The Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R will no longer be offered with a manual transmission after the 2024 model year. In their final year of production, all manual GTIs will be fitted with a special package called the GTI 380. This package includes an exclusive paint color, black 19-inch wheels from the Golf R 20th Anniversary Edition, and standard adaptive dampers on all trims.
The German automaker unveiled the Golf GTI 380 as a send-off to the manual transmission. This special edition will be included with every 2024 stick-shift GTI, marking the end of an era for the do-it-yourself gearbox. The 2024 model year will also be the last year for the manual transmission in the 315-hp Golf R.
The changes to the GTI 380 are relatively subtle. Alongside the regular paint options, it will be available in a unique color called Graphite Gray Metallic. The black 19-inch wheels are borrowed from the Golf R 20th Anniversary Edition and come with summer performance rubber as standard. The GTI 380 also features a blacked-out roof and side-view mirrors, as well as the standardization of adaptive dampers from the top-tier Autobahn model on all manual 2024 GTIs. The cabin remains unchanged, and all GTIs will continue to be powered by the same turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine producing 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque.
While Volkswagen did not specify the reason for discontinuing the manual transmission, it is likely due to a combination of factors. Stricter emissions regulations in Europe, where the manual GTI emits slightly more carbon dioxide than the automatic version, may have influenced the decision. Additionally, with only 8,423 GTIs and Golf Rs sold in the United States in 2022, it may not have been financially feasible to continue offering the manual option for just one market. By removing the manual transmission, Volkswagen can streamline the GTI’s assembly line and potentially save costs.
Volkswagen will continue to offer the GTI and Golf R with the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The 2024 GTI 380 will go on sale this fall, with prices starting at $32,485 for the S model, $37,285 for the SE, and $40,625 for the Autobahn. Destination fees have yet to be published for the 2024 Golf GTI.
[Image: 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI 380]
Source: Volkswagen
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