GTI Edition 50 first press release

[Legally Binding]

Hi folks, long time lurker and so it’s about time I contribute.

I have had my normal Golf Mk7.5 from new since 2017 and done 68k miles to date. When I bought it I thought it was a great car, replacing my mk5 VW Polo, and only in hindsight has It become more apparent how VW nailed the Mk 7.5.

I’ve been wanting a special car for so time now before I have a family, logic need not apply. Initially, I was set on a sports car; if not now whilst young then when. First, I took an beautiful little green Alpine a110 for a week across north Wales. It was nimble, light and responsive. However, I felt the 1.8 engine lacked soul. So of course naturally I then took a 718 Cayman S around the South Downs for a week. The Cayman was more mature and interior was more plush but the 4 pot droning noise would become unmanageable for my motorway trips.

Surely then the answer must be the Cayman GTS 4.0 (NA). Booked a day with PEC at Silverstone, tested it track and the backroads. It was the most complete car of the lot. However, as I left I thought to myself do I want to spend of life savings on this, and it seems no. The GPF filters have muted the car, and it was perhaps too fast to exploit for my layman abilities. I expect the car I’ve been looking for all along has been the 981 Cayman GTS, NA and pre filters.

Whilst I’ve been learning and testing, I have been patiently waiting for the Golf GTI Edition 50 probably since the launch of the Mk 8.5 GTI and Clubsport if not even longer under the the loose hope that VW go balls to the wall before ICE get cancelled and does something akin to the Mk7 Clubsport and S. It’s looking promising so far. It’s this or the 981 Cayman GTS. The Golf would be brand new, hopefully very reliable, and discreet to not attract attention in the staff car park.

I’ve tried to find all the info I can beyond what is already discussed here.

1. This website has a 80+ pager forum from Germany about the GTI Edition 50. The lease deals they're getting is nuts. 1/2k down and 250 euros PCM. Last few pages talks about 16/20% discount on private purchase, but I can’t find any evidence of that.

https://www.motor-talk.de/forum/gti-50-jahre-jubilaeumsmodell-2026-t8175078.html?page=87

2. Lack of Alcantara wheel in UK - I rang my dealer and VW customer service - both were useless. I then emailed VW. A lovely person said although the product team are reviewing the options list, but there is no plans thus far for the Alcantara wheel. I when back and said to log my request with the product team, seems completely daft to leave it out.

3. Limited production info - Spain has limited to 325 cars. VW Barnetts in an intsta post says 1000 for the UK. VW customer service email said there was no end date for the order book. Can’t find any other details.

4. Reviews - from the event in media event on Barcelona, seems some videos/maybe review will go live this Friday.

5. Discounts - my local dealer said no discounts even thought it’s not a limited production car in the UK. Not sure if they will budge on this.

[WelshGolf]

i'd be surprised if there aren't a few of these hanging about down the line and then there will be discounts. Buying this car without a discount is madness to me given the price already.

[Watts]

Just watched the 'Nobby on cars' review, very interesting. I'd be tempted (not at full price though) but wonder just how much better than a regular CS it would be to drive. Having said that, I'm struggling to get many opportunities to stretch the legs on mine given how many decent roads have reduced speed limits these days and the constant swerving to avoid huge pot holes.

I was also surprised as to how much I liked the green with black wheels combination, would be a difficult decision with TR.

[Exonian]

Now the embargo is lifted there’s going to be a whole load of vids released.
I’ll watch a few over the weekend, time permitting, but I see Autocar have put up a road and track vid Watts plus the usual Autogefuhl etc launch reviews. Otherwise it’ll be a wait until the UK on road reviews.

[Carl_45]

I’m back to visit you all here, I’ve read the posts, seen the pictures, watched a few videos and been through the ed50 configurator…. My current status is: ‘mildly intrigued’ 😅

I really like the look of the ed50, controversially, I even like the green with red wheels.

It’s great to see a few people ordering, especially long term CS/CS45 owners. That must mean you’ve enjoyed the CS and fancy something with (hopefully) a little extra fizz?

I’d love to get back into a golf, and have often found myself looking at what TCRs are available. I think the ed50 might be special enough for me to consider (although I don’t buy the future desirability propaganda, it isn’t a Clubsport S).

But! At the minute, I just can’t get past the price. I’ve put my spec into carwow and there doesn’t seem to be any deals available, this means an ed50 is a whopping £16,000 more than I paid for the CS45. If I could get one for my M2 plus around £8k I’d consider, but for now, I’ll wait and see if either my status changes, or, deals start to pop up.

[miromen]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yK3qsmobVA

[Legally Binding]

Today I when to my local dealer to enquiry about placing an order, but largely I was there to see if I can charm them into giving me a discount for my 10+ years of doing business with them.

We had a long conversation and I tried to gather information they may have at a dealer level. He told me there have been allocated 8 slots, so 30+ in total as they have a few dealerships. They have sold 1 slot thus far. Only 8 slots will be available for the year, and customers are free to order from factory in whichever spec, but not alcantara wheel. I asked repeatedly, in different ways, surely they will receive more slots down the line, either in the next quarter, when press cars come to the UK or perhaps when they sell all their slots. However, based on what he’s been told by the bosses so far, it’s only 8, with the future being unknown.

Absolutely, not a penny off the list price. On paper, it’s a Golf GTI TRC level time-bound production, i.e., free to order all year round, but at the prices of a limited production Clubsport S. It would have been much better if VW UK made up their mind instead of pussyfooting around and said its 50k with X limited production take it at full price or leave it, no discounts.

Can anyone who has ordered these types of special edition cars before shed some light on their experiences and if this is just the dealer selling strategy? I find it hard to believe dealers across the UK have only been given a limited number of slots of the whole year whilst all the PR press says it will be available for order for the whole 2026.

Current delivery lead time is 3/4 months.

On the off topic, he mention that the Golf R with the 2.5 RS3 engine is in late prototype cycle now, which confirms Autocar’s report earlier this year.

[king monkey]

No dealer I’ve spoken to is prepared to give anything off. Mine at least gave me more than motorway for the 45. Their stance seems to be that they have these build slots and if they’re not filled, then so be it. Let’s face it, the GTI Isn’t a massive earner for VW. The money is in all the regular fodder, not in special editions.

I’ve had a 35 and 45 and never ever paid list price or anywhere near. This feels so different.