Latest news with #PerformancePackage
Auto Blog
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Volkswagen GTI Edition 50 Revealed With Golf R-Rivaling Horsepower
Introducing the new king of FWD hatchbacks A few days after confirming that it's the quickest production Volkswagen around the Nurburgring, the brand has officially taken the covers off the Golf GTI Edition 50. It arrives at the perfect time for the iconic Golf nameplate, which celebrates its 50th anniversary next year. With this reveal, we have more insight into how VW managed to get a front-wheel-drive GTI around the famous Green Hell more quickly than the all-wheel-drive Golf R, which is quite an achievement. Thanks to a Performance Package and even more power than we were expecting, this hottest Golf GTI achieved a Nurburgring lap time of seven minutes and 46.13 seconds. Nearly As Powerful As Golf R The final specs are in, and this is clearly no ordinary GTI. Whereas the standard GTI produces 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque (making it slightly less powerful than the European GTI), the GTI Edition 50 gets achingly close to the Golf R with outputs of 321 hp and 310 lb-ft. That's only 7 hp less than the R, and torque is exactly the same. This GTI is also more powerful than the Civic Type R (315 hp), often considered the king of FWD hot hatchbacks. Riding on a special Performance chassis, VW used half a century of experience in developing the GTI to perfect this model. The Golf VIII GTI Clubsport was used as a starting point, before the team added semi-slick tires and more precise steering. The front differential lock was also tuned for this application. Source: Volkswagen Go for the GTI Performance package, and the car gets higher spring rates, a further lowering of the ride height, special suspension mounts, lighter forged wheels, a weight-saving Akrapovic titanium exhaust system, and 235 Potenza Race semi-slick tires from Bridgestone. The cumulative effect of these changes left racing driver Benjamin Leuchter deeply impressed. 'For me, the Golf GTI EDITION 50 is the most precise and sporty Volkswagen I've ever driven,' says Leuchter. 'It reminds me a lot of the Golf GTI Clubsport S from 2016. However, the Golf GTI EDITION 50 has been systematically enhanced once again. Because it's so intuitive and precise, I have a lot of confidence in the car and can really push it to the limit.' Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Sporty Looks Match Record Pace Outside, the GTI Edition 50 gets a choice of five exterior colors: Pure White, Moonstone Grey, Grenadilla Black, Tornado Red, and Dark Moss Green. The red is especially closely tied to various VW performance cars from the past, including the Golf VR6 Mk3. GTI 50 logos, a black roof and mirrors, and a distinctive side stripe combine to visually differentiate this special Golf. Inside, the nostalgic check pattern has been applied to the supportive seats, which has red detailing. The GTI 50 logo can be found on the steering wheel, which also houses paddles for the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. 'The Golf GTI EDITION 50 is our fastest and most powerful GTI to date. With the optional Performance package, we have taken the GTI concept to a whole new level,' explains Sebastian Willmann, Head of the Chassis Development and Driving Dynamics Department at VW. There's no word yet on pricing or availability, but we expect a figure far above the $32,445 starting price of the normal GTI. About the Author Karl Furlong View Profile
Top Gear
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
The new Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 is its fastest-ever car around the ‘Ring
Hot Hatch It's slam-dunked on the Golf R by over a second, thanks to an upgraded chassis, tyres and aero kit Skip 5 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Volkswagen is celebrating half a century of the Golf GTI next year with this legacy-surfing Edition 50 of the Mk8.5, which is now officially its fastest-ever car around the Nürburgring. The lap time (7m 46.13s) was over a second quicker than the current Golf R (7m 47.31s)... awks. And it was set by a near-production-ready version of the Edition 50 on its first and only attempt, due to poor weather conditions. Impressive. Advertisement - Page continues below Changes are being kept hush for now, but we do know a Performance Package will be offered, which brings improvements to the chassis and semi-slick Bridgestone Potenza tyres developed specifically for this car. Forged 19in lightweight alloys are supplied too, reducing unsprung and rotating mass - ideal for sharp cornering. According to VW test driver, Benny Leuchter, the Performance pack was a "decisive" factor in hitting that record time. You might like Other differences include extra attachments for the front bumper, a sleek extension to the trim above the lower grille and a sharper fin just ahead of it. The body kit gets a black finish for an angrier look, and the connecting light bar between the front lamps has changed from red to white. No proper rear images have been provided, though we can spot what appears to be a slightly extended wing back there. Advertisement - Page continues below Technical info is also being held back for now, but we're expecting a slight increase to the standard GTI's 261bhp/273lb ft from its front-biased 2.0-litre turbo-four. The Clubsport version itself gets a power bump to 296bhp, cutting three-tenths off the 0-62mph time to 5.6s. Plus, a suite of other mechanical changes like stiffer springs and dampers, lighter brakes and an Akrapovic exhaust. Because Akrapovic exhausts are necessary in every hot Golf driver's life. Expect the 50 Years to tread the lines closely here. More details are set to follow at the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race next week, but in the meantime, check out the video of the GTI Edition 50's run out at the Green Hell above. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
