VW GOLF R: SAY HI TO THE MOST POWERFUL GOLF EVER!

Volkswagen unveiled the most important Golf in its history when it showed the Golf R at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Goodbye GTI and R32 (what a disappointment), hello R. Unlike the old GTI R based on the Golf 4 that we got here in Mzansi, this is not just a badge on some body parts. It’s the most powerful Golf ever to come out of the Wolfsburg assembly line.


I say that not lightly, just check the figures. In fact this thing will outgun even the Audi S3 and the TT S! It has the same 2.0-litre TSI engine as those two cousins but instead of 195kW the Golf R makes 199kW at a high 6000rpm and 350Nm of torque between 2500rpm and 5000rpm. Two gearbox choices will be available to interested parties; a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG. Claimed 0 to 100km/h times are 5.7 seconds and 5.5 seconds respectively. Here’s something interesting for a VW; the car has 4Motion AWD which sends torque to all the wheels, but in certain extreme situations nearly 100% of the power goes to the rear wheels, essentially making the car a rear-wheel-drive at the point.

You’ll be able to tell the Golf R from lesser models like the GTI and TSIs by its side skirt extensions, its LED daytime running lights, Talladega type 18-inch alloys (19-inch available as options), a rear diffuser and those centred twin tailpipes.

The inside is quite blue with the R logo placed in certain areas, sports seats, aluminium door plates, a 3-spoke steering wheel with perforated leather for better grip and others.

When the Golf R makes its way to Mzansi in 2010 it will probably be priced at around R400 000 standard. That is if VW SA doesn’t outprice themselves like they did with the R32.