VW Celebrates 40 Years of Jetta GLI with Limited Edition 2024 Model

1984 was a wild year in American History. The Cold War was still raging; The Apple Macintosh personal computer went on sale for $2,500; Bruce Springsteen released “Born in the U.S.A.” as his seventh studio album; Band Aid is created and recorded the song “Do They Know It’s Christmas”; Prince’s “Purple Rain” debuts; and Volkswagen show off the Jetta GLI, a sporty sedan that Car and Driver said in 1985, “Eat your hearts out, mini-Mercs and bitty-Bimmers.”

The Very First GLI

The very first Volkswagen Jetta GLI had a base price of $9995 (remember those days?), and did well with a 1.8-liter Inline-4 making 100 horsepower and 105 lb-ft of torque. Car and Driver said in their March 1985 issue that the brand new GLI could go from 0-60 mph in 10.9 seconds. 

Time marches on, and forty years later, cars are in a much different world. I think a U-Haul moving truck could get to 60 mph faster than 10.9 seconds these days. 

40th Anniversary Edition

To commemorate 40 years of the Jetta GLI, Volkswagen is building 1,984 special 2024 Anniversary Editions of the car for collectors and enthusiasts alike. Starting at just $28,085 for a manual transmission version (oh yeah, the Jetta GLI still keeps a manual, folks), and $28,885 for the DSG transmission model. You can pick from three exterior colors: Pure Gray, Pure White, and Rising Blue, with black details such as the grille, 10-spoke wheels, mirror caps, door handles, and lip spoiler contrast with the GLI’s red trim. 

Inside you are met with embossed molekular cloth seats that are specific to the 40th Anniversary Edition GLI. Because they are fabricated specifically for each car, no two seats in a car will be the same as another set. Volkswagen says this is like a fingerprint for your car. The cupholders feature engraved GLI and 1984 logos, and the seat tags and door sills have “GLI 40” on them, and there is a “40” logo at the 6 o’clock position on the steering wheel. 

Engine & Performance Features

The 2024 Volkswagen Jetta GLI 40th Anniversary Edition will still have the standard 2.0-liter Turbocharged Inline-4 Cylinder engine that produces 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Bigger brakes, a limited-slip differential, XDS® electronic differential lock, DCC® adaptive damping system, and a sport exhaust are still all on the limited edition GLI. 

To inquire about the 2024 Jetta GLI 40th Anniversary Edition, or any other Volkswagen for that matter, Volkswagen of Duluth will be able to provide you with excellent assistance. With more than 100 new and used vehicles for sale, we will work hard to get you the best price possible on your next car. Our wonderful service department will be happy to maintain your vehicle and ensure that it is in the best possible condition.