These are the fastest production VW Golfs - from G60 to R - ever built

The Limited counts itself among the most rare hopped-up factory Golfs - there's only 71 of them in the world. It's got 210bhp, goes to 142mph, achieves 0-62mph in only 7.4 (that's Porsche 944 S2 territory) and it's stuffed with top-spec options - all are four-door models (save for two three-doors) and have 15in BBS RM wheels, a twin-headlight grill, tinted tail lights and special badges. Special car.

In 2002, VW took a Mk4 Golf and fitted it with a 237bhp 3.2-litre VR6 engine. It also stuffed in every conceivable option available to the MkIV's platform before plastering an R32 badge on the front. Good decision.

With 10bhp more than its predecessor thanks to a tinkered inlet manifold, the 3.2-litre VR6 inside the 4WD MkV R32 made 247bhp and 236lb ft of torque and bludgeoned its way from 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds (or 6.2 seconds if you ticked the DSG gearbox option). A blunt instrument compared to the MkV GTI, but sometimes only a hammer will do.

Launched in 2010, the Mk6 R lost the three and the two from the badge, but hit back with 59 more horsepower than the MkVI GTI, 18in wheels and of course, four-wheel drive. It'd see off 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds and topped out at 155mph. Tidy.

At the time of its release, the fastest, most powerful production Golf ever built was this Mk7 R. It got a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cyl that produced 296bhp - 29bhp more than the last Golf R. The first production Golf to a sub-five-second sprint to 62mph. Just (4.9s).

Like the regular Mk7 Golf R, but more spacious and practical, the Mk7 Golf R Estate was thusly more better.

To celebrate 20 years of the Mk4 Golf R32 coming into being, VW released this special edition. And it really was special, not least because it had some actual mechanical differences, not just some pretty stickers. This anniversary motor got 328bhp from the 2.0-litre turbo – making this the most powerful production Golf ever made...

... until now. The new Mark Eight-and-a-half Golf R pushes that 2.0-litre to 333bhp and 308 lb ft torque. It takes all the revised styling cues of the Mk8.5 Golf and features 19in super lightweight rims, an illuminated badge and some connected cabin tech. Because what everyone needs in a 4WD hot hatch is ChatGPT.

This is the estate version of the Mk8.5 Golf R. VW seems to have finally settled on calling it the 'Variant', rather than the 'Estate'. Why? We're guessing it's because 'E' words sound too electrified and this one definitely isn't. It has the same numbers as the regular Mk8.5 Golf R but a longer body and bigger boot. Yup, better.

Like the regular 2024 Golf R, the Mk8.5 Golf R Black Edition is tuned to deliver 333bhp from its 2.0-litre turbo. The heavily darkened styling choices are going to make some townie racers very classy indeed.

And that completes the Golf R 'Class of 2024' – at least for the next five minutes before another special edition comes knocking.