# The Volkswagen Golf GTI: A Legendary Hot Hatchback
The Volkswagen Golf GTI is widely regarded as one of the most influential cars ever made. Its impact on the automotive industry cannot be overstated, and its legacy continues to inspire car enthusiasts around the world.
In the 1970s, Volkswagen was facing a major challenge. The company's iconic Beetle model was already 40 years old, and it was struggling to stay relevant in the market. Meanwhile, Ferraris and Lamborghinis were dominating the sports car scene, making them inaccessible to the average consumer.
Volkswagen needed a new car that could appeal to the masses without breaking the bank. Enter Anton Conrad, a marketing executive with a vision for creating a high-performance variant of the Golf. Despite Volkswagen's initial reluctance, Conrad persisted, and his idea eventually came to fruition.
The result was the Golf GTI, a tiny but mighty hot hatchback that would go on to revolutionize the industry. With its 1.6-liter in-line 4 engine producing 110 horsepower, the GTI was a game-changer. Its handling, performance, and practicality made it an instant hit with car enthusiasts.
The Golf GTI's impact extended beyond its own sales figures. It helped pave the way for foreign automakers to establish operations in the United States, which had a significant impact on the economy. The GTI also brought cars out of the 1970s funk, injecting a much-needed shot of adrenaline into the industry.
The Golf GTI's influence can be seen in many modern cars, including icons like the Skyline GT-R and Mazda MX-5. Its legacy continues to inspire car manufacturers, and its sales figures are staggering - over 2 million units have been sold worldwide.
Throughout its various generations, the Golf GTI has remained true to its roots while introducing new innovations and features. The current Mk7 model boasts a 2-liter turbocharged engine producing 230 horsepower, making it one of the most powerful hot hatches on the market.
The Golf GTI's impact on the automotive industry cannot be overstated. It has become a symbol of performance and practicality, and its legacy will continue to inspire car enthusiasts for generations to come. Whether you're a seasoned car enthusiast or just starting your journey, the Volkswagen Golf GTI is a must-see classic that deserves your attention.
# What Cars Do You Want to See Us Cover?
We want to hear from you! What cars do you want to see us cover next? Share your suggestions in the comments below.
WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enToyota, Datsun, Pinto, Vega, Honda, Fiat wereall considered...the Volkswagen Rabbit made it.It's the best car in the world.It's an everyday hero, an affordable, sensiblefamily car that still conquers tracks acrossthe globe.It's the car that Volkswagen didn't even want,that now defines their brand.It invented the whole idea that a car couldbe cool without costing you a mortgage.If you're on a budget, it's awesome; if you'renot, it's still awesome.Jeremy Clarkson said that this is one of themost influential cars ever.I would wack myself with excitement.I've owned 12 of them.Someone's not counting!This is everything you need to know to getup to speed on the Volkswagen Golf GTI.C'monnnn... family hatchback, a legend?Really James?Really?Well, yes, smartass.See, back in the 70s you could buy eitheran affordable car or if you were rich, youcould buy a high end sports car like a Ferrarior Lamborghini, all that good stuff.But for the working man a Ferrari wasn't reallyan option.A car within reach looked something like this:a Volkswagen Beetle.Which sucks.Yeah I know people like them and I'm gonnaget flamed for that, but they suck.Sure, it's cute, cus it looks like a bug,and it's like an icon, but for somebody wholoved to drive, hit the open road or windthrough a canyon the Beetle...I'm trying to think of the right word here...sucks.Volkswagen had their own problems with theBeetle, namely that by the 70s it was already40 years old.Awwwww, you fu--World War 2 hadn't even startedwhen the first Beetle rolled off the assemblyline.And here they were, still selling them.They needed a new car to replace it, somethingaffordable, yet sexy - like me.So in 1974 they finally released the Golf.It looked good!Had a nice little efficient engine, surprisinglyroomy, it was a good car.People liked it.It sold pretty well.Volkswagen was happy.And yet the Beetle refused to die.Even with the Golf on the market the Beetlejust kept on chugging.Enter Anton Conrad, quite possibly the mostimportant marketing executive of all time.See he had this crazy notion that maybe averagepeople might like a fast car.Weird!Specifically looking at the youth market,Conrad pitched the idea of a high performancevariant of the Golf.Basically same car; bigger engine.Mm, recipe for success.What did Volkswagen say?No.Volkswagen didn't think there was enough ofa market there.And besides that, the Golf was never designedto be a performance machine.In response: Conrad did it anyway.He f*** you Dad, I'm my own man!Dad, what about you!F*** you!Working with a 6 man team, he shoved a 1.6liter in-line 4 that developed 110 horsepowerinto the Golf.Hey, I'll admit, 110 horsepower doesn't soundlike a lot, but this was 1975 we're talkingabout, people were using rotary phones, andthis car is tiny!You ever seen a Mk1 Golf?The result was a sensation, Volkswagen onlyplanned to make 5000 GTIs, by the end of theoriginal run they made 420,000! 420 dudeeee.The Golf GTI handled well, it drove fast,and still had as much space and sensibilityas the base model.Cool didn't have to live on a poster anymore,anyone could drive it!And oh yeah - it killed the bug.In 1979 the Beetle finally ceased being soldin the United States.Although we should mention this awesome 70sGTI we're talking about never sold in theUnited States.America got a variation called the RabbitGTI, which didn't have the European engine,which means instead of 40 more horsepowerthan the base model, it got 1 more.One.One horse.Sorry America.Sorrrry.But the little hatchback that could wasn'tcontent to just be a great car, it went onto change the entire industry, and the world.For one thing, to help produce the Golf, Volkswagenbought an old Chrysler plant in Pennsylvania.This was the very first time a foreign automanufacturer opened up operations in the US,which paved the way for many others for yearsto come, helped the US economy.Boom.More broadly, the GTI is the car that broughtcars out of the 1970s funk.Up to its release, the energy crisis of thetime and a general economic... forced allvehicles to get smaller, duller, and moreboring.The GTI was a shot of adrenaline in the armof the whole industry and led to the performancecar renaissance of the 1980s, right on throughto today.Icons like the Skyline GT-R, Mazda MX-5 cantrace their routes back to the GTI's ideaof speed machine for the people.Even if you've never wanted a GTI, odds are,there's a car out there that you did wantthat only exists today because of it.That means anytime you see a GTI on the road,you're looking at a hero.You owe your life to dental hygiene.And if you drive a GTI, you're a hero too.And it's won pretty much every award frompretty much every car magazine on the planet.Oh and one other thing - over the years it'ssold 2 million units!One million - 2 frickin' million, idiot!That's how a people's car becomes a legend.It's like The Rock of cars.You like a Focus ST?Thank the GTI.And the Mk1 was just the beginning.The Mk2 saw the introduction of a twin-cam,16 valve engine, and got Recaros.The Mk3 got the VR6, a 2.8 liter narrow-angleV6, with 172 horsepower and one of the sweetestexhaust notes in the history of cars.Mk4 got the 20 valve 1.8 T, nevarlose.Mk5 was ugly, and got independent rear suspension,the 2 liter TSI and plaid seats.The Mk6 is basically a good looking Mk5.And it's still available today.You can buy a new one.Current generation is called the Mk7, becauseit's the 7th one, duh.And there's a GTI.It has a 2 liter turbocharged engine, withdirect injection, and 230 horsepower.And there's an even more rowdy one, calledthe Golf R, which is all-wheel drive, has292 horsepower.That's almost 300 horsepower!The Golf itself has a lot of offshoots too,like the Jetta, and the Cabrio, which is notavailable anymore.And there's a lot of competitors to the Golf.The whole hot hatchback category, which itinvented, is now loaded with choices.And some of them are pretty good.But even today, the original is the gold standardby which all others are compared.And none of them have the legacy of the carwhose original purpose was to just be a littlebit better than a Beetle.This is everything you need to know to getUp To Speed on the Volkswagen Golf GTI.What cars do you want to see us cover?What did I miss?What did I do wrong?How can we do better.What do you like about it.Like my hat?Let me know.Please subscribe, comment down below.Why doesn't my dad love me?
