In 1984, the Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk2 was the hot hatch to end all hot hatchbacks, and now the German marque has teamed up with VW enthusiast Jamie Orr to recreate a Mk8 GTI inspired by the car’s golden era.
First and foremost, the GTI you see above is relatively stock aside from the obvious upgrades that we’ll get into in a bit. That’s because — quite simply — there’s nothing wrong with the four-pot engine to start with; so you get the stock 241 HP unit, front-wheel-drive, and a standard interior all at your disposal.
Orr explained the thinking behind this in a press release, saying, “We wanted to maintain the soul of the Mk8, so we went with more traditional modifications. But we left the interior, body, and powertrain exactly as it came from the factory… Take those wingback seats, with this striking red design — they are just phenomenal. Changing any of that would have been a shame.”
Sean Maynard, Enthusiast and Motorsport Marketing Specialist for Volkswagen added, “We try to do most of the modifications to the exterior and leave the interiors stock on the enthusiast fleet vehicles… That way someone that might not have any experience with the brand can still get a true feel for the vehicles.”
So what has been changed? Well, first a set of 1980’s-inspired BBS 19×9 Super RS rims were added in the signature gold colorway, sporting the quintessential waffle and hex pattern, and then they were wrapped in Delinte 235/35/19 D7 tires. From there, Orr lowered the front of the car with a set of H&R coil-overs, adjusting the camber for better stance at the same time.
Lastly, a Borla exhaust has been fitted to get the best sound out of that engine, and “BBS retro red and black vintage livery with pinstriping running from stem to stern” was also applied.
Of course, this is purely an exercise in experimentation and concept design. But sound off below if you’d like to see a pack like this offered by VW.
Elsewhere in the automotive world, Lamborghini’s Countach has been reborn.
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