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To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Golf GTI, Volkswagen has launched a limited-build model called the Edition 50 with more power than any of its predecessors.
While fans of the badge have not yet confirmed 100 per cent for the Australian market, saving is a good idea as it won’t be cheap.
The standard Edition 50 is a GTI Clubsport with fewer performance than that, not only that but the full Nurburgring record-breaking of the car will be available to buyers who have to fork out on the Performance Package upgrade.
And for those who can afford it, that probably won’t matter if this is the last ever Golf GTI without some sort of electrification.
How much does the Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 cost?
Although Volkswagen Australia has not yet confirmed that it will actually receive an allocation of the Edition 50, a business case for ‘a car which is expensive no matter how you look at it.
Yet, it could not realistically ask for more than the Golf R costs – which is listed at $71,990 before on-road costs.
So if it does come to Oz, we’d think that just south of $70,000 plus on-roads would be the starting price. That would not include the highly coveted Performance Package, and that’s what is. If you add that to the mix, and you could get a GTI for more than the R.
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What is the Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 like on the inside?
Although Volkswagen Australia has not yet confirmed that it will actually receive an allocation of the Edition 50, a business case for ‘a car which is expensive no matter how you look at it.
Yet, it could not realistically ask for more than the Golf R costs – which is listed at $71,990 before on-road costs.
So if it does come to Oz, we’d think that just south of $70,000 plus on-roads would be the starting price. But that wouldn’t include the highly coveted Performance Package. If you add that to the mix, and you could get a GTI for more than the R.
What is the VW Golf GTI Edition 50 like on the inside?
The GTI Edition 50 is not a stripped-out racer, even though it can set slap time at the Nurburgring that no other Volkswagen can match. Its interior is as useful and practical as any Golf’s and, while we don’t know exactly what would be included in the Australian market, the standard GTI’S specification is very generous because it is a Standard GIT’.
And to that point, there is a lot of special touches on Edition 50 so it feels slightly more unique. Until you get in, you’ll see the doorsill plates and ‘GTI 50’ decals on the inside surfaces of the exterior door mirrors are neatly applied to your plate.’ From the interior it is visible from the outside.
This is a little thick of rim but lovely quality all the same on the new steering wheel, there’s another reminder. If you choose, make sure you specify the ‘ArtVelours’ version a tactile suede-like covering in place of the standard black leather.
But one of the few criticisms we have with the cabin is that Volkswagen didn’t splash out on more tactile gearshift paddles behind that wheel. A disappointment is that it receives the same tiny plastic items as in any DSG-equipped Golf, especially since there’s no manual gearbox for this car.
The drive selector in the centre console is a small nub that does not only choose which direction of travel to be chosen and let you put the transmission into its Sport setting. But Oh, the red colour of the rubber pedal covers is a little tacky too and we think that’s. They’re thankfully not visible when you get your feet on them.
The figure-hugging bucket seats up front are much more impressive than the figure – . They have a head restraint and an upholstery design similar to the Edition 50, including re-branding of the classic ‘Clark’ tartan (ArtVeLours) as well as part of backrest and classy GTI logos with rubbed red.
A bit of a grumble may be that there is no electric adjustment at this price point, but the seats and steering wheel are moving so it’s easy for most body shapes to get comfortable.
Red seatbelts are also a part of your phrase and there are other subtle trim changes throughout, including ‘Dark Anodised’ finish for elements that usually have chromed look.
The new green-striped tartan pattern was added to the loop for the centre rear armrest of our interior designers, we love that. A nice attention to detail.’ .
| Dimensions | Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 |
| — | — |
| Length | 4292mm |
| Width | 1789mm (excluding mirrors) |
| Height | 1463mm |
| Wheelbase | 2629mm |
| Cargo capacity | 374L (to luggage cover) |
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What’s under the bonnet?
The newer engine of the age-old EA888 engine, titled ‘LK3 evo4’ is Powering the Edition 50. The turbocharged 2 is the same turbo-charger as it’s . As ever, 0-litre four-cylinder layout (direct fuel injection) with the structure of .
| Specifications | Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 |
| — | — |
| Engine | 2.0L 4cyl turbo-petrol |
| Power | 239kW |
| Torque | 420Nm @ 2000-5500rpm |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch auto |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1445kg (with Performance Package) |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 5.3 seconds |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 7.5-7.9L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 50L |
| CO2 emissions | 172-181g/km |
| Emissions standard | Euro 6 |
It’s the strongest road-going Golf GTI yet (the standard version is 195kW, the Clubsport 221kW), but this increased torque is more important; peak power now stands at 239kW.
A base gti (350Nm) is used as an example of the base GTI, and the Clubsport’s engine runs out to 400Mm; but at their disposal The Edition 50’S driver has 420Nam. It’s also a car that is in the driver’s wheel, and that figure is produced all the way from 2000rpm to 5500rPM.
A claimed 5 can be attributed by the higher outputs, which allow for an estimated 5, according to . A time of 0 is 3 seconds 0-100km/h, or 3-second – which is. But a weight of 11kg has increased to 1459kg, but the Clubsport manages 3 seconds faster than . Interestingly, Volkswagen quotes the same acceleration figure for the Performance Package model (a full 25kg lighter than the standard Edition 50) at 1445kg.
This is just because of the exhaust – with titanium rear silencers, gorgeous Akrapovi-branded tips and light weight reduction and an ultra-light (tyre) wheel package.
While all rims are 19-inch designs, the more advanced models have been created to be stronger and lighter in weight reduction (and wear semi-slick Bridgestone Potenza Race tyres).
But the Performance Package goes much further than that thanks to lessons learned from the previous-generation GTI Clubsport S.
It also has its own tune to DCC adaptive damping, bespoke wheel carriers at back, new bushings and stiffer suspension mounts as well with stiffers springs all round. Similarly, the latter drop the ride height by 5mm (and more negative camber) on the front axle to improve steering response and make use of the special tyres.
Unlike GTI Clubsport, go for the standard Edition 50 and the chassis is no different from that of Go; its ride height 15mm below normal Golf’s (with adaptive damping) and an electronically controlled differential lock are all in.
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How does the Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 drive?
A total of the test cars at the launch event were fitted with the Performance Package and you can feel that if the road surface is anything other than marble smooth, then you’re going to be feeling the effect of stiffer springs in the first few hundred metres.
The Individual drive mode, where you can select your favourite sub-system settings and group them together, allows for the damping to be changed more than 15 discrete levels.
But surprisingly, when in the car’s default mode of operation Comfort – damping is at level four, you can dial that down for maximum smoothness; but it’s expensive to control body and wheel. That’s why, even so, you’ll feel every pebble in the road and speed bumps really do their job well.
But despite the fact that it is up to speed, when you get on the Edition 50 there’s no problem. That is a strong word for its firmness, but the bump absorption is polished and it always feels like’stuffy’.
Despite the inherent firmness and sportiness of its own race circuit, it’s very stable at the kind of speeds only possible on a race track; so long distance is regarded as ‘good long-distance partner’.
A better road to tackle is found and the car really lives.’ . The variable-ratio power steering (‘Progressive Steering’ in Volkswagen-speak) is a feature of Golf GTI as are all the Golf GTIs, which prevents nervousness from being put on the straights by the wheel but increases responsiveness when you go deeper into ‘tighter corner’.
You won’t notice the smooth transition, but you can’T help but love threading the car through a series of fast and hard bends.
As for the driving modes, up the ante and body control is absolute. You can choose the ‘Special’ driving mode with Nurburgring graphics indicating it’s the one VW engineers recommend for that track and Press Sport. It dials down the DCC to level 10 so it’s perfect for either a bumpy circuit or – properly – reversing back road.
Neither will you notice that the throttle is more responsive, nor does the car’s ‘vehicle dynamics manager’ also tweak the stability control and the differential to maximise agility and minimise understeer.
This digital overseer even adjusts the damping at each corner of the car on an ongoing basis to optimize its attitude into, through and out of a bend.
From a driver’s point of view, you don’t have to know any of this to enjoy the experience; however, it is not like the car is doing everything for you and that’s what makes your life so much more than partly responsible.
It is perhaps a small exception to this, that when you plant the throttle on an exit of slick bend and try to pull the car into the APex, you can feel the differential at work.
For keen drivers, a manual gearbox would make the experience even more life-affirming but there is some respite in giving total control of the gear selection to someone behind the wheel.
During this part of the Special driving mode, it is also optional in the Individual mode as ‘Sport+’ for the drivetrain. You choose that, and then if you change gears with the paddles, it won’t override your choice of car.
A merrily-driven second gear driver would be you who could drive around, knock the engine off the rev-limiter and it won’t involve any part of your . This is a real advantage on track, as you may not want the destabilising effect of ‘the gear change when you’re at the limit of the adhesion of this tyres’.
A single last word on that point is one. They were the semi-slick tyres of every car we drove that was not too compromised as you might think, finding traction and grip aplenty at times.
When sparked, the traction control was needed to keep things neat and tidy but when it was provoked, “the tyres were well handled” and would be perfectly fine on a road car in largely warm and dry climate.
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What do you get?
Although it has not yet been announced that the detailed list of equipment fitted to any potential Australia-bound Edition 50 will be ‘the heart parts in this vehicle’, it’s certain what is at stake.
That means externally, that is a black roof and door mirrors, black-tored graphics down the sides, GTI 50 decals for the rear spoiler, darkened badging (garish) red–and-silver ‘Queenstown’ alloy wheels and an option of ‘Aloyal colour called Dark Moss Green.
2026 VW Golf GTI Edition 50 equipment highlights:
- 19-inch aluminium alloy wheels
- GTI 50 decals outside and in
- Unique upholstery for bucket seats
- Three-zone climate control
- Black roof and mirrors
- DCC adaptive damping
- LED matrix headlights
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Is the Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 safe?
In 2022 ANCAP assessed the VW Golf back, which received highest five-star rating overall. The phrase “that will apply to all GTI models as well as course” and the Edition 50 is loaded with a whole host of driver assistance technologies.
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| Category | Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 |
| — | — |
| Adult occupant protection | 95 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 89 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 76 per cent |
| Safety assist | 80 per cent |
Standard safety equipment includes:
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Auto emergency braking
- Driver alertness monitoring
- Rear cross traffic alerting
- Traffic sign recognition
- Door exit warning
- Forward collision warning
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How much does the Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 cost to run?
If it is to Australia for a five-year, unlimited km warranty like any other Volkswagen, the Edition 50 will be as good of dependable as any one else Golf which has been so high there’s no reason to think that it’ll be less reliable than its competitors.
But if you take it on track, obviously the brake and tyre wear will be higher but other than that there are several Volkswagen Care Plans to cover the first three, four or five services needed to manage maintenance costs.
If you’re not driving the Edition 50 as it was intended to be, it’ll take about 8. It is perfectly acceptable for performance on tap here, 0L/100km.
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childcareman.xyz’s Take on the Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50
It’s academically true that we think the Edition 50 will be overpriced when it comes to Australia – and that is virtually useless for the car without the Performance Package – and word from other markets suggests its selling out fast.
Besides some foibles, Price and the Performance Package model is indeed an extremely special hot hatch — one that car enthusiasts will rightfully expect to be very excited about.
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