Though the first GTIs might seem boring by today's standards, its charming two-box design and racy styling details are leading reasons why it became such a cult car. Fond memories of the Mk I's matte black plastic bumpers, slightly flared fenders, small alloys mounted on skinny tires, thick rubber rear spoiler and blacked out grille trim with red accents have stuck with the car through the ages. Track the GTI through its past and you'll find that the farther away you get from the original, the less apparent these traits are. In an age where anything other than two-toned or color-keyed accessories are deemed unworthy, the accompanying perky attitude of the VW's penultimate sport hatch seems to have diminished. Even though it's in its fifth generation and the stylish original Giugiaro lines are all but kept in pictures and drafts, these details are what help continue the GTI tradition.
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| The grille of the GTI is fitted with black honeycomb mesh and outlined in red, giving it a nostalgic feeling. (Photo: Volkswagen AG) |
With the ur-GTI's (ur being original in German) squared-off edges having evolved into a fully matured modern hatchback, there's nothing to remind us of what the old car looked like. In order to recreate the same nostalgic feeling, Volkswagen has turned to tweaking the details. Though the car doesn't feature full matte-black plastic bumpers, the boys from Wolfsburg have attempted to create a style median to fit the GTI look, while keeping it fresh and modern. The grille is fitted with black honeycomb mesh and outlined in red - this starts the retro theme.
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| The back of the GTI is capped off with a roof-mounted rear spoiler and chromed exhaust tips. (Photo: Volkswagen AG) |
Interestingly, Volkswagen's other recent prototype, the Concept-R, features the same three large air intakes in the lower air dam. Look carefully, and you'll spot the V-shaped tapered front grille, outlined in black plastic also similar to the Concept-R. Around the back, the exterior is capped off with a roof-mounted rear spoiler and chromed exhaust tips.