RE: Golf R400 testing again
Discussion
phil4 said:
Just spec'd an existing golf R, and with very few options got it very close to 40K.
While I'm sure this'll be a cracking addition to the range, I do wonder how close to 40K it'll end up being. I may be a tight git, but don't fancy all the extra tax if I'm only just over the 40K limit.
you can spec an RS3 to 60k without going mad While I'm sure this'll be a cracking addition to the range, I do wonder how close to 40K it'll end up being. I may be a tight git, but don't fancy all the extra tax if I'm only just over the 40K limit.
I can't help wondering what the point is. The current Golf R is pointlessly fast, what will adding another 100bhp achieve other than greater pub dick-measuring prowess? Then again that's what sells cars and they are in the business of making money so I guess I've answered my own question.
RacerMike said:
As great as it would be, the Audi wheels and Audi oval exhausts would perhaps suggest it's more likely to be a mule for some Audi test work. Either powertrain or (given the fact it has ride height stickers on the wheel arches) a dynamics test car of some sort....or both. Fairly common for powertrain mules to be whatever they have to hand and works, or whatever they believe is closest dynamically to whatever it is they're planning on making next. This could, for example, be an early next gen S3 platform.
If it is a test mule for Audi then my money would be on the performance version of the RS3, which would mean a hotter version of the A45, hopefully a full black edition, is likely as well, both in response to the M2 CSL?tankplanker said:
RacerMike said:
As great as it would be, the Audi wheels and Audi oval exhausts would perhaps suggest it's more likely to be a mule for some Audi test work. Either powertrain or (given the fact it has ride height stickers on the wheel arches) a dynamics test car of some sort....or both. Fairly common for powertrain mules to be whatever they have to hand and works, or whatever they believe is closest dynamically to whatever it is they're planning on making next. This could, for example, be an early next gen S3 platform.
If it is a test mule for Audi then my money would be on the performance version of the RS3, which would mean a hotter version of the A45, hopefully a full black edition, is likely as well, both in response to the M2 CSL?It could also of course be a supplier. It's fairly common for the big suppliers like GKN, Haldex, Mahle etc to build demo cars to show their technology to the OEMs. This could easily be something like a demo car for whatever the next GKN Twinster diff is to demo something like active vectoring of both axles or similar. The choice of a MK7 Golf with an RS3 powertrain could be due to packaging. It's possible that a Mk7 Golf has more space under the front or rear for whatever powertrain they are trying to fit.
Ultimately, loads of weird and wacky stuff gets created by both OEMs and suppliers to demonstrate various possible configurations, technologies or options. I believe there was a Mk2 Focus RS complete with Haldex 4WD system knocking around for a good few years which was built as a tech demo. Sadly, there was no intention of it being made, but when you've got a bunch of engineers, a budget to do research and some time to do things....
TurboHatchback said:
I can't help wondering what the point is. The current Golf R is pointlessly fast, what will adding another 100bhp achieve other than greater pub dick-measuring prowess? Then again that's what sells cars and they are in the business of making money so I guess I've answered my own question.
LOLWhy anything.
The Spruce goose said:
Why don't they make a proper raylle one, 3 door wide body forget the headline bhp, light weight 4wd with fancy suspension lsd, twin turbo about 350bhp.
Cost.Wide body means you can't make it on the normal line (which is why the Focus RS has a normal bodyshell) so you can probably add £10k to the price for that.
Lightweight isn't really manageable in a family hatchback size with a 4WD system and a mechanical LSD up front. You want light, you're going to have to spend a fortune. Sure you could leave out the A/C "because racing" but it'll be sod-all in the grand scheme of things and if you make the car too compromised (e.g. R26R), no bugger'll buy it.
As for the twin turbo, VAG don't have any petrol twin turbo EA888 so it would be another expensive engineering job. Besides, they could easily get a reliable 350bhp from the existing unit just by turning up the wick. Mercedes manage just fine with one turbo.
Sure, it'd be lovely if they made something a bit bonkers for once but the practicalities mean it's likely just a pipe dream.
RacerMike said:
tankplanker said:
RacerMike said:
As great as it would be, the Audi wheels and Audi oval exhausts would perhaps suggest it's more likely to be a mule for some Audi test work. Either powertrain or (given the fact it has ride height stickers on the wheel arches) a dynamics test car of some sort....or both. Fairly common for powertrain mules to be whatever they have to hand and works, or whatever they believe is closest dynamically to whatever it is they're planning on making next. This could, for example, be an early next gen S3 platform.
If it is a test mule for Audi then my money would be on the performance version of the RS3, which would mean a hotter version of the A45, hopefully a full black edition, is likely as well, both in response to the M2 CSL?It could also of course be a supplier. It's fairly common for the big suppliers like GKN, Haldex, Mahle etc to build demo cars to show their technology to the OEMs. This could easily be something like a demo car for whatever the next GKN Twinster diff is to demo something like active vectoring of both axles or similar. The choice of a MK7 Golf with an RS3 powertrain could be due to packaging. It's possible that a Mk7 Golf has more space under the front or rear for whatever powertrain they are trying to fit.
Ultimately, loads of weird and wacky stuff gets created by both OEMs and suppliers to demonstrate various possible configurations, technologies or options. I believe there was a Mk2 Focus RS complete with Haldex 4WD system knocking around for a good few years which was built as a tech demo. Sadly, there was no intention of it being made, but when you've got a bunch of engineers, a budget to do research and some time to do things....
My guess would be as per the article that it's a Golf R400 mule which would effectively be a VW version of the RS3 - and hence why it features the exhaust and wheels from the Audi (at this stage!)
Given the standard Golf R has 4 exhausts, the production R400 would likely feature at least 8 to ensure its proper place in the model hierarchy ;-)
GTEYE said:
I can't really see any rational reason that an Audi test mule would be using a Golf bodyshell when they both use the identical MQB chassis anyway - and if it was a next generation mule there would be a likely difference in track or wheelbase which in this case there clearly isn't.
My guess would be as per the article that it's a Golf R400 mule which would effectively be a VW version of the RS3 - and hence why it features the exhaust and wheels from the Audi (at this stage!)
Given the standard Golf R has 4 exhausts, the production R400 would likely feature at least 8 to ensure its proper place in the model hierarchy ;-)
Huge assumptions there. Working for an OEM in dynamics, it could quite literally be anything. It could even be a Skoda for all we know. The badge and the engine mean literally nothing, and whilst the Golf an Audi do indeed both us the MQB platform, there will be subtle differences (mass distribution, clearances etc) that may mean they chose the Mk7 body. It could even be as simple as them having a load of old pre production Mk7 bodies available which were headed for the scrapper.My guess would be as per the article that it's a Golf R400 mule which would effectively be a VW version of the RS3 - and hence why it features the exhaust and wheels from the Audi (at this stage!)
Given the standard Golf R has 4 exhausts, the production R400 would likely feature at least 8 to ensure its proper place in the model hierarchy ;-)
The Spruce goose said:
Why don't they make a proper raylle one, 3 door wide body forget the headline bhp, light weight 4wd with fancy suspension lsd, twin turbo about 350bhp.
I was just thinking the same! Rather than stick the heavier 5-pot iron lump in the front (which undoubtedly has some handling compromises on the RS3), surely they can develop the existing 2L unit to 350bhp / 350lb/ft, remove weight and optimise the dynamics more, rather than shooting for "400" bhp and sticking a bigger willy-waving badge on the back..People would buy them though, lets be honest!
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