A milestone in automotive history is the Volkswagen Golf GTI, the first generation of which in 1976 laid the foundation for the world's most successful compact sports car to date.
Two years before the market launch in 1976, the plan was made to develop a "Sport Golf" and thus define a new vehicle class - that of the sporty compact car: with a 110 hp 1.6 liter four-cylinder in-line engine and an unladen weight of just 860 kilograms, the GTI reached a top speed of 183 km/h.
Thanks to the combination of economy and temperament, it became a bestseller - at a relatively low starting price of DM 13,850 for the time. The characteristic features of this classic were the golf ball-style gear knob, the sporty seats in a checked pattern, the three-spoke sports steering wheel and the red-framed radiator grille.
The Golf GTI - a success story
The Golf I GTI made its debut at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt in 1975. From 1982, the sporty compact car could be ordered as an optional five-door model and as a 1.8-liter four-cylinder with 112 hp. From the initially planned 5,000 units, 461,690 Golf GTIs of the first series were produced in seven years. The powerful compact car thus achieved cult status and, as an icon, laid the foundation for today's 45-year GTI success story. The sporty compact car is now available in its eighth generation.
