How many horsepower did the original 1976 Volkswagen Golf GTI produce?

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The original 1976 Volkswagen Golf GTI produced 110 hp. More precisely, Volkswagen commonly specifies the output as 110 PS, or 81 kW; this is conventionally reported in English-language car coverage as about 110 horsepower.

The first GTI used a 1.6-litre fuel-injected four-cylinder engine derived from an Audi unit. It combined the light, compact Golf body with stronger performance, revised suspension, larger brakes and distinctive styling details. The result helped establish the “hot hatch” as a major performance-car category.

The GTI was launched in Germany in June 1976 at a price of 13,850 German marks. Its modest weight and 110-hp engine gave it unusually strong performance for a practical small car, including a claimed top speed of about 182 km/h. Later Mk1 versions and export specifications varied, so figures in some references may differ.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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