In 1983, Volkswagen introduced a sporty variant of its little Rabbit economy hatchback under the GTI moniker. Volkswagen said it stood for Grand Touring Injection. Few American consumers stopped to ask what a tiny economy car with firmer suspension than normal and 90 horsepower (16 more than the regular bunny) had to do with exotic European grand touring cars.
They were too delighted because it was fun to drive.
Volkswagen celebrates the 40th anniversary of its sporty little GTI in 2023 (at least in the U.S). To mark the occasion, the company has revealed a special GTI 40th Anniversary Edition.
Handling Improvements
The 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI 40th Anniversary Edition goes on sale mid-model year, with a starting price of $33,055 for manual transmission models and $33,855 for automatic transmission models. Volkswagen also charges a mandatory destination fee of $1,095 on all Golf models.
These days, the Rabbit is long gone. The GTI moniker fits on the Golf, and the car is significantly more refined than that Reagan-era 2-door. In 40th birthday form, it features a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making 241 horsepower. It comes mated to either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic transmission.
DCC active dampers, speed-sensitive steering, and performance summer tires all conspire to make it handle better than the Golf GTI S it’s based on.
Unique Look
It’s available in Tornado Red or Urano Grey, both exclusive to the 40th Anniversary Edition, or white and yellow shades, also available on the base Golf. All four options come with a black roof and mirror caps, along with special 40th-anniversary badges and a honeycomb-pattern stripe low on the doors.
Inside, plaid upholstery and red contrast-color stitching dress up the look, while a 40th-anniversary badge sits at the bottom of the flat-bottom steering wheel. Manual-equipped models get what VW calls “a golf-ball-inspired manual shift knob.”
The automaker plans to build “approximately 1,500 units.”
