SHERIDAN, WYOMING – June 13, 2025 – Car lovers, start your engines: Volkswagen has just set the Nürburgring ablaze with the all-new Golf GTI EDITION 50 — the fastest VW production model to ever conquer the legendary Nordschleife track. And it hasn’t even hit the market yet.
This exciting new performance car will be officially unveiled on June 20, 2025, just ahead of the famous 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. With its debut, Volkswagen is not only celebrating cutting-edge engineering but also preparing to mark the 50th anniversary of its iconic GTI model in 2026.
A New Speed Champion Is Born
Professional racer Benny Leuchter took a near-production model of the Golf GTI EDITION 50 around the Nürburgring in an astonishing 07:46:13 minutes. That makes it the fastest road-approved Volkswagen ever on this challenging circuit.
“The new Golf GTI EDITION 50 is a statement with which Volkswagen expresses the pure GTI idea – the combination of superior drive power and highly precise chassis with front-wheel drive – more effectively than ever before,” explained Leuchter after his run.
For those who want the edge, the car can be ordered with an optional Performance package. This includes a specially tuned performance chassis and ultra-light 19-inch Potenza Race semi-slick tires developed by Bridgestone, mounted on forged wheels that reduce rotating mass for even better control and responsiveness.
Leuchter added, “The record car was equipped with this package – that was the decisive factor in my opinion.”
Engineered for Precision and Passion
Volkswagen designed the EDITION 50 to master the track’s twists and bumps with grace and speed.
“The entire setup of the Golf GTI EDITION 50 means you can drive the ideal line of the Nordschleife with high precision,” said Leuchter. “If you really want to be fast on the track known as the ‘Green Hell’, the car also has to compensate for the typical bumps in the ground and reach very high cornering speeds. This is exactly what the Golf GTI EDITION 50 achieves in perfection.”
He praised the model’s balance and grip, adding, “The aplomb with which it masters the peculiarities of the legendary Nordschleife is cool: the GTI is instantly stable over the entire 20.8 kilometres.”
A Legacy of Speed — Now Rewritten
This isn't Leuchter’s first record with a GTI. Nearly a decade ago, he clocked a 07:49:21 with the Golf GTI Clubsport S. He later shaved off more seconds with the all-wheel-drive Golf R 20 Years in 2022. But breaking his own record with a front-wheel-drive Golf, especially in poor weather conditions, was a thrilling moment.
“Three years ago, I wouldn’t have thought that I could ever beat the lap time of the outstanding Golf R with a front-wheel drive Golf GTI as clearly as I have now. The fact that this has now happened – in quite bad weather, by the way – actually says everything about the successful setup and extraordinary potential of this GTI,” said Leuchter.
Coming Soon to Roads — and Hearts
Consumers eager to get their hands on the Golf GTI EDITION 50 will have to wait until 2026, when it officially enters the market in conjunction with the GTI’s 50th anniversary celebration. Until then, it will appear in Nürburgring records as a "Pre-Series Model."
Whether you're a motorsport enthusiast or just love the idea of German precision engineering with everyday usability, the Golf GTI EDITION 50 promises a thrilling ride.
Learn more at volkswagen.com