Every Volkswagen Sports Car You Should Know
Volkswagen isn’t known for its sports cars, but it has released some notable models like the Jetta GLI and Karmann Ghia.
Written by Joshua Levy
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Since its inception in 1937,
Volkswagen
has been a staple in car manufacturing. And while it hasn’t quite made its mark on the sports car market, Volkswagen has released some successful sports models like the Jetta GLI
. Does Volkswagen make sports cars?
Most people think of Volkswagen as a producer of basic cars that get the job done. While it has a generally positive reputation, not many people expect much more from the German brand than quality commuter vehicles. But Volkswagen has a strong history of innovation that many consumers don’t know about.
Here’s a quick **breakdown of Volkswagen's top sports cars**:
1955 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia contained many of the Volkswagen’s standard interior components, including a 4-cylinder engine and a 4-speed manual transmission. What set it apart from the rest of Volkswagen’s vehicles was the Italian exterior style, which Volkswagen incorporated to appeal to mainstream consumers of the time.
While the performance wasn’t too different from other models, the Karmann Ghia was marketed as a sports car to match its new sleek exterior. Today, the Karmann Ghia is one of the most sought-after vehicles among vintage car collectors.
1977 Volkswagen Scirocco
Despite its clunky appearance and station wagon vibe, the Scirocco was originally marketed as a sports racing car.By today’s standards, the Scirocco’s performance is laughable—reaching top speeds of only about 115 miles per hour. Of course, the 1970s were a different time in car history and standards were different.
While the Scirocco doesn’t hold up well against today’s standards, Volkswagen’s European consumers were taken with the vehicle. In fact, the Scirocco found quick success in the European market, quickly becoming one of the most sought-after cars of the time. Unfortunately, the Scirocco never quite made it to America. Even today, the US has little love for Volkswagen’s original racing car.
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2022 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
While Volkswagen doesn’t spend too much time on high-end sports cars, they’ve found some success in recent years with affordable sports cars like the
Jetta GLI
. Considering its affordable price point of only $32,260, the Jetta just about has it all. Ample cargo space, soft leather seats, and a powerful 228 horsepower engine are just a few of the premium features the Jetta GLI brings to the table.Of course, one of the Jetta GLI’s best characteristics is its premium exterior. Everything from the sleek body to the stylish rims makes the GLI stand out as a luxury vehicle. Even though it doesn’t quite make the cut into luxury territory, it’s just about as close as you can get for about $30,000.
While it isn’t winning any races, the Jetta GLI is the perfect sports car for budget buyers on the market for a sleek new ride.
A history of Volkswagens sports cars
While Volkswagens have been on the market since 1937, they haven’t devoted much time or resources to the development of sports cars. The most notable sports cars they’ve produced were the 1955 Karmann Ghia and the 2022 Jetta GLI.
The Karmann Ghia showed the world how classic Italian styling could be applied to affordable vehicles, influencing the development of similar premium vehicles that would come over the next few decades.
After the Karmann Ghia, it would be about another 60 years before Volkswagen once again tried its hand at creating a notable sports car, the Jetta GLI. While the Jetta GLI isn’t a top performer in the sports car industry, it's one of the best sports cars on the market for the price. Volkswagen isn’t the first brand that comes to mind when you think of sports cars, but it is one of the most competitive marques on the affordable premium car market.
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