APR is a tuning house that is well-known for producing go-faster goodies for VW, Audi and Porsche products. At this year’s SEMA show, taking place in Las Vegas at the moment, the US firm unveiled this radical APR VW Golf RLMS.

Still a Golf

APR took 18 months to build the car you see here. The styling was inspired by VW’s TCR racers. The APR Golf RLMS boasts a wide body kit that was built to accommodate wider wheels. Custom two-piece APR rims are shod with Toyo Tires.

Watch a crazy TCR crash from earlier this year by clicking here.

There is an aggressive front splitter and a massive, adjustable rear wing to balance the front aero grip.

Doubling the power

APR started with VW’s 2,0-litre turbocharged motor, but gave it a complete rework. The AP Golf RLMS now pumps out a crazy 400 kW, near double the power that a standard Golf R produces. Coupled with that power is 642 N.m of torque. The tuning house didn’t just go for outright power, they were intent to make the delivery linear as well.

The power increase comes from various upgrades. A twin-scroll Borg Warner turbocharger, and APR Stage III+ ECU upgrade, upgraded injectors and fuel pump, APR race downpipe, a carbon-fibre intake system, intercooler and more.

Performance claims for the APR Golf RLMS are impressive. The firm says it’ll blitz the quarter-mile in 10 seconds. They also claim as 0-225 km/h time that is 15 seconds quicker than a stock Golf R.

Safety first

To ensure that occupants stay safe if something should go wrong, the APR VW Golf RLMS features a custom roll cage, OMP racing harnesses fitted to race-spec bucket seats and a fire extinguisher system.

In his own words

“APR’s extensive racing history has helped us to develop the Golf RLMS,” said APR’s President, Mitch Williams. “We wanted to create a Stage III track car that can dominate circuits around the country. With 536 horsepower and all-wheel drive, we can’t wait to turn some laps.”