Volkswagen is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Golf GTI in the states with a special edition.
Approximately 1,500 units will be offered here in the US, with nearly half of them coming with a 6-speed manual transmission (#SaveTheManuals) and the other half will employ VW's 7-speed DSG® automatic.
This model is based on the GTI S trim, but adds supper tires, adaptive damping, and speed-sensitive steering. These special edition models will be set apart by their 4 color choices, with two exclusive to this model alone: Tornado Red and Urano Gray while Opal White Pearl and Pomelo Yellow Metallic round out the color options. Other features include 19-inch gloss black wheels with red pinstripes (borrowed from the European Golf GTI Clubsport 45 model), gloss black roof and mirror caps, "40" elements throughout the inside and outside.
As with the rest of the 2023 Golf GTI lineup, the 40th Anniversary Edition is powered by a turbocharged EA888 2.0-liter engine with 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. It is offered with either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed DSG® automatic transmission with Tiptronic®. Vehicle dynamics settings closely integrate the electronic stability control (ESC) with the electronic differential lock (XDS®) and the standard DCC® adaptive damping system. By adapting the individual wheel damping 200 times a second, it can deliver particularly agile and accurate handling.
The 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI 40th Anniversary Edition goes on sale mid-model year, with a starting MSRP of $33,055 for manual transmission models and $33,855 for automatic transmission models.