After Xiaomi broke the record for the fastest production EV at the Nürburgring, Volkswagen has its own reason to celebrate a recent performance at the Green Hell. However, this is more of a personal best than an outright record. The unreleased Golf GTI Edition 50 has been crowned the fastest VW-badged car to lap the challenging German track.
The upcoming front-wheel-drive hot hatch completed the course in 7 minutes and 46.13 seconds, making it over a second quicker than the Golf R 20 Years Edition. It was also more than three seconds faster than the previous-generation Golf GTI Clubsport S. But the newcomer is actually even faster than both of those Golfs, as the GTI Edition 50 completed the longer 20.8-kilometer (12.9-mile) layout. Allow us to explain.
The earlier lap times were recorded on the 20.6-kilometer (12.8-mile) configuration, which omits a 200-meter (656-foot) section. That shorter layout excludes the straight segment of the old start/finish near the T13 stands. On this version of the track, the special edition lapped the Nürburgring in just 7 minutes and 41.27 seconds.
Although the GTI Edition 50 now holds the Nürburgring crown among Volkswagens, it still trails the Honda Civic Type R by 1.25 seconds. On the verge of exiting Europe due to stricter emissions regulations, the Japanese hot hatch remains the fastest front-wheel-drive car around the Nordschleife. Just over two years ago, the CTR completed the full 20.8-kilometer (12.9-mile) lap in 7 minutes and 44.88 seconds.
We’ll have to wait until June 20 for VW to officially unveil its fastest GTI ever. In the meantime, it’s known that the lap time was set by a near-production test vehicle equipped with an optional Performance Package. This kit includes lighter forged wheels, bespoke Bridgestone Potenza Race semi-slick tires, and some unspecified chassis tweaks.
Photo by: Volkswagen
There’s no word yet on any power upgrades. For reference, the standard Golf GTI makes 261 hp from its turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. That same four-cylinder, codenamed “EA888 LK3 evo4,” is tuned to 296 hp in the GTI Clubsport, though unfortunately, that variant isn’t sold in the U.S. Onboard footage confirms the test car used a dual-clutch automatic transmission, which isn’t surprising given that the GTI lost its manual gearbox with the launch of the Mk8.5 last year. The Golf R has also gone DSG-only, though lesser variants of the compact hatch still offer a stick in Europe.
The only VW that might challenge the GTI Edition 50 is the Golf R Clubsport, provided it materializes. Regardless, the ID.R will remain the fastest Volkswagen overall to lap the Nürburgring overall. It’s hard to imagine any road car from Wolfsburg coming close to the track-only electric racer’s astonishing lap time of only 6 minutes and 5 seconds.
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