I think it’s safe to say that the new Volkswagen Golf R, is one of the most anticipated cars in South Africa let alone the world, it has really big shoes to fill. The new Golf R has now been revealed but it feels like we kinda already know it due to internet leaks and spy shots, but now we got the details so let’s take a real look at this iconic hatch.
Let’s start with the meat shall we, the new Golf R will still have the EA888 engine but has been modified to produce 235kW and 420N.m which is not a huge jump from the outgoing model. It does, however, get ahead of its newest rivals the BMW M135i xDrive and the Mercedes-AMG A35 4Matic. 0-100kph is dealt with 4.7 seconds.
Volkswagen has also put in a lot of work to the suspension and the dynamics of the car in efforts to make it feel more lively. The Golf R includes a newly developed torque vectoring 4Motion all-wheel-drive system and a Vehicle Dynamics Manager. Which in turn means the 4Motion setup features selective wheel torque control on the rear axle—the new rear differential distributes the power between the front and rear axles, and also between the two rear wheels. This makes it possible to significantly increase the agility of the Golf R, particularly when cornering. With all this Tech and new developments, it makes the new Golf R go around the Nürburgring 17 seconds faster than its predecessor.
On the exterior, the Golf R features a new front bumper featuring a motorsport-style splitter and R-specific air intake grilles, with high-gloss black elements. It also gets an LED strip that runs across the radiator grille as soon as the engine starts. The sunroof comes as standard with the R and 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. The rear features a high gloss black diffuser with twin-tailpipes on either side and a roof spoiler.
Inside the new Golf R, you find a very digital cockpit. The 10-inch Discover Pro touchscreen display and digital instrument cluster are standard, you can also find Nappa leather sports seats and a sports steering with paddle shifts.
The Arrival of the Golf R has not yet been said but it could be making its way to SA shores sometime next year, we will update once the details have been announced.
Images: Volkswagen
