The record drive – round the Nordschleife track in just 7:46 min. Professional racing driver Benjamin Leuchter underlined the outstanding potential of the Golf GTI EDITION 50 on the 20.832-kilometre-long Nürburgring Nordschleife racetrack. In a time of 07:46:13 minutes, the Volkswagen test and development driver drove the fastest lap ever completed in a production Golf on the circuit known as the ‘Green Hell’ in April 2025. “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.”
More power, more agility. Volkswagen is equipping the special model with a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine – a modification of the drive unit from the Golf GTI Clubsport with 221 kW (300 PS). Thanks to internal engine measures, the Volkswagen engine team have succeeded in increasing the output of the Golf GTI EDITION 50 to 239 kW (325 PS) – compared with the classic Golf GTI in the basic configuration with 195 kW (265 PS), this is an additional 44 kW (60 PS). The maximum torque of the EDITION 50 has been increased to 420 Nm. In comparison, the Golf GTI Clubsport has a maximum torque of 400 Nm, while the Golf GTI produces 370 Nm.
The chassis of the Golf GTI EDITION 50 has been further refined and adapted to the higher power. A MacPherson front axle and a four-link rear axle form the basic layout. Overall, the anniversary model is 15 mm lower than the basic configuration.
Golf GTI EDITION 50 – Volkswagen presents the most powerful production GTI
