VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI EDITION 50 SCOOPS CAR GENIUS AWARD

Anniversary model named Hatchback of the Year by experts at Car magazine

• Golf GTI EDITION 50 named Hatchback of the Year at inaugural Car Genius Awards
• Awards celebrate brands, products and innovations shaping the future of the automotive industry
• ‘The best Golf GTI since 2016’s Clubsport S,’ say judges

Milton Keynes – The Volkswagen Golf GTI EDITION 50 has been named Hatchback of the Year in the inaugural Car Genius Awards. The win was announced in a special awards issue of Car magazine, which is now more than 60 years old.

The Genius Awards celebrate the brands, products and innovations that are shaping the future of the automotive industry, as decided by experts at Car – one of the world’s most respected and authoritative motoring titles.

Commenting on the award, Car Editor Ben Miller said that the Golf GTI EDITION 50 is: “The best Golf GTI since 2016’s Clubsport S. It’s a hypnotic, wheel-cocking blend of function and fun.”

The Volkswagen Golf GTI EDITION 50 is available to order now priced from £48,075 (on-the-road recommended retail price including VAT).

Anniversary model sets new benchmarks
The Volkswagen Golf GTI EDITION 50 is the fastest and most powerful production Golf GTI built to date. Its 2.0-litre TSI engine, paired with a seven-speed automatic direct-shift gearbox (DSG), accelerates the car to 62 mph in just 5.3 seconds.

Uprated suspension and chassis components make sure the additional power and speed translate into superior and dynamic handling, while Volkswagen’s adaptive chassis control system – a standard feature on the GTI EDITION 50 – retains comfort for everyday useability. The car sits 15 mm lower than the standard Golf GTI and its overall weight of 1,930 kg (unladen weight 1,470 kg including 75 kg for driver and luggage) is on a par with the current Golf GTI Clubsport.

An optional Performance Package reduces weight by about 25 kg, with a twin Akrapovič exhaust system and forged Warmenau 19-inch black alloy wheels. The car’s driving dynamics are enhanced further still with semi-slick tyres, adapted suspension and chassis, stiffer springs and modified swivel bearings on the front axle with adapted camber.

Golf GTI EDITION 50 technical data

See the Volkswagen.co.uk website for more about the Golf GTI EDITION 50.

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About the Volkswagen brand:  
A total of 178,607 new Volkswagen passenger vehicles were registered in the UK in 2025, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). This equated to a market share of 8.84 per cent – ahead of the brand’s market share in 2024 (8.52 per cent) – and made Volkswagen the UK’s best-selling new-car brand for the fifth year running.

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand has a global presence, producing vehicles at 28 locations in 12 countries, and employs 170,000 people. In 2025, Volkswagen delivered around 4.7 million vehicles worldwide. These included bestsellers such as the Polo, T-Roc, T-Cross, Golf, Tiguan and Passat, as well as the successful all-electric ID. models. Volkswagen handed over about 382,000 all-electric vehicles to customers worldwide in 2025 and, with its BOOST 2030 strategy, it is consistently driving forward its development into the most desirable brand for sustainable mobility.