Golf GTI and Golf GTI Clubsport

It will be a race weekend all about the three legendary red letters: Volkswagen is celebrating 50 years of the GTI at the 24h Nürburgring (14-17 May 2026) – marking half a century of driving pleasure and motorsport passion. At the same time, the Volkswagen brand is opening a new chapter in the anniversary year and will unveil the new ID. Polo GTI in the unique atmosphere at the Nürburgring on Friday. For the first time, an all-electric model will bear the renowned GTI badge. However, the world premiere is just one highlight of this special GTI weekend: just one day later, three Golf GTI Clubsport 24h cars will compete in the world-famous endurance race.

The Golf GTI is the compact athlete for all situations in life. With more than 2.5 million units produced, it is a true success model. To kick off the anniversary year, Volkswagen is presenting two vehicles from the first generation at the Bremen Classic Motorshow: a Mars Red Golf I GTI from 1979 and a Brilliant Black Golf I GTI from 1983 in the original rally patina.

It is the world’s most successful compact sports car: the Golf GTI. The original in its class. More than 2.5 million units have been produced to date. In 2026, the Golf GTI will turn 50 – and this will be celebrated with a variety of national and international classic events, the exclusive anniversary model Golf GTI EDITION 50, and the world premiere of the first all-electric GTI.

GTI anniversary. A tribute to the first Golf GTI of 1976: the new Golf GTI EDITION 50. The anniversary model marks another milestone in the 50-year history of the successful compact sports car. In fact, with an output of 239 kW (325 PS), the Golf GTI EDITION 50 is the most powerful of all the Golf GTI models from series production to date. A maximum speed of 270 km/h also makes it the fastest production model of the Volkswagen brand. Only the Golf R also achieves this speed with an optional R-Performance package. Pre-sales for the Golf GTI EDITION 50 have already started. The anniversary GTI is available alongside the classic Golf GTI with 195 kW (265 PS) and the Golf GTI Clubsport with 221 kW (300 PS).

GTI – the next chapter. It has the world’s largest fan base of all compact sports cars and is regarded as the original in its class: the Golf GTI is the ultimate icon, with well over 2.3 million units sold. A new evolutionary stage of this vehicle is now being launched. The output of the Golf GTI has increased from 180 kW (245 PS) to 195 kW (265 PS). Pre-sales will get underway in Europe on 14 May. The next GTI highlight will follow just a few days later with the world premiere of the new Golf GTI Clubsport at the Nürburgring – as part of the legendary 24-hour race. This represents the start of a true GTI weekend: on 1 June, Volkswagen will unveil the 221 kW (300 PS) Golf GTI Clubsport in front of thousands of visitors, who will then be able to take a closer look at the top-of-the-range GTI model on the ‘Nürburgring Boulevard’. The world premiere is taking place to coincide with the celebration of the Golf’s 50th birthday (launched in 1974). To help mark the occasion, three classic Golf vehicles will be taking part in the ADAC 24h Classic (3-hour race) on 2 June just before the main race. And that’s not all. A truly unique Golf will then take part in the 24-hour race: the Golf GTI Clubsport 24h, which boasts an output of 256 kW (348 PS). This race car was originally designed by Volkswagen Motorsport and has now been taken to the next level. As a tribute to half a century of Golf, the race organisers have given it the start number 50. Volkswagen says thank you!

Volkswagen is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Golf. Series production of the bestseller started in Wolfsburg in March 1974. More than 37 million units have followed that first Golf to date. Purely in mathematical terms, this means that over 2,000 people around the world have opted to buy a new Golf every single day over the last 50 years. This makes the compact icon the most successful European car and the best-selling Volkswagen model of all time. Volkswagen is now presenting the latest stage in the Golf’s evolution with a world premiere, featuring a new infotainment system that has been developed from scratch and a next-generation plug-in hybrid drive. The best Golf of the last 50 years will arrive in dealerships this spring.