Skip advert
Advertisement

Volkswagen Golf R and Golf GTI cabriolets

Volkswagen reveals Golf R and Golf GTI cabriolets at the 2011 GTI festival in Austria. News and pictures

Volkswagen is displaying its new Golf R Cabriolet concept at the world’s largest GTI meet in Austria. VW fans from all over Europe will be able to see the fastest ever iteration of the much-loved Golf Cabriolet at Worthersee, where the GTI-Treffen car show is celebrating its 30th year.

The R cabriolet develops 266bhp and 258lb ft, the latter produced at just 2500rpm. The turbocharged engine boosts up to 1.2bar and is good for a 0-60mph time of less than 6 seconds and a 155mph top speed.

The sporty convertible includes suitably big brakes with vented discs and blue calipers, 25mm lower suspension and 19in 'Talladega' alloy wheels wrapped in 235-section tyres.

The interior has also been upgraded with the addition of leather Recaro seats, piano black detailing and sand-blasted aluminium details such as the door sills.

It remains to be seen if Volkswagen will put the R Cabriolet into production, but it certainly demonstrates the potential of the mk6 soft-top. And public reaction at Worthersee suggested a production car could be more than likely.

There is also a GTI Cabriolet concept impressing crowds, but with the Golf Cabriolet currently available with the same 207bhp engine found in the hatchback GTI, Volkswagen hasn’t yet confirmed if an official GTI-badged cabriolet is on the cards.

Volkswagen started the hot hatch craze 35 years ago and is celebrating by releasing the “anniversary” GTI Edition 35 which will also be on display. GTI fans will certainly get their fix at the Volkswagen stand on this special year for both the show and the car.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 35 video...

Join evo's Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Volkswagen Golf Mk8.5 review – still the hatchback benchmark?
Mk8.5 Volkswagen Golf
In-depth reviews

Volkswagen Golf Mk8.5 review – still the hatchback benchmark?

The Mk8.5 Volkswagen Golf is a better offering than the original, but it’s still not quite the no-brainer the model once was
24 Feb 2026
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Best car tyres 2026 – evo tyre test
evo tyre test 2026
Features

Best car tyres 2026 – evo tyre test

What are the best road tyres for your hot hatch? We tested and ranked nine of them
18 Oct 2026
BMW M2 (F87, 2015 - 2022) review – flawed then but from £20k it’s now fantastic value
BMW M2 (F87)
In-depth reviews

BMW M2 (F87, 2015 - 2022) review – flawed then but from £20k it’s now fantastic value

The original BMW M2 was a muscular sports coupe and an entry point to the M range, but it had its flaws
20 Oct 2026
This mystery Audi Q5 is actually a Porsche Macan, and it has a V8
2028 Porsche Macan
News

This mystery Audi Q5 is actually a Porsche Macan, and it has a V8

Porsche has been caught testing the next combustion-powered Macan beneath the body of an Audi Q5, and it has one very exciting powertrain…
19 Oct 2026