With the Volkswagen Golf R having made its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show we now know a lot more about the fastest accelerating production Golf.
Volkswagen Golf R At Frankfurt Motor Show 2013
It’s quicker off the line, less hungry for fuel and is loaded with even more technology than before. It has an improved electronic differential (XDS+), stability control that can be fully deactivated (ESC Sport), a fifth generation Haldex all-wheel drive system, stop-start technology with energy recuperation and the same progressive steering rack as the GTI that reduces the lock-to-lock effort from 2.75 turns to just 2.1.
Ride height is 20mm lower than a standard Golf and 5mm lower than the GTI. The brakes now use 340 x 30mm discs at the front and 310 x 22mm at the rear.
Identifying features are the chunkier bumpers and grilles, gloss black mirrors and smoked light lenses. The exhaust tip count is up from two on the old R to four. Standard wheels are an 18-inch Cadiz design wrapped in 225/40 rubber. You can upgrade to a 19-inch Cadiz design or pick a set of lighter 19-inch Pretoria wheels (as seen on the white car here).
Volkswagen Golf R At Frankfurt Motor Show 2013
Paint options include Lapis Blue Metallic, a shade exclusive to the R. Other colours include Pure White, Tornado Red, Night Blue, Limestone Grey Metallic, Reflex Silver Metallic, Deep Black Pearl Effect and Oryx White.
How much will the Golf R cost? The last model had just broken through the £30,000 barrier and this new one shares a lot of the same hardware as the £30,640 Audi S3, so expect prices to start at just over £30,000 when it arrives in the UK.
| Performance & Economy | 2010 Golf R | 2013 Golf R |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | EA113 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbocharged petrol | EA888 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbocharged petrol |
| Power (PS/bhp) | 270 / 267 | 300 / 297 |
| Torque (Nm / (lb/ft)) | 350 / 258 | 380 / 280 |
| 0 – 62 mph (seconds) | 5.3 (DSG) 5.5 (manual) | 4.9 (DSG) 5.1 (manual) |
| Top Speed (mph) | 155 | 155 |
| CO2 Emissions (g/km) | 195 (DSG) 199 (manual) | 159 (DSG) 165 (manual) |
| VED Band | J | G |
| Combined Economy (mpg) | 33 (DSG) 33 (manual) | 40 (DSG) 39 (manual) |
| Kerb Weight (kg) | 1,446 | n/a |
Frankfurt Motor Show images courtesy of headlineauto.co.uk