3 Minutes
Volkswagen revives a wild GTI concept for the 50th anniversary
Volkswagen dusted off one of its boldest concept studies to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the GTI: a roofless, V6-powered Golf GTI Roadster producing 510 horsepower — a machine that was never intended for production. Originally conceived as a virtual concept for Gran Turismo 6 in 2014, the Roadster has returned in a vivid green livery that nods to the exclusive GTI Edition 50 color and thrusts a forgotten design back into the spotlight.
Not your average Golf
Where typical GTI models tread conservatively, this Roadster is deliberately radical. Built on the Mk7 Golf platform, it discards the roof and rear seats in favor of a completely reimagined, aggressive silhouette. The C-pillars are reinterpreted as integrated roll bars and the doors open skyward like a full-blown supercar. Hood vents, a massive rear wing and widened hips mean you won’t mistake this for a standard hatchback — the designers were freed from production constraints and regulations, and they used that freedom to push the concept into extreme territory.
Performance and drivetrain
Under the bonnet sits a 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo engine delivering 510 hp and 560 Nm of torque. Power is sent through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox to 20-inch wheels, but the most striking mechanical twist is drivetrain choice: unlike every road-going GTI that historically used front-wheel drive, the Roadster adopts an all-wheel-drive system similar to the Golf R. That decision substantially alters the car’s dynamics and its place within GTI lore — a break from tradition reminiscent of the legendary Golf W12 concept that used rear-wheel drive.
Performance figures are jaw-dropping:
- 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph): 3.6 seconds
- Top speed: 310 km/h (193 mph)
- Curb weight: approximately 1,421 kg
Despite losing the roof, the addition of a large V6 and AWD hardware, plus bigger brakes and wider tires, actually makes the concept a touch heavier than a standard Mk7 GTI.
"This is a GTI reimagined without compromise," the concept seems to say — a blue-sky exercise showing how far designers could push the brand’s hot-hatch ethos.
Where it sits in the VW family
Seen alongside the Golf R and other halo concepts, the GTI Roadster is more a statement than a production roadmap. It underlines Volkswagen’s willingness to experiment with layout, powertrain and form when the brief is purely creative. For enthusiasts, it’s an intriguing what-if: an open-top Golf with supercar manners and brute force.
Highlights
- Radical styling and bespoke details set it apart from any production Golf
- V6 twin-turbo delivers supercar-level power in a compact package
- AWD changes the GTI equation, improving launch performance
Whether the Roadster will ever influence future production models is uncertain, but as a concept it succeeds: it reminds automotive fans that the GTI badge can be a platform for unexpected and exciting ideas.
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