Volkswagen Golf, Beetle R-Line packages coming soon

The Golf R-Line package can be optioned on the $31,990 Golf 103TSI Highline and $34,490 Golf 110TDI Highline models at a cost of $2200.

Exterior changes includes sports suspension (lowered by 15mm), "Progressive Steering" that alters the steering ratio based on driver inputs, 18-inch alloys, front bumper extension and larger lower air intake, widened side sills, sportier rear bumper with black diffuser, a rear roof spoiler, tinted rear glass and R-Line badges.

Inside sees changes, too, with sports seats finished in "Race" cloth with microfibre side bolstering, a flat-bottomed leather-lined steering wheel, steering wheel-mounted paddleshifters, aluminium brake and accelerator pedals and door scuff plates (front), black headlining and "Black Lead Grey" inlays on the dash and doors.

The Beetle R-Line package costs $2000 over the regular Beetle ($29,990). It includes fewer items, but still gains sportier bumpers front and rear, body-coloured wing mirrors, 18-inch alloys, R-Line badges, sports seats, aluminium scuff plates, steering wheel-mounted shifters for auto models, and dash-top gauges with boost pressure, oil temperature and stopwatch readouts.

The German brand also offers the Touareg V8 TDI R-Line locally, but Volkswagen Australia public relations manager Kurt McGuiness told CarAdvice the addition of the Golf and Beetle isn't indicative of a full-scale rollout of R-Line versions of all models.

"It's just going to be these models at the moment," he said.

The R-Line packages for Golf and Beetle are available to order now, and the first stocks of R-Line cars are due to arrive within weeks.