I see VW has been done. But it’s missing some real icons. I might do my idea of a VW list at some point.
Edit:
Ok, a few more VWs to throw into the mix. I really like Irrmchster’s list, and there are quite a few on there I’d suggest myself, but these are some I feel could also be considered.
Road:
Mk2 GTI 16v 1986
Mk2 Rallye 1989
Mk3 Golf VR6 1992
Mk5 GTI Edition 30 2006
Mk5 R32 2007
Passat R36 2008
Mk6 Golf R 2010
Mk7 GTI Clubsport S 2016
Mk7.5 Golf R 2017
Mk8 Golf R 2020
Race:
Mk8 GTI GTC
Polo R WRX Supercar
Mk7.5 GTI TCR
Mk1 Golf Nothelle race car
Concept:
Mk7 Golf R400 2014
The mk2 Rallye can be regarded as the first Golf R. 4x4, boosted engine, aggressive looks, and a mk2 16v is almost as iconic as the mk1.
The mk3 VR6 shared the iconic V6 with the Corrado, and was by far the best mk3 to have at the time.
I didn’t include any of the billion different variations of mk4 GTI, because even in 180bhp Anniversary trim, that 1.8T lump was just never exciting. The R32 is definitely the cream of the mk4s.
VW eventually built a GTI worthy of its name with the mk5, and released a special Edition 30 with a larger K04 turbo and prettier bodykit. Absolutely brilliant B-road machine. They also had the flagship AWD mk5 R32, with a revised 3.2 V6 pushing around 250bhp, a handful of horses more than in the mk4 R32. In reality, the lighter Edition 30 GTI was just as quick, especially with a tune, but there’s something about the noise an R32 makes that keeps them special.
That brings us on to the Passat R36. As the name suggests, it’s a Passat with a 3.6 litre 300bhp lump. What’s not to love?
As the mk6 came along, VW decided to downsize engines in order to keep their cars efficient and stay within emission targets (the irony). This meant that the Golf R wouldn’t have a V6, but instead a beefier version of the 2.0 turbo 4 banger used in the mk5 GTI. 270bhp stock, AWD, and extremely receptive to tuning, this recipe paved the way for all Golf Rs from that point onwards. They’re rather rare now, as well.
The mk7 Clubsport S was VWs homage to the track toy. Bucket seats, stripped out interior, 2 piece discs, and functional aero parts made the Clubsport S the daddy of all GTIs ever built.
The mk7.5 Golf R used the same EA888 2.0 turbo engine as the Clubsport S, with as much as 310bhp on tap if you managed to bag the pre-OPF model. They’re absolutely everywhere, admittedly, but you simply can’t argue with what VW achieved in developing an everyday car that could eat supercars for lunch when the opportunity arose.
The mk8 R introduced a few party tricks such as a ‘drift mode’ and power was again increased to 320bhp, although VW might have been a little conservative in that claim - most dyno at closer to 340bhp.