VW Golf GTI Edition 35 hits showrooms

VW Golf GTI Edition 35

We’ve had lots of motoring anniversaries this year, from the 50th of the iconic E-Type to the centenary of the Indianapolis 500. But one anniversary which is, in its own way, just as significant is 35 years of the Golf GTI, an anniversary being marked with the VW Golf GTI Edition 35, which hits UK showrooms this week after its début at Worthersee in May.

The original Golf GTI was a revelation; light, nimble, fun and fast it was an instant hit – the first of the proper hot-hatches. So much so that even though VW originally built the GTI in LHD only, customers in the UK still queued up to buy it; the UK had to wait until 1979 to get RHD GTIs.

That love affair has continued with the GTI ever since (even through its bloaty period), and the current Golf GTI is a properly grown-up hot-hatch (if that’s not an oxymoron) and as desirable as ever.

To celebrate all that’s good about the GTI, VW has launched the GTI Edition 35, which neatly sits between the Golf GTI and the Golf R in terms of both power and price.

The GTI Edition 35 gets 232bhp – 25bhp up on the GTI – which delivers a 0-62mph of 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 153mph. Economy is 34.9mpg (and 25.3mpg with the DSG ‘box).

Titivations includes more butch body kit with a new front bumper and meaner sills, custom 18″ alloys, LEDs, gloss black mirror covers and, of course, plenty of ‘Edition 35′ badges.

Prices for the GTI Edition 35 kick off at £27,525 for the 3-door Edition 35 with a manual ‘box, rising to £29,405 for the 5-door with DSG. And although VW say the Edition 35 is a special edition they’re refusing to put a number on how many they’ll make.

So we assume they’ll make just as many GTI Edition 35s as they can sell.

(5 photos – click any thumbnail for full size image)

By Cars UK