This Golf R the greatest

Volkswagen’s R-range is an undoubted must for every generation of Golf since the R32 debuted in 2002, and just like its predecessors, in its latest guise the Golf R is the most powerful production golf ever.By Kyle Kock

Like the previous generations of “Super Golf”, the Golf R was conceived by Volkswagen Individual, but whereas it forebears each employed six-cylinder powerplants to boast the title of “strongest Golf of all time,” the new Golf R utilises the company’s 2,0-litre turbocharged TSI engine for maximum power and maximum efficiency.

Thanks to numerous upgrades and a tweak here and there, namely to the cylinders, connecting rods and cylinder block, the turbocharger provides up to 1,2 bar boost pressure for peak outputs of 199 kW at 6 000 r/min and 350 N.m of torque from 2 500 to 5 000 r/min. Volkswagen claims the Golf R boasts a top speed of 250 km/h, CO2 emissions of 199 g/km and consumes just 8,5 litres/100 km.

Naturally, the Golf R makes use of Volkswagen’s latest generation of 4Motion all-wheel drive that can direct nearly 100 percent of the peak torque to the rear wheels in for a more dynamic driving experience, and of course, in the interests of safety. Performance-wise, the Golf-R is expected to sprint to 100 km/h from zero to in 5,7 seconds with a manual gearbox, whilst the DSG-equipped model does it in 5,5 seconds.

As we’ve come to expect from the previous R models, the Golf R boasts an unmistakable exterior appearance thanks to a unique front bumper with large air intakes, gloss-black finish of the grille and air-intake louvres, obligatory chrome R logos front and rear, Talladega 18-inch alloy wheels (19-inch optional), new side skirts, gloss black mirrors, LED taillights with “smoked covers” and distinct rear bumper with integrated diffuser and dual centre tailpipes.

The interior is equipped with the new “Top Sport” seat system, which reportedly any driver feels as though they are “tailor-made” to fit the driver. The centre panels of the sport seats are upholstered in the honeycomb textured grey-black “Kyalami” design – in homage to the world-famous local circuit. As expected, the new R logo is embroidered in the front head restraints, while new designs features include an R gearshift knob, aluminium scuff plates with R logo and stainless steel sports pedals.

Sales of the Golf R are expected to start in Germany by the end of this year, and according to a VWSA spokesperson, it might make to South Africa by the third quarter of 2010.