Volkswagen has unveiled an exclusive Golf GTI Roadster, created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Golf GTI.
The story of this vehicle began in 2014, when it was initially developed as a virtual concept for the Gran Turismo 6 game. What began as a digital design quickly materialized into a physical demonstration vehicle. Many still remember the open-top, two-seater roadster in red or white, but for the 2026 anniversary, it’s been reimagined in a new, dark green shade – a nod to the exclusive “Dark Moss Green Metallic” color from the anniversary GTI edition.
While GTI models have remained relatively conservative in design since 1976, this project broke with tradition. Based on the seventh-generation Golf platform, the Roadster received a completely new body. It features no roof or rear seats, with the C-pillars transformed into safety bars, doors that open upwards like those of a supercar, and aggressive ventilation openings in the hood, complemented by a substantial rear spoiler – signaling This represents no ordinary hatchback.
With no plans for series production, engineers were able to explore design possibilities without the constraints of homologation requirements. The result was even more extreme than the earlier Volkswagen BlueSport concept, which ultimately never reached production.
Under the hood lies a 3.0-liter biturbo V6 engine producing 503 horsepower (370 kW) and 560 Nm of torque. Unlike the GTI, which typically comes with front-wheel drive, the Roadster utilizes 4Motion all-wheel drive – similar to the Volkswagen Golf R. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 309 km/h.
Interestingly, despite its open-top design, the Golf GTI Roadster isn’t lightweight, weighing in at 1,421 kilograms. The all-wheel drive system, large V6 engine, massive brakes, and wide tire setup (235/35 ZR20 at the front and 275/30 ZR20 at the rear) contribute to its weight.
While it’s unlikely this extravagant Golf will ever enter series production, the project vividly demonstrates how far the concept of an everyday compact sports car can be pushed. When the concept was first presented, it was hailed as “the most impressive GTI of all time” – and it remains challenging to envision surpassing that benchmark today.
Although the future vision hasn’t materialized, the GTI story continues – and perhaps it will surprise again with something equally bold in the future.
Photo: Volkswagen
Photo: Volkswagen
Photo: Volkswagen
Photo: Volkswagen
Photo: Volkswagen
Photo: Volkswagen
Photo: Volkswagen
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