“The continuation of the ghosts’ legacy is inevitable.”
When a SAAB Viggen fighter jet took its farewell flight from a runway in Ängelholm, Sweden in April 2022, little did anyone know the symbolic meaning that the ghost logos and the text “the show must go on” on its body panels would later hold. The Ghost Squadron, a specific Swedish Air Force squadron, continued their operations for a few more years until their complete disbandment in 2022. However, the legacy of the ghosts had to live on. A year later, Koenigsegg’s production facilities in the same area experienced a fire, leading them to relocate to one of the old hangars of the Ghost Squadron. The ghosts had returned home.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Koenigsegg taking on the responsibility of preserving this legacy. What better way to celebrate than with a factory visit to Ängelholm in a Volkswagen Golf R “20 years,” a car created to commemorate the Golf R’s 20th anniversary? Ironically, almost anything else than a product of Volkswagen Group, as Koenigsegg engages in a competitive race with Bugatti, a brand under the Volkswagen Group, for the title of the world’s fastest car.
To be honest, the Golf R “20 years” is not the most suitable car for a 2000-kilometer road trip from Stockholm to Southern Sweden. That might need a slight explanation. Firstly, there is limited luggage space for three passengers, let alone four. Secondly, the backseat is notably uncomfortable, especially when compared to the front seats. It would be challenging to take a nap in the back after returning from a road trip in Norway, for example. Additionally, the tire noise makes it difficult for the third passenger in the back to hear conversations happening in the front. Earplugs and a pillow will not be of much help, as the chassis ensures that every little stone on the road is felt.
That being said, the Volkswagen Golf R “20 years” is a perfect car to embody the spirit of a ghost. With 333 horsepower and a 0-100 km/h acceleration in 4.6 seconds, it is powerful and fast enough to vanish from the traffic light like a ghost. It is also discreet in a way that it blends in with the masses, unless you notice the blue wheels. Only those who truly understand what they are looking at will pay attention to the car. In the Malmö nightlife, for instance, there were four other white Golfs at the same traffic light. This is what makes the “20 years” edition so appealing. It is the flagship version of a basic model that has sold over 35 million units since its birth. A Golf is sold every 40 seconds, but only 1800 Golf R “20 years” editions will be produced in total. This makes it highly unlikely that the average Golf next to you would be the flagship edition, unless you happen to randomly come across one.
Despite, or perhaps because of, the perceived disapproval of bringing a Volkswagen Group product to Ängelholm, the ghosts were active. Several Jesko Attacks were seen in various colors, along with a CC850 that celebrates, continuing with the theme, 20 years since Koenigsegg’s first model debut. All of these vehicles now bear ghost logos to honor the once mighty group, the Ghost Squadron.
