Nurburgring lap records are a badge of honour of automakers. But no sooner than a record is set, someone pitches up with a faster rival to steal the gong away. The latest record to be claimed is that of quickest production front-wheel-drive car. The VW GTI Edition 50 has reset the record to an impressive 7 min 44,523 sec over the full 20,8-km Nordschleife, or northern loop.
The Nordschleife is unique with its bends, very different sections, bumps and even jumps. And the same is true for this GTI: with impressive power, a very neutral set-up and at the same time the ability to take any bumps in its stride. The Golf GTI Edition 50 is therefore more than just an anniversary model: it shows what performance in the compact segment can feel like when technical expertise, passion and 50 years of GTI history come together
– Benjamin Leuchter, VW test and race driver
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Most Powerful
The GTI Edition 50 is the most powerful production Volkswagen road car to ever wear the famous badge. Power from the 2,0-litre turbocharged engine has been lifted to 239 kW along with 420 N.m of torque. The latter figure is more than what the E90 M3 produced from its 4,0-litre V8. That makes it even more powerful than the famous Clubsport S, itself a FWD lap record holder. As always, a dual-clutch transmission sends power to the front axle, in this case through a limited-slip diff’. In stock form the ’50’ can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 5,3 seconds and has a top speed of 270 km/h.
Compared to the regular Mk8 GTI the anniversary edition is 20 mm lower. In addition it has a few choice upgrades, part of an optional GTI Performance package. This includes a lightweight R-Performance exhaust system with titanium rear silencers and 19‑inch forged alloys shod with Bridgestone Potenza semi-slick tyres.
The Pace of Progress
The GTI’s most recent lap time is pretty darn impressive, though some way off the 6 min 30 sec as set by the Mercedes AMG One. However, that is little more than an F1 car for the road. The hatchback’s time places it among some pretty good company, although many of these are older cars, which just illustrates the relentless pace of progress. Other cars which have set similar lap times include the Nissan R35 GT-R, Audi R8 V10, Porsche (996) Turbo, Pagani Zonda C12S and Mercedes-AMG CLK63 Black Series. The GTI is even quicker than the likes of the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera,
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