Extreme Golf: World's wildest Volkswagen Golfs

As the sixth generation of the most famous hatchback in the world is unveiled, Vijay Pattni rounds up the most extreme Golfs in the world – including a mid-engined 6-litre version…

Fastest: Volkswagen Golf GTi W12 650 concept

Take a 6-litre W12 engine from the Bentley Continental GT, strap on two turbochargers and fit it into a VW Golf. The result? A 641bhp rear-wheel-drive road rocket.

The one-off Volkswagen Golf GTi W12 650 boasts 553lb/ft of pulling power – more than a Ferrari Enzo – and can accelerate from 0-62mph in a Lamborghini Gallardo-beating 3.7 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 195mph.

View images of the Lamborghini Gallardo

View images of the Volkswagen Golf GTi W12 650 concept

Most efficient: Volkswagen Golf Twin Drive

The prototype Volkswagen Golf Twin Drive is a hybrid car featuring a diesel engine.

This experimental motor uses a 1.5-litre TDI diesel engine and three electric motors to produce 175bhp – meaning a 0-62mph time of 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 106mph.

And this electric derv-sipping motor returns an astonishing 113mpg, with CO2 emissions expected to fall to less than 90g/km.

The Twin Drive Golf is expected to go on sale in 2015, but if you can’t wait until then, the next best thing is the ultra-frugal Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion (pictured).

The new Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion uses a modified 1.9-litre diesel engine which uses less petrol than the standard TDi – returning 62.8mpg on the combined cycle – and can accelerate from 0-62mph in 11.3 seconds.

Fastest (production): Volkswagen Golf R32

The Volkswagen Golf R32 uses a 3.2-litre V6 engine which develops 250bhp, and uses a complicated four-wheel-drive system to help it accelerate from 0-62mph in just 6.2 seconds.

Deputy Web Editor Stuart Milne test drove the hot new Volkswagen Golf R32 and said “this car is more than worthy of sitting above the excellent GTi in the range”.

Fastest Mk I: Volkswagen Golf with a motorbike engine

The original Volkswagen Golf Mk I was a sensation – it took over from the Volkswagen Beetle to become VW’s most sought-after model.

But UK-based tuners HR Engineering decided to add a bit of poke to the iconic car – by fitting a turbocharged 350bhp motorbike engine.

The Mk I Golf has been converted to rear-wheel-drive and uses the 1,300cc engine from the Suzuki Hayabusa – the world’s fastest motorbike.

In the past, the Saffron Walden-based boffins have built a 350bhp Lotus Elise and a crazy 450bhp Lotus Seven style two seater.

Wildest: Volkswagen Golf GTi Performance

The wildest Golf ever built by Volkswagen, this lairy three-seat ‘Dub debuted at the 2008 Worthersee Tour – an annual get-together for VW fans.

The Volkswagen Golf GTi Performance features upwards-opening doors – like the Lamborghini Murcielago as driven by Batman in The Dark Knight – a wide bodykit, three-seat interior layout and two bottles of nitrous oxide to complement its black and orange paint job.

View images of the Volkswagen Golf GTi Performance

View images of Batman’s cars