Volkswagen Golf R Celebrates 20 Years With Special Anniversary Edition; 500 Units Headed To Canada

Volkswagen celebrates 20 years of the Golf R with a special edition.

The Golf R line screamed onto the scene 20 years ago, with the fourth-generation Volkswagen Golf. Six-cylinder power, and all-wheel-drive, the original Volkswagen Golf R32 sat at the top of the Golf food chain, surpassing the legendary GTI in power and performance. The powertrain may have changed over 20 years (going from six cylinders to a turbocharged four-cylinder), but the Volkswagen Golf R has remained a really fast, AWD hot hatchback. A limited run of 500 special edition Golf R 20th anniversary edition models will be made just for Canada.

The 20th-anniversary edition comes with all the same stuff that makes the Golf R so great. So, the same 2.0-liter turbocharged engine sends power to all four wheels via a 7-speed DSG automatic or a North American exclusive six-speed manual. The special Golf R only comes in Lapiz Blue, Deep Black, and Pure White, but the Pure White and Deep Black models have Lapiz Blue mirror caps. The Lapiz Blue cars will have gloss black mirror caps. All examples will have a panoramic sunroof, and 19-inch gloss black wheels, wrapped in high-performance summer tires. All of the “R” logos are blue, and a 20th-anniversary badge adorns the B-pillar.

Like the exterior, the interior receives a similar blue R badge-laden treatment. The R logo on the steering wheel is blue, as is the one on the key fob. The dash panel and front door trim feature real carbon fiber inserts, a first for Volkswagen.

The 1800 units of the Golf R 20th Anniversary have already been earmarked for the U.S., where it will cost $44,940 for the manual, or $45,750 for the DSG automatic. Canada will receive 500 units, at the price of $50,995 CAD for the six-speed manual transmission, or $52,395 CAD for the 7-speed DSG automatic.

Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here