Volkswagen Golf GTI. The forefather of the entire hot hatch family
At the beginning of 2020, the eighth generation of the car was released.
The Volkswagen Golf GTI is a sports version of the Volkswagen Golf, the popular German C-class car. Produced from 1976 to the present. In 2020, the seventh generation Golf GTI was available on the Israeli market after the 2017/2018 facelift.
If the Golf was named ‘World Car of the Year,’ the Golf GTI received the title of one of the best cars from ‘Sports Car International’ magazine. If Golf became the ancestor of the car class of the same name, then the Golf GTI became the founder of the hot hatch class. By the way, GTI means Grand Turismo Injection. And indeed, you can’t imagine a better car for long trips within this class!
First generation
The first generation of Volkswagen Golf GTI was produced from 1976 to 1984. The first GTI was equipped with a 1.6-liter power unit with fuel injection system K-Jetronic, which produced 110 hp. The car with such an engine accelerates to 183 km/h, and acceleration to 100 km/h occurs in 9 seconds. For the end of the 70s, it was awesome! At the same time, the first Golf GTI had the price tag of a small car and dynamics of a sports coupe. The sporty GTI differed from standard Golf in exterior – dark window frames, seats, and steering wheel in a sporty style and wider plastic wheel covers.
Second generation
The second generation of Volkswagen Golf GTI was produced from 1984 to 1991. The second GTI got a new, more powerful engine, but the increased weight worsened the acceleration dynamics. Now the acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h GTI 2 reached in 9.7 seconds. Although at the same time, top speed became higher – up to 186 km/h. In 1989, based on GTI, a modification of the G60 was released, equipped with a 160-hp engine. The last year of production was marked by the release of the millionth version of the GTI.
Third generation
The third generation of Golf GTI, produced from 1991 to 1998, didn’t show outstanding speed performance at first. The 2-liter engine produced only 115 hp. After a couple of years, the transition to a 16-valve scheme allowed increasing the output to 150 hp. Third Golf GTI with this engine reached 215 km/h and could accelerate to 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds.
Fourth generation
The fourth generation of Golf GTI, produced from 1998 to 2004, was a sporty version of the standard Golf. The fourth Golf GTI was equipped with different engines, including a diesel one. If the engine was 150-hp, then the GTI 4 took 8 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h and could reach 216 km/h.
The Golf GTI received the title of one of the best cars from the international magazine ‘Sports Car International’ and became the pioneer of the hot hatch class.
Fifth generation
The fifth generation of Golf GTI was produced from 2004 to 2008. The fifth GTI made a furor! The Golf GTI 5 was built on a new chassis with a rear multi-link and got a 2-liter turbocharged engine of the EA113 family, which reached 200 hp and could accelerate to 235 km/h.
Sixth generation
The sixth generation of Golf GTI was produced from 2008 to 2016. The sixth GTI was equipped with a 210-hp engine with a turbocharger and direct fuel injection, developed by Audi. The top speed is 238 km/h. In the sixth generation, the Golf GTI sports cabriolet has appeared. By the time production of the sixth generation ended, 1.9 million of GTI Golfs had been produced.
Seventh generation
The seventh generation of Golf GTI, produced in 2013, went through a facelifting in 2017. It is available in Israel in 2020 as a front-wheel drive hatchback. The new Golf 2017/2018 comes to Israel with a 2-liter turbocharged gasoline engine reaching 245 hp. The hot hatch’s top speed is 250 km/h and is limited by automatic electronics. It accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds. Very fast car!
The basic equipment of the Golf GTI 2019/2020 includes a panoramic roof, LED headlights, and R18 alloy wheels. There are a lot of electronic assistance systems, including a driver fatigue sensor, lane-keeping aid, traffic collision avoidance system, 5 airbags, backup camera, and adaptive cruise control. It makes the new Golf GTI hatchback safe to drive. Also, tinted glass, dual-zone climate control, leather salon, and electrically folding mirrors, start/stop system that saves fuel, an adaptive lighting system, and even heated front seats for our winters make it comfortable.
