IAA 2003: Golf V GTI Concept

The Golf GTI is considered to be the icon of sporty compact vehicles. Not only that: The letters GTI have become the symbol of a complete class of vehicles and the epitome of compact handling dynamics. Now Volkswagen presents at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt the next stage of evolution for this icon of driving pleasure: A Golf GTI concept of the fifth generation. It personifies the sheer culture of the GTI philosophy. Powered by a completely new FSI turbo engine with 147 kW / 200 hp, the two door GTI is independent like never before and closes, both conceptionally as well as visually, the circle to the legendary founding vision of Grand Tourisme Injection: The Golf GTI of the year 1976.

28 years ago Volkswagen presented at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt the first GTI - and the legend began.

The world premiere of the first Golf GTI was in 1975 at the same position and also as a concept vehicle. In June 1976, series production began. What happened thereafter is the making of a legend. At the start, the vehicles were finished in either silver or red and were originally intended as just a limited edition of 5000 GTIs. But it turned out very differently. With a powerful 81 kW / 110 hp output and top speed of 182 km/h, the Golf GTI won a new clientele and established the GTI class as a compact sports car. From the original 5000 vehicles, more than four generations and more than 1.5 million Golf GTIs have evolved to date.

The concept emulates consciously the stylistic characteristics of the first GTI generation; which means, of course, that it is finished in red with black contrasting features.

With the Golf GTI concept, as shown in Frankfurt, Volkswagen is now demonstrating how GTI history will develop. The concept consciously emulates the GTI of the first generation. Therefore it has to be red, it has to have a black radiator grille, and it has to rise above the other models of the series with substantial modifications. After all, the first GTI also distinguished itself with a markedly independent appearance: The black bumpers and flared wings, the black side bump strips, the black rear window frame and the characteristic red trim around the black radiator grille of the original GTI are so clear today as if the vehicle had just yesterday been presented in Frankfurt.

As with all leading examples, the Golf GTI was copied by many. The models came in many shapes and forms, such as GSI, GTE, XRi, GTX, and disappeared from the market long ago. Not one of them came even close to the comparable status of a Golf GTI.

From this unmistakable GTI tradition evolved the new concept vehicle. Based on the majestic dynamics of the new model generation, the engineers and designers developed a GTI that accentuates the original version, whilst paving the way to the future with an extremely sporty, extremely independent and extremely well proven presence.