The impressive VW Golf range has just got better with the order books opening for the remarkable VW Golf R.
The new VW Golf R
With deliveries of the most powerful production VW Golf yet set to arrive in March 2014, interest in this range topping R is bound to be strong.
Prices start at £29,900 for the three door VW Golf R which has a six speed manual gearbox and £31,315 for the three door version with a six speed automatic gearbox. The five door versions of the VW Golf R cost £30,555 and £31,970 respectively.
The beating heart of the VW Golf R is a new version of VW’s four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged TSI petrol engine: essentially the same engine found in the latest VW Golf GTI.
In this revamped version the engine will produce 300 PS from 5,500 to 6,200 rpm and 380 Nm (280 lbs ft) from 1,800 to 5,500 rpm.
More power for the VW Golf R
That’s an awful lot of power so VW has modified the cylinder head, valve seats and springs, pistons, injection valves and turbocharger.
The result is a strong performance which will take the VW Golf R from 0 to 62 mph in just 5.3 seconds (the previous Golf R did this in 5.7 seconds). For those R’s fitted with the optional DSG gearbox the sprint can be done in 4.9 seconds.
The top speed for the VW Golf R has now been electronically limited to 155mph and will return fuel consumption of around 40 mpg on the combined cycle. This is, however, around 18% more efficient than the previous VW Golf R.
And just like the Golf GTI, the VW Golf R is fitted with progressive steering but has a new front bumper design, modified radiator grille with an R logo and daytime running lights.
The VW Golf R has a lighter body with ventilated brake discs
To help this impressive car come to a stop, VW have fitted ventilated brake discs all-round and the car is lighter than its predecessor.
The interior is much like the VW Golf GTI but there are cloth sports seats, leather is an option, and the dash has bespoke instrument dials with blue needles.
Anyone looking for a performance car will find that the VW Golf R will give exceptional performance and costs a little bit less than the similar Audi S3.