By: IOL Motoring Staff
For Golf fans, it doesn't get any more hallowed than this: Volkswagen has just spilled the beans on its all-new Golf R.
Set to wow the hyper hatch fraternity at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, this R is - as you'd expect - the fastest-accelerating Golf ever created.
Its generously-tuned 2-litre turbopetrol engine, with outputs of 221kW and 380Nm, will see the DSG version dash from standstill to 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds - according to VW's number crunchers. Expect the six-speed manual model to take 5.3 seconds and both models will top out at an electronically limited 250km/h.
The Golf R boasts identical outputs to its Audi S3 mechanical sibling and although it falls short of the 268kW/450Nm Mercedes A45 AMG in the all-wheel drive hyper-hatch game, the VW should be somewhat cheaper when it reaches our shores during the first half of 2014.
While the R's engine is based on the EA888 TSI unit found in the latest GTI , engineers have tinkered with the turbocharger, cylinder head, exhaust valves, valve seats and springs as well as the pistons and injection valves.
The new R is said to be up to 18 percent more efficient than its predecessor, with VW claiming combined consumption figures of 6.9 l/100km (DSG) and 7.1 l/100km (manual) on the unrealistic EU test cycle.
HALDEX AWD
A fifth-generation Haldex all-wheel drive system shoves the power to all four wheels to keep things tidy off the mark and around bends. In fact, if needed, the system can transfer almost all of its power to the back wheels.
Further sharpening its cornering potential are specially tuned springs and dampers and the car also sits 5mm lower to the ground than the GTI. More discerning buyers will be able to opt for VW's Adaptive Chassis Control system.
The Golf R is perched on 18-inch alloys with 224/40 tyres and other visual give-aways include its more muscular front bumper with larger air inlets, modified grille, smoked LED taillights, chrome-tip quad exhaust pipes and large 'R' style diffuser.
VW has yet to release pictures of the interior, but they do make mention of bespoke instrument dials with blue needles and sports seats with Alcantara bolsters.