While some die-hards keep hoping for a five-cylinder Golf R, Volkswagen has a different plan for its ultimate hot hatchback. The Wolfsburg-based automaker is preparing a track-focused beast to race at the Nürburgring next year, celebrating a quarter-century of its high-performance R models—a legacy that started in 2002 with the Golf R32.
But this is no standard Golf R. Developed in partnership with Max Kruse Racing, this track-only machine, dubbed the Golf R 24H, is a whole different animal. VW is keeping the technical details under wraps for now, but photos reveal some major changes. The most obvious is a wildly aggressive aerodynamic body kit, featuring a prominent front splitter that looks like it could double as a snowplow.
Around back, the rear window has been replaced with an opaque panel that supports a massive wing. Flared, boxy wheel arches give the race car a much wider stance than its street-legal counterpart, while a radical rear diffuser and vented front fenders make it clear this isn’t your average Golf R.
The lack of the R’s signature quad exhaust tips might make you think it’s electric, but that’s not the case. Vents in the hood suggest a combustion engine needs extra cooling, and a side-exit exhaust is visible in some of the official images. For now, VW is calling the Golf R 24H a show car, but work is already underway on the real vehicle that will tackle the Green Hell next year.
Reinhold Ivenz, Head of Volkswagen R, is making a bold claim, calling it “the most spectacular Golf R to date.” While you shouldn’t get your hopes up for a version you can buy at a dealership—the Golf R 24H is strictly a race car—there might be a silver lining. A couple of years ago, a company spokesperson hinted at a possible “more track-oriented version” for the street.
Could a Road-Going Version Follow?
Even as Volkswagen moves forward with developing the ninth-generation, all-electric Golf, it’s great to see the gas-powered model isn’t being forgotten. A Nürburgring-ready race car is a fantastic surprise, and it fuels hope that a slightly tamer version could eventually hit showrooms for enthusiasts.
With the current-gen Golf set to continue for some time, VW has a window of opportunity to give the internal combustion engine a proper send-off with an ultimate, final edition. Ideally, lessons learned from the Golf R 24H race car will trickle down to a "Clubsport" style road model. For now, that remains wishful thinking, but enthusiasts can dream.
Source: motor1.com
