While the R32 nameplate may be missing from the latest generation Golf range, Volkswagen has not left the hot hatch without a flagship – officially introducing the new Golf R at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Enthusiasts need not be disappointed by the removal of the trademark V6 with the new Golf R boasting the title as the fastest-accelerating Volkswagen ever.
The Golf R is equipped with a 2.0-litre TSI four-cylinder engine producing peak power of 199kW at 6000rpm and 350Nm coupled with a new generation all-wheel-drive system.
Not only is the new engine 35kg lighter and 15kW more powerful than the 3.2-litre V6 found in the outgoing Golf R32, it is also more efficient with a combined fuel economy figure of just 7.1 litres per 100km while CO2 emissions fall from 257 g/km to 199 g/km.
Despite its gains in efficiency, the new car can accelerate from rest to 100km/h in just 5.7 seconds, or 0.2 seconds quicker when equipped with a six-speed DSG transmission.
The four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine is derived from the MkV Golf GTI and features a reinforced cylinder block, uprated pistons, conrods ,high pressure injectors, an uprated turbocharged and new intercooler.
The new 345mm front brakes are joined by uprated suspension that has been lowered by 25mm with revised spring and damper rates and new anti-roll bars.
The Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP) has also been revised for the Golf R with two stages designed for track use.
Unlike the four-wheel-drive system offered on the R32 that relied on differing wheel speeds between the front and rear axles to engage the four-wheel drive, the system fitted to the Golf R uses a pre-charged hydraulic system that’s able to react more quickly while also limiting the torque being channeled through either axle to reduce wheelspin.
In certain circumstances, the Golf R is able to channel 100 per cent of the torque available to the rear wheels if required.
To differentiate the Golf R from the standard Golf or GTI model, it features new front and rear bumpers complete with LED running lights at the front and a gloss black diffuser at the rear housing a pair of central exit exhausts.
A set of Xenon headlights, new black grille and wing mirrors create a menacing look which the sill extensions are flanked by 18-inch five-spoke wheels complete with 225/40 tyres as standard – 19-inch wheels with 235/35 tyres are optional.
Inside, owners will be greeted by a set of distinctive aluminium ‘R’ kick plates which are joined by new seats finished in grey Alcantara contrasted against high-grip black mesh cloth.
The new Golf R is set to arrive in the UK in December with local prices and specifications due to be announced closer to launch.
puts my mark V GTI to shame! I want one!
Those are awesome figures from an engine that size and a car that heavy. It looks great too, yet for some reason I actually find the GTI more desirable. However, with those figures and four wheel drive there’s no way I’d buy a GTI over this, even with the extra outlay. I haven’t owned a Golf in such a long time but that may be just about to change…
Seriously amazing though. A hyper hatch edging into super car territory. This has just taken the Focus RS off of my maybe list.
I agree. Who needs V8! Do not get me wrong V8 is good for towing but when you need fun it is 4 cyl turbo. Just luck at who is driving V8. Even Ken Block picked a Subaru not Corvette or Camaro.
He’s a rally driver. How many Corvettes or camaros do you see rallying?
universal rule for first grade competition rally cars is to have no larger than 2.0L engines, that’s why V8s aren’t used.
Sorry if you do not know who is Ken Block go to this website http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ7R_buZPSo
Love it, but just cant get past the whole hatch thing.
Just feels like my mum or girlfriend should be driving it.
Wish they would start making decent coupes!!
I’m afraid it’s not even close to supercar territory and Ken Block drives an sti because he is a pro rally driver backed by a little thing called sponsorship.
The performance of the current R32 with a turbo kit and mods is VERY impressive, so whilst they have killed that same potential off I am sure there will be tuning workshops lining up to get their hands on this one :)
cheers
Z
Turbo R32 is very impressive, but hardly a common upgrade. Parts alone add up to the cost of another R32, let alone labour to disassemble the entire front of the car, plus the engine for new bearings, etc, etc.
Has anyone mentioned how much it weighs in 5-dr?
Will be interesting to see how well it handles – especially compared to Evo X/STi etc. Hopefully it will be rear-biased.
I like the styling but wish it had a bit more poke. Hopefully VW will put the new 5-cyl turbo engine in the Golf (from the TT-RS)…now that would really get my interest.
I’m putting an order in as soon as vw australia confirms its release!
the only slight disappointment are the 0-100km/h times..
otherwise the perfect car, how gti’s were always meant to be!
I wonder who’d buy an s3 now haha..
Just wait until ABT releases a chip.
0-100 in 5 flat for 2G.
0-100 in sub 5 with chip and upgraded hardware.
I figure doing the run in under 6 AND 7.1 litres per 100km when behaving is pretty damn respectable.
I wonder if it will be sub $60k.
The 199kw/350nm is a tune aimed at the publicised torque limit of the DSG trannie.
It won’t be long till the tuning shops give the new engine some more grunt. How long it takes them will depend on the ECU type, and whether it is a brand new one from Bosch. If it’s the same one as the current GTI-Pirelli, it won’t take much time.
Uprated engine internals, turbo, injectors, and intercooler sounds like an easy and reliable upgrade to 220kw/450nm…
Price in AU will be in R32 territory. The Pirelli was around $50k, so add AWD cost and it’l be around $55k
This is some rocket. But the interesting thing about this motor is, and I know this is not on this topic, but if the upgraded Ford FG is going to have a turbo 4 is it possible that Ford is going the right way with engine size and 4 cylinders.
The Falcon weighs in at about 1750kg with the I6 engine. Delete the engine and transmission, and replace with far lighter 4cyl and transmission, and you would probably get down to 1600kg or maybe even 1550kg.
The turbo engine Ford is planning on using puts out around 205kW and 379Nm so that is plenty to geive the same performance as a current Falcon.
But it will lose its towing credentials. For that you would need to buy the diesel Territory when it is released.
Is ford going the right way? Ford is going the only possible way – Euro V and Euro VI are not possible with the I6 engine no matter what is done with it. That’s why a V6 Turbo and a 4 cyl turbo are being introduced. A 5 cyl turbo already exists in Mondeo and Focus.
Makes me wonder how hard Mondeo could go with the T4 they want for Falcon.
CA, that interior image looks silly reversed. How about displaying the image in its correct original format.
5.5 seconds 0-100km/h and 7.1 l/100km fuel efficiency is a brilliant effort!
yes… we know that its was a LHD photo but reversed… no need to make it look like RHD.
i don’t wanna touch it… BECAUSE IT’S TOO FREAKIN HOT!!!!!!!
5.7 seconds and only 7.1 fuel consumption… i love you VW! the evo is about as fast and it does what? 10.5. frot bumper is the same as scirocco r.
wtf are you trying to do car advice? the interior picture is flipped
This seems like a great little car, but VW should bring the Sirocco here to Aus. Then that would be something worth buying if you aren’t to the whole hot hatch thing.
But the Sirocco is a hatch as well?
I saw one in Germany last year. Very cool. Loved the wide fat stance.
Scirocco is a coupe…
I think you will find the body shape to be a hatch shape but if you really want to split hairs it is a 2 door so technically falls into “coupe” category.
Still part of the “hot hatch” brigade Mick is mentioning.
Well you obviously have no idea. The Scirocco is a coupe but that the fact it has two doors doesn’t make it so. By writing that you imply that every two door car is a coupe.
The Scirocco just is a coupe. I actually can’t explain it but it just is.
au contraire Alex,
In contrast to your “I can’t explain it, but it just is” reasoning I endeavour to apply some logic to my reasoning.
I said “technically” it could be called a coupe because it has 2 doors which is the core definition of a coupe.
Hatchback: An automobile having a sloping back with a hinged rear door that opens upward.
The Scirocco clearly has a hatchback bodystyle in the way its rear is shaped with its upright back window opening upwards – hatchback style.
You could call it a hatchback coupe if you wish but you can’t rule out its hatchback proportions, hence it being part of the hot hatch category.
The lack of a B pillar is generally what makes a car a coupe. Often though you will see blackened B pillars on cars to to give them a coupe-like sporty look.
Very thin B-like pillars are often present in coupes to distinguish the front and rear windows, but should not be confused for a B-pillar as they aren’t actually built into the support frame and rather are just an aesthetic element of the exterior.
Generally, the lack of a need for a B pillar for support comes natural to a cabin with compromised rear passenger space and/or a shorter roof or fastback.
To conclude, the Scirocco is a coupe, but also calling it a hatchback coupe would be a plausible statement.
I like it.
I always fancied the R32.. but this one is better.
Now I either pick an WRX STi, Golf R or a Audi S3…
tough choice…. driven 2 of them, but not this yet…
It’ll come down to maintenance… I’ve been put off by the high maintenance cost of the european brands.
Heaps cheaper insurance on tis more luxurious car. Go and test drive them all on the same day like I did, and the build quality is chalk and cheese. VW wins.
I was going to sell my mk5 gti for the new mk6 gti but i think I will hold off for this. I know I dont need the extra power that this will offer over the gti but i just think this will be a craking car to drive! I think price will be in the mid $50′s hopefully
Given this is essentially the current S3 engine, there are plenty of mild and wild tuning options already available. :)
Not sure that fuel consumption figure is correct, though. 7.1l/100km might be the highway figure, but the combined urban/highway figure is 8.5l/100km. Still very good, and a clear advantage over the R32.
WHAT A BLAND AND UNDERDONE INTERIOR!
Who is going to want to the premium just for the superior performance if you don’t get rewarded when sitting in the car?!
I think VW’s have very safe but all-too-bland interiors.
It’s the difference between classy and kitsch…..Less is more :)
This is all me!
I have been looking for something to upgrade to from the XR5 Focus and this could be it.
Was thinking Skoda Octavia RS wagon with modes, good sleeper but only front wheel drive.
Then there is the S3 but with this why bother for $15k more.
Or a Passat R36 (not old enough for that yet) or Volvo S40 T5 to keep the same great engine as the XR but with AWD.
But no I think VW has done it with this little gem!
I’d rather a Sirocco R
This is the ultimate Golf! Ice silver with black rims would look good for me! Can’t wait for the comparison between the WRX STI, EVO X and maybe 3MPS. I aggree, the interior is a bit boring than compared to the evo, but I’m sure it’s a bit more ergonomic and of better quality. It also looks much better quality than the WRX! There isn’t much room to put big stuff in an evo though, so the hatchback thing is more of a practical decsion than an aesthetic one for me.
The engine in this Golf Mk VI R is not an upgraded Golf Mk V GTi Pirelli, nor is it from the Audi S3. It comes straight out of the Audi TTS Quattro!!!
I4/2.0 TURBO
200kW/6000RPM
350Nm/2500RPM
According to Motor Magazine Australia: “….this engine is arguably the worlds best turbo four.”
I cant see this “R” coming in under $58,000 with the DSG box, add a sunroof, and other dealer charges, and it will hit $65,000 on road!!
Awesome car, but $65,000 for a hot hatch? Hmmm, yep I still want one…..
great car, but I’d get an R36 Passat for that money
VW engines are very tuneable. Look at the latest Motor mag tuner special. An R32 in there ran under 4 seconds 0 – 100 and was only .1 of a second slower than a tuned GT2 and R35 GTR. Over the 400m it ran a sub 12 sec time and was only .2 of a sec off the pace of the R35 GTR and .3 off the GT2. Crapped all over the tuned holden/ford V8s and turbo six. Mind you the tuning costs bumped the car up too $130K or so which is either totally ridiculous for an R32 or mind blowing value for a car so close too an R35 and GT2!