Wednesday 21st August 2013

VW Golf R official

The lowdown on VW's fastest ever Golf ahead of the Frankfurt show

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Remember when a fast Golf had 200hp, or even less? Well, here's the latest Golf R, set for a Frankfurt debut and ready to make us all feel rather old; it's the first production Golf with 300hp.

Gunther, turn the wheel so they can see the alloys

That power is produced by the same EA888 2.0-litre turbo as found in the GTI, albeit in extensively modified form. A bigger turbo, new valves with modified seats and springs, different pistons plus an uprated cylinder head contribute to the 80hp power gain. Torque is up slightly from the GTI's 258lb ft to 280lb ft.

The accompanying performance stats for the R are fairly compelling; with the optional six-speed DSG, 0-62mph take just 4.9 seconds. For the manual, this drops slightly to 5.3 seconds, with both limited to 155mph. Allied to 40mpg combined (for now, final UK economy figures will follow), it sounds like another ruthlessly efficient VW powertrain package.

The fifth-gen Haldex 4WD system decouples the rear axle at low speeds or under light loads to boost economy. VW claims the electro-hydraulic system can apportion 'almost 100 per cent' of the power to the rear wheels in fractions of a second when required.

There are the obligatory revisions to the springs and dampers too, the R riding 5mm lower (and presumably a bit more firmly) than a GTI. VW's Adaptive Chassis Control is on the options list. The GTI's progressive steering rack, which reduces the turns lock to lock to 2.1, also features on the R.

Not a huge price walk from R to A45 AMG...

The standard wheels are 18s, with 19s another option on that extras list. Behind them sit 340mm (front) and 310mm (rear) brake discs.

Much like the previous Golf R, and indeed every VW R model, the visual makeover is subtle enough (almost) to be discreet. Yes, the four tailpipes give the game away somewhat, but the R badges, new bumpers and smoked taillights are appropriately restrained. All we know of the interior so far is that sports seats featuring 'a cloth centre section and Alcantara bolsters' will feature as well as a 'bespoke' instrument cluster.

Following the near-£40K Golf R cabrio debacle, VW will be under extreme scrutiny on how it prices the MkVII R hatch. The last Golf R three-door started at £30,712, compared to the £25,320 of the standard GTI. So going on previous form, the Golf R should again be somewhere around £30K, placing it directly against the M135i and upcoming Audi S3. However, with a greater power gain than before, we wouldn't be surprised if the actual OTR price is somewhere nearer £35K. Add the DSG and the 19-inch wheels to that list and we're up to A45 AMG money... Let battle commence!

[coogy]

4 tailpipes?!

[n4aat]

My thoughts exactly. Just looks stupid, like the TT-S.

Who needs four tail pipes.

[SprintSpeciale]

How can you call it "subtle" with those alloys? Let's hope they are the optional 19s and the 18s are more in keeping with the discreet approach.

[Uncle John]

I like the tailpipes but they simply do not fit with the rest of the "understated" car.

So it's all a bit confused.

[Armen]

Golf V R32 forever...

The last of the breed.

[Iroquois Plisken]

Reminds me of something like this:

[RobM77]

n4aat said:

My thoughts exactly. Just looks stupid, like the TT-S.

Who needs four tail pipes.

It's necessary on a large capacity multi-cylinder engine. Having four on a 2.0 litre 4 cylinder engine though is going to attract ridicule...

[MDian]

Bit disappointed, I'm in the market for a good all rounder following the departure of my Cayman R and currently considering the mk6 Golf R, mk7 Golf GTi and M135i. The huge hike in power to 300bhp is good and suspect the boffins will boost that to 330bhp with a minor ECU adjustment, but it is a little too subtle to be their 'premium' model and those wheels are horrible (hopefully the 18's are better). Still unsure of the shape too, but then the M135i isn't a looker either! Looking forward to some 'in the flesh shots' and a Monkey review.

[MikeG88]

Those twin pipes on the MK5 were a signature for the car.

Its like having a BMW without Kidney grills.

[darkangelv2]

Did you mean bigger SEALS and springs?

[Niffty951]

I love living with Golfs but the Mk5 r32 was the last golf I bought new.

I just can't see this tempting me out of my probably more spacious, better sounding, faster, equally economical 135i unless it was a couple of thousand pounds cheaper.

Neither are in any way things of beauty and those four exhausts are a real killer. Could you honestly drive that on the road without feeling like a bit of an arse.

[C.A.R.]

Wow it looks so unlike how I would imagine a Golf R would look! Love what they have done with it.

...What have they done with it?

[Kronstein]

Looks neat. Hope they give it a more playful/adjustable chassis than the 7 GTI - one of the only things the GTI was criticised for really.

[RacingBlue]

Looks like an Auto Express rendering. Not good.

[RizzoTheRat]

SprintSpeciale said:

How can you call it "subtle" with those alloys? Let's hope they are the optional 19s and the 18s are more in keeping with the discreet approach.

Glad I'm not the only one, those wheels look hideous. I'd guess the ride's not too comfortable on those rubber band tyres either.

[sagarich]

I like the idea of it, but why 4 tailpipes? I thought the twin pipes from previous generations kind of defined the "R" variant.

[NGK210]

Interestingly, the Mk3 Leon Cupra R (LCR) will have the same engine and... Haldex 4WD.

Presumably, the LCR will cost c. £3k less than the Golf?

But will SEAT Sport be given free rein to hone the chassis set-up, a la Mk1 LCR, or will their development time/budget be deliberately limited/hobbled, a la Mk2 LCR, to 'protect' the Golf R?

Edited by NGK210 on Tuesday 20th August 17:11

[thiscocks]

Bet it will ride well on those wheels/tyres.



Not

[whoami]

RobM77 said:

n4aat said:

My thoughts exactly. Just looks stupid, like the TT-S.

Who needs four tail pipes.

It's necessary on a large capacity multi-cylinder engine.

Not necessarily.

[MycroftWard]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

That's a pretty scathing remark, have to agree! As said, the four pipe exits are a little unnecessary too.

I do think the mk7 Golf is one of the best hatchback shapes around though, and this R version certainly offers very capable performance.