In 1976, Volkswagen changed the way people saw sporty cars. Taking its cue from large sedans and two-door sports cars, the VW Golf GTI combined fast-paced motoring with the everyday practicality of a small, lightweight hatchback. And the rest, as we all know, is automotive history.
Fast-forward to 2017 and Volkswagen pays tribute to the original GTI by offering an equally small yet potent number in the guise of the Volkswagen up! GTI. Yes, the little up! city car now receives a host of GTI tweaks, complete with a powerful mill to boot.
The Volkswagen up! GTI Concept, which will be presented at this year’s GTI Meet at Lake Worthersee from May 24 to 27, boasts styling cues that are taken straight from the 1976 Mk I GTI. These include the red stripe that runs the length of the radiator grille, complete with honeycomb design and the GTI logo set right above it, the double stripe on the side sills, the gloss black side mirror housings, 17-inch alloy wheels, a red strip at the rear, finished of by a large roof spoiler.
Apart from the visual touches, the up! GTI gets sports running gear that lowers the car by 15mm. The GTI vibe continues inside with the signature sports steering wheel, GTI shift knob, and of course, the Clark fabric upholstery that was first seen some 41 years ago.
No self-respecting GTI variant would be complete without the engine receiving more power. The up!’s little TSI motor now puts out 115hp—the most powerful of its kind. This rockets the little 997kg hatchback from rest to 100kph in just 8.8 ticks before hitting a 197kph top speed.
Purists may note that all these figures and styling enhancements are truly a nod to the GTI of yore. The red radiator stripe, the black double side stripes, and the black tailgate stripe were all GTI touches. Then there was the 110hp mill that accelerated the 810kg pocket-rocket to the century mark from rest in 9 seconds and hauled it all the way to a 182kph terminal velocity. It’s a modern-day iteration indeed.
And yes, the shades of Mars Red, Diamond Silver, Black, and White are as close to the present-day Tornado Red, Pure White, Dark Silver, Black Pearl, and Costa Azul as it can get.
The Volkswagen up! GTI will hit the production floor in 2018.
