Volkswagen is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Jetta GLI with an all-new special edition, which will be offered exclusively in North America.
Designed to mark four decades of a “GTI with a trunk,” the special edition features a Pure White, Pure Gray or Rising Blue exterior with contrasting black mirror caps and door handles. Buyers will also find a black grille, a black spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels. They’re joined by familiar red accents and special badging.
The upgrades continue in the cabin with eye-catching “embossed molecular cloth seats,” which have red contrast stitching as well as unique center sections with a grid-like pattern. The latter varies by vehicle and Volkswagen says it acts as a “one-of-a-kind fingerprint.”
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Elsewhere, there are special cup holders with “GLI” and “1984” accents. Buyers will also find a “40” badge on the steering wheel as well as “GLI 40” messaging on the door sill plates and red seat tags.
Under the hood, there’s a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine developing 228 hp (170 kW / 231 PS) and 258 lb-ft (349 Nm) of torque. Buyers will also find adaptive dampers, a limited-slip differential, and a sport exhaust system.
Only 1,984 units will be offered in the United States and production is already underway. Deliveries are slated to begin this summer and pricing starts at $28,085. That’s pretty reasonable, especially when you consider the 2023 Jetta GLI started at $31,585.
