20 years of Volkswagen R models. A milestone worth celebrating – with a special edition model. The performance-enhanced Golf R “20 Years” tops everything that Volkswagen R has brought to the road in compact-class vehicles to date. The special edition model has an extra 10 kW of power compared to the current Golf R, which was previously the most powerful version to date. The anniversary R model transfers its 245 kW (333 PS) of power to all four wheels thanks to its all-wheel drive. Equipped with this engine option, the Golf R “20 Years” accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds. It reaches a top speed of 270 km/h as standard. Driving the Golf R “20 Years”, racing driver Benjamin Leuchter beat the previous record for a Golf R on the Nürburgring Nordschleife by four seconds. He took just 7:41.31 minutes to complete one lap of the 20.832-km track in the Eifel region – and thus officially made the anniversary model the fastest Volkswagen R of the last two decades.
More power, more fun behind the wheel
More power, more dynamics, more emotions – and even more fun behind the wheel. Like every other Volkswagen R model, the Golf R “20 Years” demonstrates how innovative technology can be transferred from the racing track to series production. One of its standard features is R-Performance Torque Vectoring, an enhancement to the intelligent 4MOTION all-wheel drive system that is reserved exclusively for R models. The system variably distributes the drive force between the axles and the left and right rear wheels. In extreme cases, up to 100 percent of the power available at the rear can be transmitted to the wheel on the outside of the bend. When accelerating out of bends taken at very high speeds, this prevents the vehicle from pushing towards the outer edge of the bend (understeering). The result is maximum cornering speeds with excellent traction and optimum stability, and thus also increased safety in everyday driving.
R-Performance package as standard
This is also the result of features like the vehicle dynamics manager, which orchestrates the intelligent tuning of the electromechanical running gear systems, and the standard R-Performance package. Alongside the Comfort, Sport and Race driving profiles, this additionally offers the Drift and Special gearbox programs. The latter is tuned specifically for the Nordschleife track at the Nürburgring – perhaps the world’s most challenging racing track and traditionally the location of the final tuning round for all Volkswagen R models.
The characteristic gear-change behaviour of the dual clutch gearbox also contributes to the dynamic driving experience in the Golf R “20 Years”. When the driver shifts up manually in S and S+ gear selector positions, the 7-speed DSG provides noticeable feedback from the gearbox and drive train each time the right paddle is operated. The enhanced engine tuning allows the Golf R “20 Years” to be driven even more dynamically and with a higher level of driving stability in sporty driving situations. When driving with partial loads, the turbocharger is maintained at a constant engine speed, thereby enabling it to apply its power with even more punch when accelerating. The optimised exhaust system sound in the low engine speed range and the rougher engine sound in the vehicle interior audibly underline the special edition model’s increased dynamic performance.
First Volkswagen with genuine carbon trim elements
The Golf R “20 Years” is the first ever Volkswagen worldwide to boast a vehicle interior featuring high quality decorative trim made from genuine carbon. An anniversary logo on the B-pillar and an elegant “20 R” logo projection from the exterior mirrors visibly distinguish the special edition model from the rest of its R family members. Like all other Golf R and Golf R Estate models, Volkswagen R offers the vehicle in its three brand colours: Lapiz Blue Metallic, Pure White and Deep Black Pearl Effect. The production period is limited to around one year. This makes the Golf R “20 Years” designed with exclusive blue “R” logos a sought-after collectors’ vehicle from the outset.