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By Jonathan Crouch

The fastest Golf GTI ever made is this Edition 50 version. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 41

As anyone who's experienced it will tell you, turning 50 isn't easy. But Volkswagen's Golf GTI reaches its half-century in some style with this Edition 50 variant. It's everything this hot hatch model line represents - dialled up to the max.

Backgroundword count: 215

What exactly might the ultimate Volkswagen Golf GTI be like? Some would picture a Golf R. Others a Golf GTI Clubsport. But this is how Volkswagen itself pictures it - the Golf GTI Edition 50. Whereas the Golf R is for people who want more power and AWD. And the GTI Clubsport for the customer wanting a Golf GTI with a more motorsport feel, the GTI Edition 50 is simply a Golf GTI for people who want, well, more Golf GTI. It's not trying to be anything else but a model encapsulating half a century of history of arguably the most iconic hot hatch model line on the planet. Anniversary Golf GTI models are nothing new. Volkswagen has been offering them ever since this model line's 20th Anniversary with the MK3 version back in 1996. That fast variant was very much badge-engineered but as the years went on, the Wolfsburg engineers made a bit more effort as the anniversaries rolled by, adding things like bigger turbos, overboost features, bespoke suspension set-ups, titanium exhaust systems and significant aerodynamic enhancements. For the GTI's 50th Anniversary, you'd expect more effort still and indeed that's what's been delivered by this Edition 50, which claims to be nothing less than the fastest front-driven production car the brand has ever made.

Driving Experienceword count: 545

Since it isn't really in Golf GTI DNA to have 4WD, this GTI Edition 50 is defiantly front-driven. Yet it puts out 325PS, 60PS more than an ordinary GTI, 25PS more than a GTI Clubsport and just 8PS less than the 4MOTION-equipped Golf R. So here's been a bit of an engineering re-think here because Volkswagen's R&D team have previously been unwilling to direct anything more than 300PS through the front wheels of anything they make. Doing just that here makes this Edition 50 feel more exciting and frisky than any Golf yet made - maybe even more than the stripped-out GTI Clubsport S of 2016, a MK7 model also lauded by enthusiasts as the ultimate GTI in this Volkswagen's long lineage. With a power-to-weight ratio of 225PS-per-tonne (not that much different to something like a Porsche 911 Carrera S), you'd think it would be. The engine is the usual EA888 2.0-litre four cylinder turbo TSI unit of course - designated 'Evo4 LK3' in VW circles - and develops 420Nm of torque, enough to dispatch 62mph in just 5.3s. And also to gain for this car the coveted Nurburgring Nordschleife lap record from its old nemesis the Honda Civic Type R (7 mins 46.13s if you're interested). So it's appropriate that, as with the GTI Clubsport, the drive modes include a bespoke 'Nurburgring' setting specially developed at that iconic circuit. There is also an S+ mode for the seven-speed DSG paddleshift auto gearbox, for optimum downshifts going into track corners; and a manual M+ mode that limits automatic gear upshifting even at high revs. Plus as you'd hope, the Edition 50 gets as standard the usually optional minutely-adjustable Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive damping system with its 15 settings. Other Edition 50 changes include a ride height that's 15mm lower than a standard GTI and 5mm lower than the Clubsport model. And there are special suspension and chassis components which have lowered kerb weight to 1,930kg. Other mechanical features recognisable to GTI loyalists include the XDS+ brake-based torque vectoring system. And the clutch-based VAQ set-up that creates the effect of a mechanical limited-slip differential by locking one driveshaft to the differential gear carrier. If you want to go further, as most Edition 50 owners will, you can add an optional 'Performance Package', which gives the car a throaty twin-exit titanium Akrapovic exhaust, a further reduced ride height, 20% stiffer springs, an extra 2-degrees of negative camber on the front axle and smarter 19-inch 'Warmenau' alloy wheels shod with track-style semi-slick Bridgestone Potenza tyres. The combination of all these extras further lowers the kerb weight by 25kg. You can bet this was the spec test driver Benny Leuchter used in that Nurburgring Nordschleife lap record attempt, his eventual time three seconds faster than the stripped-out GTI Clubsport S model managed back in 2016. But you don't necessarily need track access to really enjoy yourself in this Edition 50. On your favourite back road, this Golf will feel eager and agile in the kind of way hot hatches used to be before they were handicapped with excess weight and emission regulations. The steering is accurate and body roll perfectly checked. But this car is just as at home collecting your dry cleaning. As a Golf GTI should be.

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