The Golf GTI is now faster around the 'Ring that a Golf R...
The special iteration of the hot hatch lapped the famous 12.94-mile Nordschleife circuit in 7 minutes 46.13 seconds
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The upcoming Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 special has become the fastest ever production-based VW model to lap the Nürburgring - even surpassing the more powerful and track-honed Golf R.
The special iteration of the hot hatch, based on the current Golf GTI Mk8.5 (which is widely expected to be the final pure-combustion GTI before the badge moves into the electric era) , lapped the famous 12.94-mile Nordschleife circuit in 7 minutes 46.13 seconds.
The record lap comes just over a week before the 2025 Nürburgring 24 Hours, where the GTI Edition 50 is planned to be officially unveiled on 20 June.
While the special Golf won't reach UK showrooms until 2026, it's already made headlines for beating the Golf R 20 Years – and edging closer than ever to the 7 minutes 44.88 seconds front-wheel drive Nürburgring benchmark set by the Honda Civic Type R in 2023
In beating the four-wheel drive Golf R 20 Years – a 328bhp anniversary model that set a time of 7:47.31 in 2022 – the new front-drive GTI has now leapfrogged what was once considered Volkswagen's halo performance Golf model.
The GTI Edition 50's lap was conducted by Benny Leuchter, VW's long-standing development and race driver. Speaking to Autocar after the run, Leuchter revealed that conditions were far from ideal:
'We ran in a very small window of opportunity after hours of rain,' he said. 'It was partly wet. The Fuchsröhre was particularly treacherous, and there was standing water on many other parts of the circuit.'
While full technical details of the Edition 50 remain under wraps, the record car was fitted with a Performance Package, which included Bridgestone Potenza Race semi-slicks on 19-inch forged Warmenau wheels and a revised suspension setup. These components are expected to be optional extras when the car goes on sale in late 2025.
Power output hasn't been confirmed, but it's understood the Edition 50 will produce close to 320bhp from its familiar turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder EA888 petrol engine, paired with a seven speed dual clutch gearbox and a mechanical limited-slip differential.
Leuchter emphasised that the record-setting car wasn't a one-off: 'Technically, it was set up exactly as it will be sold to customers,' he said.
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