The most important changes are found under the hood, where the Golf R’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine has been tossed out and replaced by a turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder TFSI mill tuned to generate a massive 518 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 501 lb-ft. of torque at 3,600 rpm. Bolted to a six-speed manual transmission, the turbo five sends the all-wheel drive super Golf from zero to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds and on to a top speed of over 186 mph.
Visually, the R500 stands out from the standard Golf R thanks to a muscular-looking body kit that adds a new front bumper with three oversized air vents, deep side skirts, flared fenders that accommodate a noticeably wider track and a large air diffuser integrated into the rear bumper. Many of the components that make up the kit are crafted out of carbon fiber in order to keep weight in check.
Inside, Oettinger has fitted the Golf R with custom-built bucket seats with harness slots, new trim on the dashboard and on the center console as well as Alcantara upholstery.
Oettinger promises it will build a small number of Golf R500s starting later this year. Each one will cost about €150,000, a sum that converts to roughly $170,000, but the R500 will not be available in the United States.
What’s next?
For some, 500 horsepower in a compact hatchback is not enough. Oettinger is currently developing three additional versions of the R500 that will pack 591, 641 and 738 horsepower, respectively.
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