Volkswagen R Unveils All-Wheel-Drive Golf R 24h for 2027 Nürburgring 24 Hours Debut

Volkswagen R has confirmed its return to the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 2027 with a new race car designed to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Golf R32—the 2002 hatchback that launched the Golf R lineage.

The new Golf R 24h will replace the outgoing front-wheel-drive Golf GTI Clubsport 24h, adopting all-wheel drive to align with the road-going Golf R. Development is led by Max Kruse Racing, the team that has campaigned the GTI Clubsport 24h for the past three seasons.

Design and Aerodynamics: A Race-Ready Golf R

The Golf R 24h is based on the production Golf R but features aggressive motorsport modifications, including:

• Oversized front splitter
• Vented hood
• Flared fender extensions
• Towering rear wing
• Matching rear diffuser
• Significantly lower ride height
• Motorsport-specific wheels and slicks

Visually, the race car shares design cues with the existing GTI Clubsport 24h, though further refinements are expected before its 2027 debut.

Technical Upgrades: All-Wheel Drive and Enhanced Performance

The most significant change over its predecessor is the switch from front-wheel drive to all-wheel drive, bringing the race car closer to the road-going Golf R’s drivetrain. While Volkswagen has not released detailed specifications, the Golf R 24h is expected to use an upgraded version of the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.

The outgoing GTI Clubsport 24h’s engine produced 343 hp (256 kW / 348 PS) and ran on E20 bioethanol fuel. Similar performance figures are anticipated for the new model.

Motorsport Ambitions and Heritage

Reinhold Ivenz, Head of Volkswagen R, emphasized the significance of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, calling it “the toughest test for us under real competitive conditions.” He added that the new Golf R 24h will be “the most spectacular Golf R to date.”

Volkswagen R’s Nürburgring campaign aligns with its motorsport legacy, which includes:

• Multiple WRC victories with the Polo (2013–2016)
• Record-breaking performances with the fully electric ID.R (2018–2019)

Future of Volkswagen R: New Models on the Horizon

On the production side, the Golf R will soon be joined by the new T-Roc R, with an R-badged Tiguan also expected. Earlier reports suggested a hotter Golf R variant powered by the Audi RS3’s five-cylinder engine, though Euro 7 emissions regulations may impact its development.