by While the official sales start is still ahead, the new Golf GTI EDITION 50 has already managed to make a loud statement by setting a record on the legendary Nürburgring track. The model will be officially presented on June 20, 2025, during the 24-hour race, but even before the premiere, the car entered history as the fastest serial front-wheel-drive Volkswagen.
Behind the wheel was racer and test driver Benny Leuchter, who raced around the ‘North Loop’ in an impressive 07:46.13. This is the first serial VW car to show such a high result on the track with fully legal road equipment. At the same time, the car was almost identical to the future version for buyers.
The anniversary GTI modification received a special Performance package: a reconfigured chassis, lightweight 19-inch forged wheels, and Bridgestone Potenza Race semi-slicks created specifically for this model. According to Leuchter, these components were the key to the record time.
What impresses is not only the speed but also the precision in handling – the Golf GTI EDITION 50 navigates turns with surgical precision and holds its course perfectly even on the most demanding sections of the ‘Green Hell’. Thanks to a balanced setup, the car easily compensates for track irregularities, demonstrating stability throughout all 20.8 km.
This is already the third major record for Leuchter: in 2016 he became famous in the GTI Clubsport S (07:49.21), and in 2022 he surpassed himself in the all-wheel-drive Golf R (07:47.31). But the current run proved that even a front-wheel-drive GTI is capable of more than expected.
