Golf1

Golf mk1 GTi

The mkI's seen today are mostly 1983/-84 models. These were fitted with a 1,8 litre four-cylinder engine, as the one seen in early mkII's, and it produced a moderate 112 bhp at 5800 rpm. The engine was fitted with Bosh K-Jetronic fuel injection, and a four- or fivespeed gearbox. It had a compression-ratio of 10:1, which meant plenty of torque to play with. The front suspension was a macphearson independent type, with an anti-roll bar, and the car had ventilated front disks, with drums on the rear. Inside, there was a rev-counter, digital clock, and some even had an on-board computer.

Golf mk2 GTi

In February 1984, the new Golf was introduced. The wheelbase was increased by 75 mm, the track by 23 mm at the front and 50 mm at the rear. The length of the car itself was increased by 170 mm, and the width by 55 mm. Of course the overall weight of the car was increased too, but performance was still fairly strong. One reason for this, was the improved aerodynamics, reducing the drag-coefficient from 0,42 to 0,34. Another great improvement, was the rear disk brakes, but the front disks remained the same. In August 1987, the Golf was given a facelift. It now had a prettier front grille, with fewer slats. The side mirrors were also relocated closer to the A-pilar, which was a great improvement. That also meant that the side-windows were made a one-piece item. The side rubbing strips were changed, and so was the badging on the rear panel. The Golf now looked more modern and stylish, but it wasn't until the end of 1989 that the bodymods were complete. That was when we first saw the Big bumpers fitted as standard to the GL's and GTI's. These look so great that even today, you rarely see a modified mkII without them. Everyone is fitting them to their Golfs. The engine produced 112bhp @ 5800rpm, and reached 60mph in 8,3 seconds. Top speed was 119mph. The mkII production seized in 1992.

Golf mk2 GTi 16V

In September 1986 the Gti 16-valve was launched, with twice the number of valves of the standard GTi. The car looked just like an ordinary GTi on the outside, except for a tiny badge on the rear panel, that said 16V, below the Golf GTi badge, and it was lowered 10mm both front ad rear. The shocks were uprated, and the springs were stiffer, 10% on the front and 20% on the rear. It still had the same brakes as the GTi until 1989, though, but then they were upgraded to 256mm on the front, with larger brake pistons. But the main news was the engine; a cast-alloy, thermally hardened 16-valve cylinder head, with two counter-rotating camshafts. A 10:1 compression-ratio also helped the engine produce 24% more power than the standard 8-valve GTi. The 16-valve now had 139bhp @ 6300rpm, the torque was modest though, so the power came in the end of the rev-range. The 16-valve reached 60mph in 8,0 seconds, and the top speed was 129mph. The body-changes was pretty much the same as those of the GTi.

Golf Rallye / Golf GTi G60

In 1989, created the Rallye. This was a homolegation special, which means they made 5000 of them in order to use them in rallying. The engine was a 1.8 litre with a supercharger. The displacement was 1763cc, the compression ratio 8:1 and max. boost pressure around 0.65 bar. The engine power was 160 bhp at 5600 rpm. The suspension had higher damping rates and stronger anti-roll bars. The 0-60 time was around 8 seconds, and top speed was 130 mph. The bodywork was drastically changed, with wide wheel arches and front and rear aprons. It also had rectangular headlamps and a three slat grille. The knowledge and technology gained in the Rallye project was used to make the Golf GTi G60. It was alost like a normal GTi, only with a supercharged and strenghtened engine, better suspension and anti-roll bars and interior. Most were frontwheel drive with a 1781cc 8-valve engine and G-lader supercharger. It still produced 160 bhpm, and top speed was 134 mph. It was available as a three or five-door. The G60 engines are really easy and affordable to tune, because of the supercharger. If you change the pylley on the G-lader with for example a 68mm one, and the ECU chip with an RS-Chip, you can easily get 190-200 bhp, and lots of torque!

Golf mk3 GTi

The 8-valve mk3 is almost, in my opinion, too heavy and slow to be called a GTi, but I'll mention the specs anyway. The all new Golf was introduced in 1992, and was immediately named "Car of the Year". It had a drag factor of 0,30 to 0,33, depending on the model, but the power-to-weight ratio had dropped from 133bhp per ton, to 113. The 0-60 figure was 8,7 seconds (I thought it was even slower..?), and the top speed was 124mph. The engine was a 2-litre lump, with electronic Digifant injection. The power was 115bhp @ 5400rpm, but it had a good torque figure. It had 15-inch alloys, sports-seats, on-board computer, rear spoiler, tinted rear lights, and height adjustable steering-wheel. But the suspension was softer, but more comfortable (should a GTi be comfortable?). All the extras came during the years; electrical this and that, ABS, airbags, immobiliser etc. But in April 1995 the Color Concept was launched, available in yellow, red, blue or green, with lovely leather Recaro seats in the same color as the car. It had silver-faced instruments and alloy wheels.

Golf mk3 GTi 16V

In January 1993 Volkswagen decided to launch a REAL GTi, and so they modified the 16-valve engine to modern standards, with a 2-litre engine with new valves, 16 valve-head, electronic injection and improved low-down torque. Is produced 150bhp @ 6000rpm, and the top speed was 134mph. 0-60 came up in around 8 seconds. A downside was that the supension was the same soft one as the GTi. It came with a traction-control system and ABS, which nearly eliminated torque-steer. It had 15 inch alloys with 205/50-15 tyres, and other extras eventually included brake-wear detector, seat height adjustments, airbags and immobiliser.

Golf mk3 VR6

Now here is the real mk3! In February 1992, Volkswagen decided to put a VR6 in the Golf. But it wasn't the same 2,9 litre 190bhp engine as in the Corrado, but a 2,8 litre 174bhp engine from the Passat. It had all the extras; ABS, traction control, modified 5-speed gearbox and all the "luxury" extras; electrical stuff, airbags etc. 60mph came up in about 7 seconds, and top speed was just below 140mph. It had uprated suspension, front foglamps, leather steering wheel, rear headrests, 15-inch BBS alloys, and in September 1992 it got fully electronic ignition. In July 1995, it got colored bumpers and wheelarches. The "Highline" arrived in April 1995, and it had Air Conditioning, leather trim, wooden gear-knob, heated seats and either Black Pearl or Purple Violet Pearl paintwork. The mk3 production seized in the end of 1997.

Golf mk4 GTi 1.8T

The latest Golf GTi is equipped with a 1,8 litre 20-valve turbocharged engine. This great engine gives the car nice performance. The engine deliveres 150bhp. The torque is 155lbs. ft, from 1750 to 4600rpm, and 0-62mph time is 8,5 seconds. The top speed is 134mph. The car has great specs, with computer, sport seats, front foglights, electric sunroof, windows, wooden dash etc. The suspension is lowered by 10mm on the front and 15mm on the rear.