This Giugiaro-designed compact masterpiece from Volkswagen was exactly the right car at the right time, but it was in GTI form, from 1975, that it was most impressive. The car that first earned the term ‘hot hatch’ used a Bosch fuel-injection 1588cc engine to pump 110bhp through its front wheels and the tight and nimble handling meant all this could be used to the limit with no issue and lots of smiles. The 1781cc engine and twin round headlamps marked was the calling card of the 1982 GTI and remained its signature until the 2nd generation.
