It’s the go to understated hot hatch. The Mk 7/7.5 Golf R has been able to hold its own in the high powered world of modern hot hatches and with a tune, the little Golf has even beaten things like the Nissan GT-R.
So, it’s blindingly quick and still ever practical being a Golf. It’s good news then that Volkswagen have just revealed their Mk 8 Golf R. It hasn’t been long since VW took the covers off their 8th generation GTI Clubsport but I’m not complaining because I love fast Golfs, everybody does!
The main differences lie in the aggressive body panels and quad exhausts, signature R elements. VW says that the R shares more with the normal Golf than it does with the GTI.
It will have a 2 litre turbo engine just like the outgoing Golf R except that the power is dialed up a little to 235kW and 420Nm of torque. Increases of 20kW and 41Nm, all this power will of course be sent to all four wheels. North American buyers can either choose between manual or DSG gearboxes but the rest of the world will only be getting the seven speed DSG option as of now.
Despite the additional power, the hot hatch still goes from 0-100 in 4.7 seconds and tops out at 155 mph or 250 kph. A tune should fix that! What is new is the all wheel drive system which is set to make the car a lot more agile by eliminating understeer, making the R a lot sharper in the corners.
Just like the A45 AMG, this Golf R also gets a drift mode. And you thought VW didn’t have a sense of humour!
On the inside, sports seats and blue lighting are the only major differences, the Golf R is still as understated as ever!
Deliveries are set to start late next year and we can’t wait!
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Words by Matthew D’souza. Pictures sources from VW Press Global.
