Three crazy VW Golf GTI concept cars

The venerable Golf GTI turns 50 this year, which is quite a milestone for a single model. Two and a half million Golf GTIs have been sold worldwide since the mid-1970s, an impressive feat for a car with a sporting bent. There have been ‘regular’ GTIs and many special editions over the decades. However, there are some that are a bit more special than others, such as these Golf GTI concept cars. Each is a one-off that was created as a celebration of the famous three-letter moniker.

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The very first (Mk1) Golf GTI was not part of VW’s plan for the Beetle replacement. But a small, internal ‘skunkworks’ saw the benefit of a compact, nimble car with a powerful engine. As a result, the ‘Sport’ Golf was born in secret. When finally ready to present to the bosses, management liked the idea and greenlighted a limited production run. So, in a way, the GTI was born from a concept. These Golf GTI concept cars continue that rule-breaking ethos.

Click here to learn about some of the rarest VW Golfs to go on sale in SA.

Golf GTI W12-650

In 2007 VW produced one of the wildest cars to ever wear the famous letters. The company presented the GTI W12-650 at the annual Wörthersee gathering. No Golf ever made by the automaker before had been more powerful, wider or faster. The starting point was a Mk5 GTI whose body had been massively modified, most notably across its rear axle. The Mk5 shell was widened by 160 mm, and the ride height was lowered by 70 mm.

VW went shopping in the family parts bin and liberated a W12 engine from a Bentley. The twin-turbo unit was slotted between the rear wheels transforming the GTI into a mid-engine sportscar. A six-speed automatic gearbox transmitted 750 N.m of torque to the rear axle. VW said the GTI could sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3,7 seconds. Extensive aero tuning helped the Golf GTI W12-650 to reach a whopping 325 km/h.

Fast Facts:

Engine: 6,0-litre twin-turbo W12
Output: 477 kW and 750 N.m
Drivetrain: rear-wheel drive, six-speed automatic transmission
0 to 100 km/h: 3,7 seconds
Top speed: 325 km/h

Click through to Volkswagen South Africa’s homepage to learn more about the latest VW Golf GTI.

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Design Vision GTI

A few years later the company’s engineers developed a Golf GTI concept with motorsport roots, called the Design Vision GTI. This concept car was based on the Golf 7 GTI. VW shortened and lowered the body, widening it by 71 mm over the donor car. This special machine had visually striking C-pillars that stretched all the way into the side sills. In addition it rode on a set of custom 20-inch centre-lock wheels. The latter shrouded carbon-ceramic brakes at all four corners.

Golf GTI Roadster ‘Vision Gran Turismo’

The GTI Roadster ‘Vision Gran Turismo’ was a one-off that was created, initially, for the digital realm. It was supposed to be purely for the famous Sony PlayStation3 racing game Gran Turismo, or GT6 to be more specific. But the response to the digital version was so positive that VW decided to turn the virtual into real.

The rakish concept car featured an open-top design and a large fixed rear wing. In addition it boasted a set of scissor doors for added drama. The roadster was powered by the same 3,0-litre V6 as the (white) car above. In addition it had the same driveline with an automated transmission and all-wheel drive. A kerb mass of 1 420 kg meant that it sprints from rest to 100 km/h in 3,6 seconds. Top speed was quoted as 309 km/h.

Fast Facts:

Engine: 3,0-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 370 kW
Drivetrain: all-wheel drive, DSG
0 to 100 km/h: 3,6 seconds
Top speed: 309 km/h