In the span of eight generations, the Volkswagen Golf has brought forth countless special edition models. One of the highly coveted models is a sixth-generation Golf powered by the VR6 engine.
However, due to unknown reasons, the car never saw the light of day. Had it been made available to buyers, it still would have been the most powerful Golf model in the market.
According to Enrico Beltz, Chief of Content, Classic Communication & Media Relations, the VR6-powered was built as a one-off model in 2009, before the release of Golf R Mk6.
The 3.2-litre engine fitted into said Golf was essentially the same engine found in the Golf R32 but that particular unit was tuned and built by Rothe Motorsport.
While the original naturally-aspirated version had only 247 hp, the reworked engine made a whopping 463 hp and 520 Nm of torque.
The upgrades made include a Garret GT35 turbocharger, custom pistons, a new intake manifold, new injectors, aluminum pressure pipes, and Rothe Motorsport exhaust valves, to name a few.
VW also fitted brakes from an Audi RS6, 19-inch wheels from Lamborghini, and Bilstein B16 suspension system. The interior was reupholstered with Alcantara and leather wrapping on the dashboard.
The performance figures were never disclosed, but with a dual-clutch seven-speed transmission, all-wheel drive system, and a weight of around 1,360 kg, it would have been able to keep up with any modern supercar. VW claims it is capable of achieving speeds exceeding 250 km/h.
Interestingly, this was not the last Golf to be equipped with the VR6 engine. In 2013, the German manufacturer introduced the Golf Design Vision GTI concept car with over 500 hp. Two years later, the Golf GTI Supersport Vision Gran Turismo emerged with 503 hp on tap.
If you think the VR6 is the largest engine ever crammed into the Golf, you are mistaken. 17 years ago, VW did the unthinkable by stuffing a 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 engine from the Bentley Continental GT into a Golf Mk5-based concept car.
Known as the Golf GTI W12-650, the car had 641 hp, front brakes from an Audi RS4, and rear axle and brakes from a Lamborghini Gallardo.