Volkswagen Shows off Three Past GTI Concepts for GTI 50th Anniversary

The first Golf GTI (initially called the Rabbit GTI in the U.S.) debuted as a 1976 model, and simple math shows that the GTI is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. That celebration is likely to take many forms, including the promised Golf GTI Edition 5001 model. One of the first ways VW is recognizing the anniversary is by bringing back three GTI concept vehicles it has created over the years. Bud Brown Volkswagen invites you to revisit these concepts with us.  

2013 Golf Design Vision GTI Concept 

Two of these models are quite radical departures from the GTI formula, so we will start with the most recent and familiar one. The Design Vision GTI, as well as the other two concepts, was first shown to the public at the annual GTI gathering in Wörthersee, Austria, and made its U.S. debut at the 2013 Los Angeles International Auto Show, as well as in digital form in Gran Turismo 6. This was toward the end of the 6th-generation GTI’s lifecycle, so part of the Design Vision’s purpose was to preview the 7th-generation model it was clearly built from.  

But as a concept it had to be a bit more special than just the next generation preview, so in additional to some front and rear black strakes and an integrated wide-body kit, Volkswagen placed a 3.0-liter TSI VR6 under the good which they bumped up to an even 500 horsepower with power sent to all four wheels through the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DSG) and the VW 4Motion system. They branched out inside as well, giving the concept a dash shape resembling the R8’s dash of the time. 

2014 GTI Roadster 

The most radical-looking of the three is the GTI Roadster Vision, which is the live-action version of a model that also appeared in Gran Turismo 6 and debuted at Wörthersee. Like the Golf Design Vision, it was powered by a twin-turbo VR6 paired with a DSG and 4Motion AWD. It produced 503 horsepower and 491 lb-ft of torque, but no one hardly noticed those numbers because of the radical body. The GTI was transformed into a 2-seater speedster, complete with a half-windshield, a low rollbar, and a not-so-low rear wing. Connecting to the Lamborghini brand under VW’s corporate umbrella, it even had scissor-opening doors. Aside from the low-profile headlights, grille, and red striping, it is difficult to even see the GTI in this one.  

W-12 Golf GTI 

A bit more conventionally looking but far more radical in concept is the 2007 W-12 GTI built from the 5th-generation Golf. It is actually based on the familiar muscle-car convention: “What if we put our most powerful corporate engine in our smallest car that it will fit?” To do that, they borrowed an idea from the Renault 5 Turbo and stuffed the Bentley’s twin-turbo W-12 where the back seat and cargo area used to be of the 2-door GTI. The W-12 is basically two VR6 engines with their 15-degree V-heads joined at the crankshaft, thus making a 12-cylinder engine that is not all that long but quite wide. It also has six liters of displacement tuned to 650 horsepower, all going to the rear wheels, requiring a 6-inch wider track. Volkswagen claimed a 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph at the time, leading many to wonder what brave soul drove this insanely overpowered, short-wheelbase monster to achieve those numbers.  

The car was first presented to the world through the small screen on Top Gear, where co-host Jeremy Clarkson drolly opined, “It’s not a particularly savage car. It doesn’t explode when you stamp on the accelerator. It’s just this surge of power that takes you up to 5500 rpm, and then the surge becomes a flood,” Clarkson remarked. “It is an insane car.” 

All three cars have been treated to a fresh coat of paint and will likely appear at upcoming events celebrating the GTI Golden Anniversary.  

So these concepts may make the 241 horsepower of the 2026 Golf GTI  and the 328 horsepower of the Golf R  seem mild in comparison. But the 2026 models can be played without a game console and will clearly deliver the fun you are seeking. See for yourself with a visit to Bud Brown Volkswagen, home of the Bud Brown Advantage Lifetime Limited Warranty, to explore and test drive what 50 years of development has done for the GTI and its more powerful sibling.