Volkswagen Reprises Blue Lagoon GLI for 2021 Show Car

Jason R. Sakurai
by Jason R. Sakurai

Among water-cooled Volkswagen aficionados, the Mark 5 2004 Jetta GLI in a color called Blue Lagoon has become a unicorn. With this in mind, for 2021 Volkswagen rolled out a Jetta GLI concept car that reprises its sought-after predecessor.

Volkswagen limited the GTI 1337, a special edition made two years prior to the Blue Lagoon GLI, to just 1,500 examples. However, the GLI, a sedan with a body kit, BBS wheels, and Recaro seats just like the 1337, wasn’t designated as a special edition, and consequently, no record exists as to how many were produced in this exact configuration and paint color. Regardless, “The Jetta GLI has been an enthusiast favorite throughout its 37-year history,” said Sean Maynard, Volkswagen’s enthusiast and motorsport marketing specialist. “Paying tribute to the Mk4 with this build concept celebrates the passion that goes into these vehicles.”

Under the supervision of former Volkswagen product launch manager Andres Valbuena, a 2021 Jetta GLI Autobahn with a manual transmission was modified in the spirit of the 2004 model. Using a 2004 GLI’s fuel door to match the blue lagoon color, he and his team were able to come up with a shade that Orafol, the vinyl wrap manufacturer, calls midnight blue metallic. Wrapping the car in its entirety, door jambs and other pieces included, even when the doors, hood, or trunk are opened, it has the appearance of a car that’s been painted.

Air Design, the Oceanside, California-based studio for Mexico’s Air Design S.A. de C.V., a manufacturer of body kits, installed the exterior side skirts, and rear trunk spoiler, before Fifteen52 put the front lower spoiler in place. 20-inch BBS CH-R wheels, with Continental ExtremeContact Sport 235/35 ZR20 tires, were mounted by AlphaParts, and H&R Springs’ street performance coil-over suspension kit was utilized to provide the GLI with a more aggressive-looking attitude than it had previously.

The only interior modifications were Recaro Ergomed ES leather front seats, and a golf ball shift knob from Black Forest Industries. From start to finish, it took Valbuena’s team a little over a month to complete the build.

The first of what is being called the 2021 Volkswagen Enthusiast Fleet, can be seen at car shows and events across the country, a list of which was not provided.

[Images: Volkswagen]

Jason R. Sakurai
Jason R. Sakurai

With a father who owned a dealership, I literally grew up in the business. After college, I worked for GM, Nissan and Mazda, writing articles for automotive enthusiast magazines as a side gig. I discovered you could make a living selling ad space at Four Wheeler magazine, before I moved on to selling TV for the National Hot Rod Association. After that, I started Roadhouse, a marketing, advertising and PR firm dedicated to the automotive, outdoor/apparel, and entertainment industries. Through the years, I continued writing, shooting, and editing. It keep things interesting.

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  • EX35 EX35 on Feb 28, 2021

    The hell with the color. Bring back the 6yr B2B warranty. No way I will own one of these outside a warranty.

  • Speedlaw Speedlaw on Feb 28, 2021

    This is funny. My GTi Mk2, had...BBS wheels, Recaro Seats, and a Golf Ball shift knob. The suspension won't pass US regs, too low. So, they did the exact same thing they did back then. I hope Air Design didn't get paid too much for this "design". Also, 20 inch wheels ? Only if you live in Germany.

  • ToolGuy This might be a good option for my spouse when it becomes available -- thought about reserving one but the $500 deposit is a little too serious. Oh sorry, that was the Volvo EX30, not the Mustang. Is Volvo part of Ford? Is the Mustang an EV? I'm so confused.
  • Mikey My late wife loved Mustangs ..We alway rented one while travelling . GM blood vetoed me purchasing one . 3 years after retirement bought an 08 rag top, followed by a 15 EB Hard top, In 18 i bought a low low mileage 05 GT rag with a stick.. The car had not been properly stored. That led to rodent issues !! Electrical nightmare. Lots of bucks !! The stick wasn't kind to my aging knees.. The 05 went to a long term dedicated Mustang guy. He loves it .. Today my garage tenant is a sweet 19 Camaro RS rag 6yl Auto. I just might take it out of hibernation this weekend. The Mustang will always hold a place in my heart.. Kudos to Ford for keeping it alive . I refuse to refer to the fake one by that storied name .
  • Ajla On the Mach-E, I still don't like it but my understanding is that it helps allow Ford to continue offering a V8 in the Mustang and F-150. Considering Dodge and Ram jumped off a cliff into 6-cylinder land there's probably some credibility to that story.
  • Ajla If I was Ford I would just troll Stellantis at all times.
  • Ronin It's one thing to stay tried and true to loyal past customers; you'll ensure a stream of revenue from your installed base- maybe every several years or so.It's another to attract net-new customers, who are dazzled by so many other attractive offerings that have more cargo capacity than that high-floored 4-Runner bed, and are not so scrunched in scrunchy front seats.Like with the FJ Cruiser: don't bother to update it, thereby saving money while explaining customers like it that way, all the way into oblivion. Not recognizing some customers like to actually have right rear visibility in their SUVs.
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