9 Of The Coolest Volkswagen Golf Models Ever Made - HotCars

The Volkswagen Golf has been the go-to car for many people who want something practical, and economical, which has the excellent build quality and holds a relatively good resale value. It is the spiritual replacement of the original Type 1 (Beetle) and is available in enough different body styles to essentially be its own brand.

The Golf was launched in Europe in 1974 and in North America in 1975 (under the "Rabbit" name). Since then, the Golf has sold well over 35 million units over its production run. With the advent of electric cars, VW has already made the Golf’s fully electric replacement in the form of the ID.3, although the two models are still being produced simultaneously – with the Golf still out-selling the ID.3 by far. The Golf has also won many accolades, including multiple Car of the Year awards from different publications, and is one of only three cars to ever win the European Car of the Year award twice. The VW Golf is one of the three best-selling models in the motoring world – just behind the Toyota Corolla and Ford F-Series.

Luckily, the Golf isn’t just about being practical and economical. VW has made some pretty sporty versions over the years, with the Golf GTI still being the standard and the car to beat in any hot hatchback competition. With that, here are 9 of the coolest VW Golf models ever made.

9 MK1 GTI

Classic.com

The original Golf GTI was a skunkworks project by nine people after the political disaster which was the Beetle GSR (Yellow-Black Racer). It was during the development of this faster Golf when the ‘GTI’ acronym was coined, which means ‘Gran Turismo Iniezione’, or Grand Touring Injection.

Via: CollectingCars

Finally, after some resistance, the Golf GTI was shown off at the 1975 Frankfurt Motor Show and entered production in 1976. In the US, the Golf GTI didn't debut until 1983 and was marketed as the Rabbit GTI. The Mk1 Golf GTI is recognized by many to be the start of the hot hatchback movement, even though cars such as the Simca 1100Ti and Autobianchi A112 Abarth had already been produced with the same ethos.

Related: Here's Why The MK1 Volkswagen Golf GTI Is A Hot Hatch Legend

8 MK2 GTI 16V

Classic.com

After the first-generation Golf GTI, the hot hatch segment exploded in popularity as these cars offered practicality, fuel efficiency, and performance to rival some sports cars – all for less than a normal sedan. VW then made a GTI version of the second-generation Golf, but unfortunately, it did not initially live up to the original.

Via collectingcars.com

The main issue with the Mk2 Golf GTI was weight. The engine struggled to move the heavier Golf, so halfway through the Mk2 Golf’s life VW introduced the Golf GTI 16V, a more powerful version that gave the model back its segment-leading edge.

7 MK2 Golf Country

Via VWGolfBest

The 1980s were a time of automotive experimentation and VW wanted to try everything. The Golf was rapidly becoming their most successful model, and so they tried to make it appealing to a wider audience. One of the outlandish models created was the Golf Country.

golf 2 country

VW took a Mk2 Golf and gave it off-roading suspension, all-wheel-drive, and a relatively powerful 1.8-liter engine. They even put the GTI’s engine in 50 of them, creating the Golf GTI Country. While the model did not sell well and was unavailable in the U.S., they have become valuable collectors’ cars. While the Golf Country was unsuccessful, Audi learned from it and eventually created the Allroad model.

6 MK3 Harlequin

Via: VW

The Golf Mk3 is not really anyone’s favorite generation. It has boring styling, the GTI models were underpowered, and the dynamics are sub-par to the rest of the Golf range. Strangely, the Mk3 had many weird special edition models – including a turbocharged 4-cylinder, an electric version, and a wagon body style.

Via Motor1.com

One of the most interesting special editions was the Harlequin Golfs. Golfs were produced in four distinct colors and after final assembly, the easily detachable body panels were switched around to create a colorful harlequin effect. These Golfs were only available for the North American market in limited numbers. Pretty weird.

5 MK4 R32

Via Volkswagen

In 2002, VW decided to produce an ultimate version of the Golf. So, using some bits and pieces from the Audi TT 3.2 – including the 3.2-liter VR6 engine – they ended up with the first-generation VW Golf R32. The R32 had all-wheel drive, 238 hp, and was the world’s first production car with a double-clutch gearbox (DSG).

Via: VW Press UK

The R32 went on sale in 2003 in Germany only, but after massive popularity, was sold in the US and Australia in 2004. VW allotted five thousand cars for the US market over the course of two years, but every single one was sold out after 13 months.

Related: A Used Mk4 Volkswagen Golf R32 Could Be A Better Choice Than A 2022 Golf R

4 MK5 R32

Volkswagen

The Mk5 Golf was a proper return to form for the model. The GTI was one of the best-selling of all the GTI generations – even with the higher starting price. This was the first generation GTI which was available with the DSG transmission. The best version of this generation was the R32.

Volkswagen

VW set out to build the best Golf ever and so spared no expense with the Mk5 R32. It still had the 3.2-liter VR6 but produced 250 hp over the previous model’s 238 hp. The all-wheel-drive system was retuned and the DSG was reprogrammed to be faster and more precise. The Mk5 R32 was the last Golf to have a 6-cylinder engine.

Related: Volkswagen Golf R32: Costs, Facts and Figures

3 MK6 GTI “Edition 35”

Via wsupercars

The Golf Mk6 was a continuation of the massively successful Mk5. The GTI had a slight increase in power over the Mk5 GTI and the styling was improved to keep up with the new VW design language. The R32 was gone and was replaced with the Golf R – powered by an uprated version of the 2.0-liter turbo in the GTI.

Via VW

The Mk6 was produced when the Golf GTI had its 35th anniversary, so VW celebrated this with the “Edition 35” – which was the most powerful GTI until then (235 hp), producing 35 hp more than the standard GTI. The “Edition 35” had some special upgrades and styling improvements, including model-specific wheels – instantly recognizable as the special edition.

2 MK7.5 GTI Clubsport S

Volkswagen

The Golf Mk7 is probably the best Golf generation thus far – even with the Mk8 on sale. The Mk7 was introduced in 2012 and was updated in 2016 to create the Mk7.5. Along with the model refresh, VW created two versions of the GTI with uprated performance and styling. The first was the Clubsport and the second was the Clubsport S.

via Motor Authority

The Clubsport S was only available as a three-door, with redesigned front and rear fascias. The front suspension got a major overhaul, as did the subframe, brakes, and engine. The power was increased to 306 hp compared to the normal GTI’s 215 hp. The car was stripped of any unwanted weight and as a result, beat the Honda Civic Type R’s record lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife by 1.4 seconds.

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Related: Doug DeMuro Points Out Major Design Flaw In The 2022 VW Golf GTI

1 Golf GTI W12-650

via VW Media

Finally, probably the most ridiculous Golf model ever made was the Golf GTI W12-650. The model is based on the Mk5 GTI, but with heavy modifications to fit the 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 from the Bentley Continental GT in the back. As a result, the GTI W12 is rear-wheel drive and features the rear subframe from the Lamborghini Gallardo. Only one prototype was ever produced.

wallpaperup.net

The Golf GTI W12-650 produced 640 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque. The car had a top speed north of 200 mph and while it may look like a Golf GTI, it shares very little with the production car. Even the GTI-inspired wheels are specifically made for this car. The Golf GTI W12-650 is definitely one of the fastest, most powerful, and coolest VW Golf models ever made.