Volkswagen is currently developing the production version of the insane Golf R400 concept that was presented last year at the Beijing Motor Show. The company has not officially revealed when the super hatch will debut, however, and insiders hint it could be at least a year away.
For those who can’t wait that long, well-known German tuner Oettinger has introduced a hot-rodded Golf R that ups the ante with a tweaked 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine that makes 510 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 501 foot-pounds of torque at 3,600 rpm. To put those numbers into perspective, a bone-stock U.S.-spec Golf R packs a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 292 ponies and 280 lb-ft. of twist.
The straight-five is borrowed from the Audi parts bin. Oettinger has upgraded it with a large turbocharger, high-performance pistons, a new intake manifold, a heavy-duty cooling system with an intercooler, and a racing exhaust line. Linked to a six-speed manual transmission, the turbo five sends the 500R from zero to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds — on par with a Porsche 911 Turbo S not equipped with the optional Sport Chrono package — and on to a top speed of over 186 mph.
Six-piston calipers and two-piece perforated rotors bring the action to a stop, while a thoroughly revised Clubsport suspension, and Dunlop Sport Maxx tires wrapped around 20-inch alloys, keep the Golf on four wheels and pointed in the right direction.
It’s quite literally impossible to mistake the 500R for a stock Golf R. Visually, the hatch benefits from a full body kit that adds a deep front bumper with three large air vents and a carbon fiber splitter, side skirts, a roof-mounted spoiler and a wide-air diffuser that integrates a pair of oval exhaust tips. The 500R is much wider than a Golf R, and Oettinger points out that the track has been widened by fitting new custom-designed aluminum axles, not by simply installing spacers.
Inside, the Golf gains bucket seats upholstered in a combination of leather and Alcantara, orange contrast stitching, and concept-specific trim pieces on the dashboard, the center console, and the door panels.
Oettinger has announced plans to build a handful of 500Rs starting later this year. Before you get your checkbook out, though, know that each one will carry a base price of approximately €150,000 (which converts to roughly $170,000) and it doesn’t look like Oettinger will offer the car in the United States.
Surprisingly, the tuner promises that this 510-horsepower Golf is nothing compared to the other projects it’s currently working on. Next year, Oettinger will introduce three additional versions of the Golf R that will pack 591, 641, and 738 horsepower, respectively.
