The stopwatch says it all: is opening statement of a VW press release. The new Golf R 20 Years edition is now the fastest R model of all time on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The Golf R 20 Years set a lap time of 7 min 47,31 sec. The time, four seconds quicker than the previous benchmark, was set by touring car ace and VW test driver Benjamin Leuchter. Incidentally, he is the same chap who once held the FWD record at the Green Hell in the Clubsport S.

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Special Edition

The VW Golf R 20 Years was created to celebrate the anniversary of the most powerful production Golf models to leave the factory. This version has 10 kW more than the current Golf R production model. It boasts 245 kW which allows it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,6 seconds; its electronically limited top speed is 270 km/h.

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The Golf R 20 Years also has two additional drive modes. These are “Special” and “Drift” profiles. The “Special” driving profile was developed especially for the ‘Ring. In this mode the dampers are adjusted to a more soft and comfortable setting due to the enormous loads placed on the car in this unique environment.

The timed lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife took place with a flying start in front of grandstand T13. The start and finish for the measurement are at the start and end of the grandstand – the 200 metres in between are not counted. The Golf R 20 Years achieved a speed of almost 240 km/h at the “Schwedenkreuz” crest, while 265 km/h was measured on the long “Döttinger Höhe”.

Learn more about some of the other changes to the car from Leuchter, and catch his full flying lap in the videos below the information table.

20 years of the Golf R – an overview 

Year of manufacture Engine Engine output Torque output 0 to 100 km/h Top speed
2002

Golf R32

 3.2-litre six-cylinder 177 kW 320 N.m 6,4 sec 247 km/h
2005

Golf 5 R32

 3.2-litre six-cylinder 184 kW 320 N.m 6,2 sec 248 km/h
2009

Golf 6 R

 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo 199 kW 350 N.m 5,5 sec 250 km/h
2013

Golf 7R

 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo 221 kW 400 N.m 4,9 sec 250 km/h, optionally

270 km/h with Performance package (from product upgrade)
2020

Golf 8R

 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo 235 kW 420 N.m 4,7 sec 250 km/h, optionally

270 km/h with R-Performance package
2022

GolfR “20 Years

 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo 245 kW 420 N.m 4,6 sec 270 km/h