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About a year after the presentation of the eighth generation of the Golf, the new flagship model of the bestselling compact will be available at VW dealers from the beginning of December. Now Wolfsburg has finally provided information. Unsurprisingly, the Golf R is powered by the well-known combination of turbocharged four-cylinder and all-wheel drive.
With the two-liter engine, already known by Arteon R and T-Roc R, VW has slightly increased its performance compared to its predecessor: 320 hp and 420 Nm of torque mean an increase of 10 hp and 20 Nm, making the new R the most powerful serial Golf of all time. And even for the fastest: 4.7 seconds from 0 to 100 km / h means no improvement in pure sprinting ability. However, the R with the optional R-Performance package is now able to reach 270 km / h instead of “only” 250 – a new maximum value that is pushing the previous Golf 7 Clubsport S from the throne!
There is a new way of drifting
The performance package also includes a larger rear spoiler open towards the roof, which provides additional downforce on the rear axle, 19-inch wheels instead of 18-inch wheels and two additional “special” drive profiles – and a drift function! The standard seven-speed dual-clutch transmission offers a true manual mode that doesn’t boost the rev limiter on its own.
The “Special” driving mode, on the other hand, aims to transform the new Golf R into a true record vehicle on the legendary Nordschleife: the chassis and shock absorbers are therefore ideally designed for the undulating profile of the Nürburgring, which was the first time on test drive for a Golf time of less than eight minutes (7:51 Min): 17 seconds faster than its predecessor! An especially large 18-inch brake system is standard for all R models and not only ensures corresponding delays on the Nordschleife.
Dynamic all-wheel drive
Even more important to many, however, is lateral dynamics, and thanks to variable all-wheel drive, this is greater than in front-wheel drive GTI versions. The 4×4 system is networked with the XDS electronic differential lock, transmission and DCC chassis control. The power of the drivetrain is distributed via a new rear axle transmission not only between the front and rear axles, but also between the two rear wheels – up to 100 percent. In this way it is possible to increase the agility of the Golf R, especially when cornering. And it could even drift, if that weren’t rightly prohibited on public roads …
For really hot racing, racing mode can be activated directly via an R button on the steering wheel, sharpening the Golf R’s senses in fractions of a second. The electronically controlled chassis is two centimeters lower than normal versions and ambitious drivers will be happy with tighter springs and dampers.
The price is hot
Visually, the VW Golf R differs little from its somewhat more docile GTI siblings. In addition to the increased braking system, the bulky spoilers and the four-pipe exhaust system stand out. On request, the latter can be replaced by an Akrapovič titanium exhaust system, which is seven kilos lighter and guarantees an even more robust sound. Inside are animated instruments and strongly contoured seats, optionally in Alcantara or leather.
What else stands in the way of a trip to the Nürburgring? The estimated price of around 52,000 francs to pay for the new VW Golf R.
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