They don't stand for anything I'm afraid. Just model letters. GSI was introduced to avoid insurance companies bumping up the insurance prices for the GTi's.
these days it seams 1 maker thinks you can sport up a saloon & call it a gti.the golf started this.in the old days a gt was a genuine model on its own right.such as the mgb gt.spitfire gt6.or the stag.rover`s anserwer to fords l was the si gl was sli gear the luxury model was the gsi.the top sport nova was the gsi just to confuse it more.but i dont know what the gs ment.ford had the gls moddle cortina/granada.these came with sports suspension.s 4 sport.strange though the same set up was standard on the ghia.dont think the s part ment sport to rover.i think they thought it sounded nicer than an escort l or gl.wich it does.my self i would class the coupe as gt in the old sence of the word.a 2+2 sports moddle.but the gti had gone before it.clever use of the letters by rover back then i thought.much nicer to market than an l or a gl.old hat.
no joke this,you could if you had all fords opption packs of the time have a mk1 capri 3.0l gt xlr.the xlr were the opption packs of the day.it was a nice little earner for old henry.still i wouldnt say no to 1 these days. 8)
