TAROX ICONS – GOLF GTi Mk1

When the original GTI was launched at the 1975 Geneva Motor Show, it broke the mould. Back then, there was no such thing as a ‘hot-hatch’. You either bought a family saloon or a rear-wheel drive sports car. The front wheel drive Golf changed everything.

Here was a vehicle that was good looking, practical, affordable and, most importantly, fun to drive. The wheel at each corner layout, lively 1.6-litre engine and finely balanced chassis made it a big hit with enthusiast drivers. Of course, as with any production vehicle, there were areas that could be improved upon.

The success of the Mk1 Golf GTI influenced other car manufacturers to produce their own hot hatch models. It also played a role in changing the perception of compact cars, demonstrating that small cars could offer both performance and style.

Cultural Impact: The Mk1 Golf GTI became a cultural icon, particularly among car enthusiasts. Its distinctive design, with features like the red-striped grille and plaid interior, contributed to its iconic status. It was not just a car; it represented a lifestyle and a shift in automotive culture.

The first ever grooved disc. Just in time for the first Golf GTI. We launched our first grooved disc for the road in 1983 and the Mk1 Golf GTI was one of the most popular fitments. This performance setup delivered a harder bite, with improved pedal response, thanks to improved thermal resistance. With the confidence to brake later into turns, knowing that the car would slow down effectively, drivers could really begin to exploit the playful nature of the Golf’s chassis. From a spirited B-road thrash, to hot laps of a circuit, the newly upgraded GTi was a revelation.

TAROX C83 disc/rotor. As much as this disc helped with performance it was the now iconic TAROX G88 – launched in 1988 that could really transform the braking performance of the Hot Hatches like the Mk1 Golf GTi

It wasn’t long before tuning the cars became a serious game and many cars by the early nineties had received substantial power upgrades. This where another great coincidence occurred TAROX had been pioneering ‘Big Brake Kits’ Utilising racing caliper and floating disc technology from motorsport combined with hardware to fit on to a street car. The Mk1 Golf was an obvious candidate for some of the first ever TAROX brake kits.

Front Discs UK

Front Discs EU

Front Rotors US

Below and early TAROX kit on an early Awesome GTi Mk1 with a VR6 engine conversion – the two companies still work together on a daily basis!

How todays MK Golf kits look

Front Brake Kit UK

Front kit EU

Front Kit USA

The success of the Mk1 Golf GTI led to the creation of subsequent generations of the Golf GTI, each building upon the success of its predecessor. The GTI line has become one of the most popular and enduring hot hatch line-ups in the automotive industry.

Find out more how TAROX has grown with the Golf GTi with our generations feature

#taroxgenerations – An Illustrious Partnership With The VW Golf GTI