bhp, the top speed went up to 190 km/h while the 0-100 km/h time also went up to 8.3 seconds. Two years later in 1986 the 1.8 litre engine in the Mk II Golf GTI was given 16 valves and tuned to deliver 137 bhp. The result was a 0-100 km/h in 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 208 km/h. In 1991 a limited production run Golf GTI was produced with the same 1.8 litre engine but power was upped to 207 bhp. 0-100 km/h was dealt with in 7.4 seconds and top speed was restricted by the laws of physics to 229 km/h.

 

                                                                                                                                 Golf GTI Mk III


Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk III (1992-1998)

 

The Mk III Golf GTI was the one that got fat. While it was given a 2.0 liter engine, it only developed 113 bhp. The 0-100 km/h time at 10.1 seconds was mediocre performance and the top speed of 197 km/h was slower than the car it replaced. In 1992 the Golf GTI recorded its 100,000 unit sales in the UK.

Then in 1993 a pumped up Mk III GTI was launched with a 2.0 litre 16 valve engine that churned out 148 bhp. 0-100 km/h was dealt with in 8.3 seconds and had a top speed of 214 km/h. In 1994 Anti-Lock Braking system was made standard on the Golf GTI.

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                                                                                                                          Golf GTI Mk IV


Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk IV (1998-2004)

 

The Mk IV Golf GTI was launched with two engines. There was a 1.8 litre naturally aspirated unit that developed 123 bhp and a turbocharged 1.8 litre engine that developed 148 bhp. The naturally aspirated unit had a top speed of 200 km/h and the turbocharged unit could take the car up to 214 km/h. 0-100 km/h was dealt with in 9.9 seconds for the naturally aspirated unit and 8.5 seconds for the turbo charged unit.

By 1999 150,000 units of the Golf GTI were sold in the UK. In 1999 the 2.0 litre unit developing 113 bhp from the Mk III GTI was put in the Mk IV.

In 2001 the first ever diesel Golf GTI was born. The car came with a 1.5 litre engine developing 148 bhp. It had a top speed of 214 km/h and went from 0-100 km/h in 8.6 seconds.

In 2002 the 25 year anniversary of the Golf GTI was celebrated with anniversary editions of the diesel Golf GTI and petrol Golf GTI. There was a 1.8 litre turbocharged petrol Golf GTI which churned out 178 bhp. It had a top speed of 220 km/h while 0-100 km/h was dealt with in 7.9 seconds. The diesel Golf GTI had a 1.9 litre engine developing 148 bhp. It went from 0-100 km/h in 8.6 seconds and onwards to atop speed of 214 km/h.

 

                                                                                                                          Golf GTI Mk V


Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk V (2005-2008)

 

The Mk V Golf GTI was the first Golf GTI ever to come with an optional DSG twin clutch automatic gearbox. It came with a 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol engine. The manual GTI could do 0-100 km/h in 7.2 seconds and the DSG equipped GTI could do 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds.

In 2005 the Golf GTI recorded 200,000 unit sales since its launch in the UK.

The 30th anniversary of the Golf GTI was celebrated in 2007 with the same 2.0 litre turbocharged unit that developed 226 bhp. The car could do 0-100 km/h in 6.8 seconds, it had a top speed of 243 km/h.

 

                                                                                                                                  Golf GTI Mk VI


Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk VI (2009 onwards)

 

The Mk VI Golf GTI has the same 2.0 turbocharged petrol engine from the Mk V. It churns out 210 bhp, has a top speed of 237 km/h and goes from 0-100 km/h in 7.2 seconds. The Mk VI Golf GTI comes with a limited slip differential which helps it go around corners at higher speeds and features Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC) which aids high speed handling.

 

In its thirty four year life span the Volkswagen Golf GTI has had its ups and downs in terms of performance. Real world performance and practicality have made the Golf GTI a favourite amongst enthusiastic drivers. All Golf GTIs over the years have had excellent levels of practicality, performance levels have varied but in the world of hot hatchbacks with its special editions Volkswagen have ensured that the Golf GTI always remains the daddy.

 

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