Hot on the heels of the Golf 8 GTI and GTI Clubsport comes the new Volkswagen Golf R. It retains the familiar formula, mixing all-wheel drive with a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine and a blue-tinted visual makeover, but there's a lot of new stuff on offer, including a Drift mode. Irish pricing is expected to be in the region of €62,500 when the R arrives in 2021.
Blue is the Volkswagen R colour
Only three paint colours are offered for the Golf R and, of course, one of them is the signature Lapiz Blue Metallic (otherwise it's white or black). A blue LED bar frames the top of the upper grille and lights up as a daytime running lamp, sitting above the standard LED headlights. The new front bumper has larger air inlets and a subtle splitter built-in. This is complemented by side sill extensions and a roof spoiler, while the new rear bumper features a prominent aerodynamic diffuser and the Golf R's characteristic four exhaust outlets. There are also matt-chrome door mirror housings and 'R' projections onto the ground when the car is opened or closed.
Irish-market Golf Rs will ride on 18-inch alloy wheels as standard (with two 19-inch upgrade designs to choose from) and behind them will be the expected, blue-painted brake callipers. They clamp larger brake discs than before, incidentally, while the overall ride height is a full 20mm lower than that of the regular VW Golf.
A lighter (and presumably louder) Akrapovič titanium exhaust system can be fitted, while the R-Performance package adds a larger roof spoiler.
Step up in performance
Under the Golf R's bonnet is the next stage in the development of the turbocharged E888 engine, the evo4. It's a four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol unit, using direct injection, variable valve timing and variable valve lift on the exhaust side. Peak power is 320hp and maximum torque of 420Nm is available from 2,100-5,350rpm. A 0-100km/h time of 4.7 seconds is quoted.
That's no doubt enabled by the standard fitment of a seven-speed, twin-clutch DSG automatic gearbox (no manual option, sadly) and the next generation of Volkswagen's 4Motion four-wheel-drive system. The latter is now referred to as 4Motion with R-Performance Torque Vectoring and it adds the ability to vary the torque distribution, not only front to rear, but also across the back axle, theoretically enabling all of the rear-fed torque to be directed to one wheel. When this is sent to the outer wheel on a corner, for example, it should greatly enhance the Golf R's agility and reduce a tendency to understeer. The operation of the system varies depending on driving settings selected and a variety of other parameters.
As standard, the Golf R comes with Comfort, Sport, Race and the customisable Individual mode. The Vehicle Dynamics Manager centralises control of the 4Motion system, DCC adaptive damping, electronic differential locks and the variable ratio steering, all of which alter depending on driving mode. An 'R' button on the steering wheel allows quick access to this and, if buyers opt for the R-Performance package, a further two modes are added to the menu. The 'Special' setting has been tailored specifically for the Nürburgring Nordschleife racetrack, with softer damping and other custom tweaks, while the Drift profile presumably alters the car's systems to live up to its name, sending more power to the rear axle. Volkswagen pointedly states that this is not for public road use.
Back inside
Despite all the talk about tyre-shredding dynamics and racetrack lapping, the Golf R will be predominantly driven at legal speeds on the public road, so it's no stripped-out track special. Indeed, it promises to be the highest-specification Golf 8 on the market. We don't yet have full details of the equipment included for the Irish market, but you can rest assured that all versions of the Golf R will come with branded sports seats and steering wheel, special interior trim, lots of blue stitching and bespoke views for the digital instruments.