2024 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Marks 40th Anniversary with Limited-Edition Trim

I guess this press release formally answers the question I asked myself only 10 days ago…

On the occasion of the Jetta GLI’s 40th anniversary, Volkswagen of America ushers in a limited-edition of the acclaimed performance sedan, the 2024 Jetta GLI. As a tribute to its first model year, an exclusive run of 1,984 units will be made available to American enthusiasts, injecting new life into the Jetta GLI’s legacy, once fondly dubbed the “GTI with a trunk.”

The limited-edition model sports a sharp exterior in three hues – Pure Gray, Pure White, and Rising Blue. The colors tastefully contrast with blackout detailing and GLI’s trademark red trim, presenting a sleek silhouette with 18-inch black, ten-spoke wheels, a black grille, mirror caps, door handles, and a spoiler.

The interior is studded with distinctive 40th-anniversary elements. Each model boasts embossed molecular cloth seats, unique to each vehicle, akin to a singular fingerprint. The GLI logo and ‘1984’ adorn engraved cupholders, while seat tags and front door sills bear the “GLI 40” inscription. The steering wheel proudly flaunts a “40” clip at the six o’clock position.

The 2024 Jetta GLI carries forward the heritage of delivering an accessible German performance sedan. It boasts a turbocharged EA888 2.0-liter engine churning out 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, amplified by larger brakes, a Sport HMI performance monitor, a VAQ electronically-controlled torque-sensing limited-slip differential and an XDS electronic differential lock, among others.

This 40th-anniversary edition, starting at $28,085 MSRP, is due to hit dealerships later this summer. The current Autobahn is priced from $31,980 making the GLI an absolute bargain.

For those in Canada awaiting their chance to partake in the celebration, information will be announced soon. We think that 258 units has a nice torquey ring to it. And given VW’s Canada pricing strategy, it’s possible that the 40^th will be a grand or two cheaper than the ’23 GLI’s base MSRP of $35,575.