Volkswagen has pulled the wraps off its eagerly-awaited new Golf R hot hatchback, which gains more power and promises to be more fun to drive.
Now just sold in five-door guise, the new Golf R is the most powerful production version of VW’s best-selling hatch, with its turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol unit (a tuned version of the engine found in its predecessor) kicking out 316bhp and 420Nm of torque. That’s 20bhp and 20Nm more than before. Like the previous model, it’s also four-wheel-drive, though is now only available with a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission.
In terms of performance, Volkswagen says it’ll hit 60mph in just 4.5 seconds and reach a top speed limited to 155mph though this can be raised to 168mph as part of the R-Performance pack.
Volkswagen isn’t just focusing on performance, though, but making it more fun as well. It promises to be more agile and gains a revised torque-vectoring system that can now send power to individual wheels to maximise grip. The new Golf R is also marginally lighter than before and gains new ‘Nurburgring’ and ‘Drift’ modes as well.
In terms of styling, it aims to be the sportiest Golf of the line-up, with an aggressive bodykit incorporating low side sills, a large rear spoiler and intricate rear diffuser. It also gets a quad-exit exhaust as standard, which can be upgraded to a more vocal Akrapovic exhaust system, and also sits 2cm lower than the standard Golf. Blue styling accents also appear throughout, and it’s also available in the Golf R’s trademark Lapiz Blue body colour.
The interior benefits from Volkswagen’s latest digitised interior, including a 10-inch touchscreen and digital cockpit, which has been reconfigured for the R. Cool sport seats are also fitted, while blue ambient lighting features across the cabin.
Prices for the new Golf R have yet to be announced, but are likely to start from around £36,000 when sales begin later this month. It’ll sit above the GTD, GTE and GTI in the sporty Golf line-up.
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