British car magazine EVO just finished reviewing the the VW Golf GTI Edition 35. The VW Golf GTI Edition 35 is a European only model that celebrates the 35th anniversary of the GTI’s introduction. The Edition 35 is subtly tweaked inside and out from the stock GTI with more power, some new body parts, and some traditional GTI interior cues (such as a golfball shift knob).
EVO had this to say about how these tweaks affect overall performance:
Technical highlights?
The in-line, turbocharged four cylinder is actually a detuned version of the Golf R’s engine rather than a tweaked version of the standard GTI’s motor. It puts out 232bhp (25bhp more than the standard car), which makes it the fastest production GTI ever. Happy Birthday indeed.What’s it like to drive?
The most noticeable thing about the new engine is how it really likes to be revved – unusual for a turbocharged unit. It is, as you’d expect, also slightly quicker. In these days of RS500 Foci, the 35 doesn’t feel like a fireball, but where the standard car felt just a little lacklustre for a modern hot hatch, the 35 feels more on the current pace.The 35 will be offered with either a manual or DSG twin-clutch gearbox and in both three- and five-door variants. The gearbox choice is really down to personal preference (I’d have the manual, but the DSG works fantastically and I can see the appeal), however things are a little more clear-cut when it comes to body styles. Get the three-door if you can because it feels noticeably stiffer and slightly sharper to drive.
There’s a lovely polish to the manners of the GTI with steering, pedal weight and ride all smooth and precise. Occasionally you feel it would benefit from a few more teeth in the way it handles but it’s still a great thing to dissect a good piece of road with.
As of right now, VW has no plans to introduce the Edition 35 here. Pity
For more details and pictures of the Edition 35 in action, check out the article here.
