Friday 28th March 2014

VW Golf R Evo spied?

It's got GTI badges, R wheels and a big wing; just what is VW planning?

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To all intents and purposes, this VW looks like a Golf GTI with a big spoiler. Indeed, that's what many other channels are suggesting this car is, but in a stripped out 'Club Sport' specification. But what if it isn't? What if this 'GTI' is actually the Golf R Evo that has been confirmed for the Beijing show next month?

The badge says GTI; PH begs to differ

Here's the logic behind that train of thought. With its 7:58 'ring lap and drastic track pack, the SEAT Leon Cupra appears to be the ultimate as far as FWD hot hatches go in the VW Group. But the Evo will be based on the 4WD R and occupy another performance plane altogether with 370hp. Would VW make another track-focused FWD hatch with the Leon already around?

Moreover, the images of the car on track show it running on Golf R wheels and looks to be quite low with bigger brakes too. The Evo will be lighter than the standard R's 1,476kg; this car appears to forego rear seats which would contribute to that.

Various sources have suggested to that the car sounded much louder than a regular GTI when on track. And don't be fooled by the Wiechers logo on the sides; this isn't a German tuner special as the car was accompanied by VW support vehicles. Was this a car VW particularly wanted to disguise? Whatever, it's certainly creating plenty of conjecture everywhere.

Lighter, lower, louder. Could be great

The other theory is that this could well be a GTI Club Sport, to debut at Worthersee in May, but intended only as a concept like the wild W12 of a little while back. But then this doesn't seem quite that unfeasible as that mid-engined monster.

So plenty of possibilities right now for this Golf, with very little actually known. Whatever it becomes, it's more exciting news for hot hatch fans from VW. There's still the Polo R on its way as well!

[Sources: The Internet, including WCF, MotorAuthority, DriveAU and Carscoops]

[BlackPorker]

It's not the Golf R Evo. The exhaust, bumpers, etc all lead me to believe it's a GTI Club Sport.

[X5TUU]

that spoiler is awful and looks like a massive after thought ... but if it is the R then it will be soon to adorn all the 1.4 bobby basic models with their chav-tastic huuuge alloys and multiple non-functioning exhausts

[j_s14a]

Pistonheads spots a chav, assumes it's a new car.

Perhaps this is the new Golf?

[Charlie Michael]

j_s14a said:

Pistonheads spots a chav, assumes it's a new car.

Perhaps this is the new Golf?

Those poor alloys!

[Podie]

All this article is missing is an Autocar sketch...

[G0ldfysh]

Front 3/4 view with the sharp crease in the bonnet it looks like a Fiat Stilo

[Jordan210]

It has a roll cage in it and a sticker on the side that says wiechers sport who make roll cages...

So would it not be there test car rather then VW's ?

[treetops]

Honestly who actually cares about another over priced Golf.

Bits of tat stuck on it, if it wasn't a "new" car we'd all be shouting chav.

[sleep envy]

treetops said:

Honestly who actually cares about another over priced Golf.

[P4ROT]

Podie said:

All this article is missing is an Autocar sketch...

LOL so true!

[rob.e]

Looks very interesting.

Not sure i follow the logic of "disguising" a fast golf by using a gti badge ..

I bet Wiechers are loving the publicity though

[EricE]

Jordan210 said:

It has a roll cage in it and a sticker on the side that says wiechers sport who make roll cages...

So would it not be there test car rather then VW's ?

Apparently one of the previous Scirocco R mules also had those stickers. VW is trying to fool people into thinking this is some private companies tuned GTI when it is in reality a VW test car, likely the Golf R Evo, hiding in plain sight. Very sneaky...

jalopnik said:

You'll probably notice that the car is wearing "Wiechers Sport" decals on its panels, as well, calling out a German tuning company. Our spy shooter believes that these may be a bluff, as the car is wearing official VW plates and was stationed at the company's facility at the Nürburgring. He also mentions that the same sort of stickers were applied to the Scirocco R when it was testing.

[Riyazc]

Love that spoiler ... when my ironing board breask down id have a back-up.

[chelme]

sleep envy said:

treetops said:

Honestly who actually cares about another over priced Golf.

LOL beat me to it..

Edited by chelme on Friday 28th March 13:47

[chr15b]

treetops said:

Honestly who actually cares about another over priced Golf.

Bits of tat stuck on it, if it wasn't a "new" car we'd all be shouting chav.

Me, today's flagship models spell tomorrow's normal range technology.

I'm not likely to buy an S class Mercedes, but if you want to see what the next generation C class will have on it, then that's what you pay attention to.

[bobbo89]

Edit: Ignore me, must read the full article!

[morgrp]

Self opinionated VAG haters - I have saved you some time so you can whinge about something else for a change:


I think this golf is
Overpriced/Boring/Not Rear Wheel Drive/Not in the Spirit of the Mk1
delete as appropriate

I've never driven one but my
Mate/Mate's Mate/Uncle/Father in Law/Some bloke down the street with an Astra VXR/Clarkson
delete as appropriate
said it's crap

Personally I'd rather stick with
My Mx5/BMW/Basically anything that isn't made by VAG
delete as appropriate

[Amirhussain]

Not too sure about that spoiler at the moment.

[aka_kerrly]

I'm interested, hence clicking the topic!

The rear spoiler makes the arse end of the car look a bit like the phase 2 Megane 225/R models

[jonnM]

Amirhussain said:

Not too sure about that spoiler at the moment.

Let's hope it's easily detachable.