The VW Golf R, one of the most capable hot hatches in its segment, served as the perfect base for apprentices from the Volkswagen Group Retail Germany (VGRD), who added a series of visual and mechanical modifications turning it into a hyper hatch. The one-off project called “Hurricane” features a striking exterior, a matching interior, and 519 hp from the extensively modified 2.0 TSI engine.

The Golf R Hurricane is a follow-up to the Golf GTE Skylight (2021) and the previous-gen Golf GTE HyRacer (2020) apprentice-designed concepts. It was developed in collaboration with Volkswagen R, and with input from racing driver Benny Leuchter and tuning influencer Rick RD48. The trainees chose the Hurricane nameplate as a reference to the Lamborghini Huracan, and to other wind-related names used by Volkswagen (Vento, Scirocco, etc).

Read: Mysterious VW Golf R Spotted With Canards, Is A High-Performance Variant In The Works?

Starting with the exterior, the hatchback got an Eifel Green livery with black graphics and carbon-fiber accents. In addition to the Golf R’s sporty bodykit, it sports wider front and rear fenders, and aerodynamic side skirts, while several body panels are now made of carbon fiber (bonnet, roof, spoiler, and tailgate). The headlights are heavily tinted while the taillights are now connected through a full-width LED bar making us believe that Volkswagen could add this feature to the facelifted Golf. The Hurricane also rides on a new set of 10-spoke alloy wheels by MB Design with a duo-tone finish, shod in track-focused Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires.

The interior follows a similar color scheme with black and green Alcantara upholstery and contrasting stitching. The driver and the front passenger sit on carbon fiber racing buckets by Recaro, while the rear bench has been removed for weight-saving purposes, and replaced by a roll cage. Finally, there is Hurricane lettering on the dashboard, in the storage tray, and on the headliner.

More importantly, the 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder engine received a new turbocharger from HGP, a larger intercooler, tweaked ECU software, a new air filter, and a modified exhaust. Thanks to all that, the mill produces 519 hp (387 kW / 526 PS) and 629 Nm (464 lb-ft) of torque, which represents a significant increase over the stock 315 hp (235 kW / 320 PS) and 420 Nm (310 lb-ft). Power is transmitted to all four wheels through a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox and the 4Motion system. VGRD didn’t announce the acceleration figures but the Hurricane’s top speed exceeds the 300 km/h (186 mph) mark.

Extensive use of carbon fiber resulted in a noticeable weight loss of 200 kg (441 pounds) compared to the stock Golf R. Thus, the power-to-weight ratio has been elevated to an impressive 2.75 kg/PS. Chassis mods include an upgraded suspension from Eibach, and larger ceramic brakes sourced from the Audi R8 (front) and the Audi S8 (rear).

The tuned hot hatch was showcased at the VW R headquarters in Warmenau, Germany, before its public premiere at the “R & Coffee” tuning event held at the AutoStadt piazza in Wolfsburg. As with all vehicles coming from trainee programs, the VW Golf R Hurricane is not destined for production and will remain a one-off. It does however show the potential of the Golf R in terms of performance, which can potentially be exploited by tuners in the future.

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