This is it
For a start there was a normal Golf VI GTI, then they stick ‘35’ decals all over the car… on the mudguards, the door sills and the head-rests to be exact… load it up with some additional standard equipment and garnish with a moderate boost to its power output. Voilà! Now we have a GTI ‘Edition 35’. And, yes, it costs a bit more than the normal GTI… 3,400 Euros more.
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- Special decorative trim in the cockpit and on the doors set the ‘35’ apart. As always the ergonomics are impeccable.
This is what it’s got
In terms of styling the ‘Edition 35’ scores points with a newly designed front fender unit with as standard bi-Xenon headlights and LED daylight running lamps. There are darkly toned LED tail lights and the car runs on new 18 inch wheels. Inside the car there are some new touches… the Jubilee version boasts a new design for the sports seats, the obligatory golf-ball gear shift knob, red piped seat-belts and special decorative trim in the cockpit and on the doors. Of greater interest, however, are the modifications which have been made under the bonnet. VW have not been content just to tweak the motor management electronics of the existing GTO power plant, they have fitted the birthday GTI with a turbo-boosted direct injection engine type EA113… yes, that’s the mill that in slightly adapted form is gives the current Golf R its push. The ‘Edition 35’ delivers 235 horsepower and 300 Nm of torque, 25 horsepower and 20 Nm more than the standard GTI.
This is how it drives
The latest Jubilee edition runs, steers, rides and feels just like a normal GTI… and that is meant as a compliment. In order to have an awareness of the enhanced power available one must have acute sensitivity to interpret that ‘seat of the pants’ feedback. However the performance data does not lie and VW have kept their promise… the car is indeed quicker than its ‘normal’ sibling. Our measurement confirmed the claimed 6.6 seconds for the sprint from zero to a hundred kilometres an hour and a top speed of almost 250. In comparison the normal GTI takes 6.9 seconds to hit the hundred and tops out as 240. All in all, motoring in the ‘Edition 35’ is motoring with confidence and with a fair share of excitement. The sound, which in some VW sports models is ducted into the car’s interior in an irritating manner, is here cleverly handled.
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- The golf-ball gear shift knob is a ‘must’. DSG is available for an extra 1,900 Euros.
This is what it costs
This special handling is part of what adds to the cost… with the birthday GTI priced from 30,875 Euros. When fitted with a six-stage double-declutching transmission, as was the case for the car we drove, the tag will read 32,775 Euros. The version made available to us came with a big-screen navigation system, the adaptive DCC damping controls, rear-view camera and a few more optional gimmicks and would have called for an investment of 40,543 Euros. Ouch! Good to know that this is an automobile which will retain excellent re-sale value in the future.
This is what we think
Anyone deciding to put a Golf GTI in their garage is certainly not making a wrong choice. And if they opt for the Jubilee model ‘Edition 35’ this is even more true. The thrust and elasticity of the two-litre turbo are exemplary and while the driving behaviour is not perhaps the best in its class the car does permit lively motoring. There is no need to comment at length on matters such as ergonomics and workmanship… both are superior to any other car in this segment and indeed in some cases the equal of autos in a class higher. The Golf GTI is as vital and exciting as ever after thirty-five years and just seems to get better and better.
