In 1976, Volkswagen could hardly have imagined the enormous commercial success that the first Golf GTI would achieve. This quintessential sporty and youthful compact car quickly earned an iconic reputation, becoming the benchmark in its segment. From the outset, the GTI (Gran Turismo Injection) designation was associated with fast, aspirational, fun, and highly regarded cars that other manufacturers tried to emulate with varying degrees of success. A Golf GTI is, quite simply, a production Golf that retains its front-wheel drive but incorporates more powerful engines and certain aesthetic details, such as the upholstery, front end, and wheel arches, that identify it as the brand's sporty and youthful variant.

In 1976, almost half a century ago, Volkswagen introduced the first Golf GTI, a name that soon became an automotive legend. Its 1.6-litre, inline four-cylinder petrol engine delivered 1,000 hp.