There’s a Secret MK6 VR-6 Golf VW Kept to Itself

Volkswagen has made some incredible hot hatch tunes of the Golf. One of the most desirable was always the six-cylinder VR-6. For the public, the VR-6 ended after the fifth generation (the MK5) Golf. But VW built a bonkers 463 horsepower VR-6 MK6 that’s never been seen…until now.

This one-off prototype had serious racing suspension. VW borrowed massive front brakes from the Audi RS6 and 19-inch wheels from Lamborghini. But of course it fit these rims with VW logos. The cabin was Alcantra, and the transmission a seven-speed dual clutch automatic.

The heart of this car was its VR-6 engine. In normal applications, the engine made 247 horsepower. For this prototype, VW pulled out all the stops, tuning it for 463 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque. All for a 3,000-pound car? Yikes.

Here’s the full list of mods, according to VW:

• Fuselage engine R32 code letter BUB
• Rothe Motorsport pistons with compression reduction
• Compression ratio 8.5:1
• Crankshaft finely balanced with weight optimization
• Camshafts Schrick
• Cylinder head machining
• Rothe Motorsport exhaust valves
• Exhaust manifold Rothe Motorsport cast iron
• Intake manifold Rothe Motorsport
• Garret GT35 turbocharger
• Suction 80mm aluminum hand-welded
• Pressure pipes 60mm aluminum hand-welded
• Intercooler Rothe Motorsport hand-welded
• Trouser pipe with exhaust system Rothe Motorsport 89mm stainless steel
• Rear silencer with flap control
• Injectors Rothe Motorsport
• Rothe Motorsport air duct made of GRP

VW never revealed the prototype’s performance numbers. But you can see a dyno run (embedded below). I can only imagine how quick it could rocket to 60 mph with its AWD system, and how tight it must have been in the corners.

What ever happened to the car? VW kept it to itself, adding it to the “Volkswagen Classic fleet” that only company employees get access to. But for the Golf’s 50th anniversary celebration this year, it is doing a GTI Fanfest celebration in Wolfsburg. And for two days only, this unicorn of a car will be on display.

Next, see a one-of-a-kind Volkswagen pickup truck, or watch the MK6 VR-6 on a dyno in the video below (warning, video in German):