Volkswagen Golf R 20 Years - the fastest Golf around the Nürburgring
The success story of the Golf R models began in 2002 with the Golf R32 and its 3.2-liter six-cylinder engine producing 177 kW (241 PS). It was the most powerful Golf Volkswagen had ever built. Featuring all-wheel drive and an exclusive design and equipment package, the Golf R32 was designed to meet customer needs.
For its twentieth anniversary, Volkswagen decided to make a splash with a special edition of its Golf 8R, the new Golf R 20 Years, a special edition created to celebrate, as you might have guessed, 20 years of the R badge appearing on a Golf. It has already completed a lap of the formidable Nürburgring Nordschleife, setting the fastest time ever recorded for a Golf, but lap times aren't what interests us in this new special edition.
What's new on this Golf R 20 Years?
It all starts under the hood, where the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine has received an extra boost with increased peak power. The Golf R "20 Years" surpasses all previous Golf models, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 270 km/h. The Golf R "20 Years" edition makes its exceptional character known from the moment the engine starts. The 333 hp delivered by the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is impossible to miss. The driver can select an Emotion Start mode to activate a rev-matching feature that revs the engine up to 2,500 rpm. Combined with a particularly impressive driving sound, this further enhances the anticipation of a typical R driving experience.
In addition to the extra power, VW has also worked to improve the engine's character, giving it an aggressive edge that the current generation lacked. One method employed is a new turbo mode that keeps the throttle open during partial acceleration, maintaining higher boost pressures for longer and improving engine responsiveness. This is an electronically controlled anti-lag system. There is also a new "Emotional Start" function that revs the engine to 2,500 rpm during a cold start, projecting the engine sound through an optional Akrapovic exhaust system.
The seven-speed DSG gearbox has also received new software that should allow for faster and more precise gear changes, but changes to the 4Motion all-wheel-drive system or the torque-vectoring differential on the rear axle have not yet been confirmed. We do know that the standard 19-inch wheels (which are available as an option in a lovely shade of Lapiz Blue) can also be fitted with Michelin Cup 2 235/35 R19 91Y tires – although VW UK is hesitant to fit such aggressive tires directly from the factory, it's unclear whether we'll see them on UK-based cars.
Equipped with this tire, Volkswagen lapped its new Golf R 20 Years on the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in 7:47.31, making it faster than all previous Golfs, including the front-wheel-drive GTI Clubsport S, which had then broken the lap record with a time of 7:49.21 in 2016.
The Golf R "20 Years" will come standard with the familiar R Performance package (including, for example, R-Performance Torque Vectoring in conjunction with Vehicle Dynamics Manager and two additional driving modes, Special and Drift) and will be further enhanced with exclusive design elements. At the rear, the roof spoiler emphasizes the vehicle's sporty appearance, which comes standard with 19-inch Estoril alloy wheels.
The sporty nature of this version is also evident in the interior. For the first time in a production Volkswagen, the dashboard and door panels feature genuine carbon fiber trim. The special edition model sports blue R logos, notably on the multifunction sports steering wheel (at the 6 o'clock position). The blue R logo is also found on the key fob to emphasize that the key belongs to a special vehicle. For your Volkswagen Golf, you can rely on our performance accessories available in our shop. Discover our paddle shifters , carbon fiber mirror caps , dynamic LED turn signals, and all-black exterior accessories, all available for purchase.
Like all Golf models, the Golf R "20 Years" will be produced at the Wolfsburg plant – the home of the Golf. The Golf R "20 Years" will arrive at dealerships in many European and North American markets from mid-2022.
Final pricing and specifications for France are yet to be confirmed, but the German market has priced the model at €59,995, excluding the emissions tax. While final specifications vary, German models still lack some key equipment, notably DCC adaptive dampers, while the Cup 2 features are on the official options list, along with the Akrapovic titanium exhaust. Production numbers are not expected to be limited, but the production schedule will be, with confirmation that the car will only be built until mid-2023.
This new special edition marks another step in the performance upgrade of the VW Golf, which can now compete with more expensive and prestigious models.
