Volkswagen has just celebrated the Golf GTI’s 50th birthday in the most Nürburgring way possible — by releasing the Golf GTI Edition 50, and sending certified badman/madman Benny Leuchter out to hustle it around the Nordschleife for an official lap time. The result? A 7:46.13. That makes it the fastest production Volkswagen ever to lap the full 20.832 km layout, according to the Nürburgring’s own timing list.
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Great news for Wolfsburg, right? Well… sort of.
Because while it’s a new record for VW, it’s not the fastest compact car overall. That crown still belongs to the Audi RS 3, which shares the same MQB platform and went more than 13 seconds faster nearly a year ago. And it’s not alone — the GTI Edition 50 also trails behind multiple other MQB-based family members from Ingolstadt and even Munich.
Here’s how the official compact class leaderboard looks right now:
| Lap Time | Vehicle | Driver | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:33.123 | Audi RS 3 | Frank Stippler | 07.06.2024 |
| 7:38.706 | BMW M2 Coupé (G87) | Jörg Weidinger | 05.04.2023 |
| 7:40.748 | Audi RS 3 Limousine | Frank Stippler | 14.06.2021 |
| 7:44.881 | Honda Civic Type R | Néstor Girolami | 24.03.2023 |
| 7:45.39 | Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy-R | Laurent Hurgon | 05.04.2019 |
| 7:46.13 | VW Golf GTI Edition 50 | Benny Leuchter | 23.04.2025 |
| 7:53.219 | VW Golf R “20 Years” | Benny Leuchter | 03.06.2022 |
MQB Bros Before Lap Times?
Still, credit where it’s due — the GTI Edition 50 looks great, sounds sharp, and finally has a Nürburgring time to its name. And if you’re a fan of the MQB platform, you’ve got plenty to be proud of. From RS 3s to Clubsports and Rs, these hot hatches continue to punch above their weight. Even the Civic Type R had to bring its A-game to wedge itself into the top five.
But for all the heritage and hype around the GTI badge, it’s clear that in 2025, it’s never going to be the fastest MQB at the party. It’s just the one wearing the nicest birthday badge.
Watch the full lap here. Special shout out if you can identify the error the BINGS at 51s