Here's an interesting bit of news I came across this morning...

Listening to your customers is important in any business and that’s clearly a principle Volkswagen subscribes too. Despite the success of its sporty models, the firm says that feedback from owners and comments from journalists that stability control systems take the edge off driver enjoyment has meant the firm’s engineers have developed new software for all Golf R and GTI models, plus the entire Scirocco line-up.

Clearly, no one is disputing the safety benefits of stability control so as you would expect the system is unchanged in its default setting. However, on the right road or on track, the racy Volkswagens now allow you to turn off the electronic assistance in two stages. Stage one shuts off the traction control, but retains the skid preventing stability element.

Hold the button down for three seconds and this is disabled as well. Previously, enthusiastic drivers who took their Volkswagens up to the grip limit would have felt the stability control applying the brakes to control any slide, but now the chassis is being given the freedom to engage a bit more.
Read more: Volkswagen Golf R DSG | First Drives | Car Reviews | Auto Express

At the moment as most of current R and GTI owners would know, ESP can be disabled but not completely turned off. Stability control still kicks in when the vehicle is at the ragged edge to keep it from sliding. Good to know that VW has been listening to feedback from their customers.

Now the million dollar question is - can they/will they roll this software out to all existing GTIs and Rs?