Wednesday 16th September 2009

VW Golf R: 266bhp Hot Hatch Hits Frankfurt

Most powerful VW Golf ever gets Frankfurt show debut

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Forget VW's Yorkshire-accented E Up! electric concept car, the focus of PH's interest on VW's Frankfurt motor show stand lay firmly at the foot of the VW Golf R - the most powerful Golf variant ever.

VW's new range-topping Golf gets 266bhp from its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and 258lb ft, which is available from 2500-5000rpm.

Coupled with all-wheel drive, VW claims a DSG-equipped Golf R can hit 62mph in 5.5secs (the manual version takes 5.7secs), while top speed is limited to 155mph.

There's no escaping the dreaded 'e' word, though - VW says that the new Golf R is an impressive 21 per cent more fuel efficient than the old R32. As VW's wonderfully translated press release so germanically puts it: "Volkswagen is demonstrating that fuel consumption values can be corrected downward even in the high-end sports car area."

Still, as long as we continue to get ever-faster hot hatches a saving in fuel can't hurt, can it?

[gary71]

It hurts because it's not a VR6.

I used to have a MK5 R32 and now have an S3. One has character, soul and a made you smile every time you started it, the other can do over 30mpg...

[Not Ideal]

Bet it weighs a lot.

Always liked the R32 but its way too heavy.

[skylinecrazy]

The old R32 sounded absolutley sublime.

Wonder what the new one will sound like with two less cylinders.

[RobCrezz]

I thought this was going to be FWD?

So its just a S3 with a VW badge then.

[kambites]

skylinecrazy said:

The old R32 sounded absolutley sublime.

Wonder what the new one will sound like with two less cylinders.

It'll sound like a Golf GTi.

[Alex]

The official fuel consumption is less the R32, but I bet it drinks more in real world driving. The fuel consumption test cycles favour turbo-charged engines as they are always off-boost.

[stuckmojo]

RobCrezz said:

I thought this was going to be FWD?

So its just a S3 with a VW badge then.

and thank god for that!

[kambites]

The question is, have they managed to maintain the handling of the GTi, but with extra traction, or will it handle like an R32 to? Was the slightly numb handling of the R32 down to the engine weight or the 4WD system?

[amar7274]

I like the look of this car and can't wait to drive one.
I currently drive a MK5 R32 and agree with others it sounds wonderful.
I also feel that for a V6 3.2 it is well short on power.
It sometimes feels like it makes a lot of noise but doesn't actually go that
fast. The new R20 with it's AWD and a remap will be a cracker.

[RobbieB]

It looks like a Golf R32, a Scirocco and a Seat Ibiza blended into one.

[pugs9000]

Bet it'll cost an arm and a leg, recently looked at getting a GTi, turned up on the forecourt and one in red was sitting there, no price tag with dsg, leather and a few other bits asked how much...... £26500- for a golf and certanly was not £12000 more exciting then my 197 cup!

[skylinecrazy]

kambites said:

skylinecrazy said:

The old R32 sounded absolutley sublime.

Wonder what the new one will sound like with two less cylinders.

It'll sound like a Golf GTi.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4tUawP_Gh8&fea...

Shame, as that sounds like utter pornography.

Edited by skylinecrazy on Tuesday 15th September 14:58

[bobbym]

RobbieB said:

It looks like a Golf R32, a Scirocco and a Seat Ibiza blended into one.

More importantly when and indeed why didn't they do this with the Scirocco?

[Republik]

When is the Scirocco R out?

Edited by Republik on Tuesday 15th September 15:07

[Ordinary_Chap]

It looks awesome.

I currently have a Mk6 Golf (TDI 140) and love it for what it is, i.e. a economical crusing car but have recently being looking at a hot version.

It won't be able to touch a R32 for sound but then the trade off is a lighter engine I should think that responds very well to tunning.

[baz1985]

It needed the Passat R36 lump.

[Ali_T]

I've read a more detailed report that the expected price is £28500 when it goes on sale in October, with first deliveries in January. At that price, I hope it's not the usual VW nonsense of having to pay for every luxury that other manufacturers give you as standard!!! VW also say they've managed to cut the total weight by a whole 35kg, so it's still a lard ass at 1500kg in that case, and the bhp/ton is only 177 which is barely on par with the VXR, Megane 250 and 3MPS, never mind the RS, Evo FQ300 and STI that it's priced directly against.

I suppose it attracts different buyers than the latter three.....generally people with far more money than sense. The Mk 4 and 5 had a USP, that thoroughly glorious engine, but this is likley to be a vanilla/magnolia/beige experience in comparison. I can't really see a point in it's existence, and especially not at £6000 more than the final RRP of the Mk5 R32 3 door manual this time last year.

And the wheels...they look crap. Like something that wasn't selling well as an accessory in the Polo's catalogue and they had a job lot lying around. Horrid.

Edited by Ali_T on Tuesday 15th September 15:37

[Not Ideal]

Cheers for extra info there Ali.

£28.5k....thats SO much money. And I bet it doesn't include Nav/Leather/DSG.

[UncappedTag]

Will sound like a box of spanners.

And limited to 155mph, it prob don't do much over that so pointless marketing crap

[adycav]

I'll say it again - the Octavia vRS estate needs this engine and the awd.

Cut-price S4 bargain daily driver family wagon thing.