A recent interview with Volkswagen’s head of powertrain development, Dr Heinz-Jakob Neusser, has revealed that the positive reception with which such models as the Golf R have been met means that the company is looking to spread its R mantle further across the range.
Neusser claimed that the R performance treatment could theoretically be applied to every model within the Volkswagen stable, but obvious factors such as per-model demand and powertrain suitability would require careful consideration.
“We are selling so many and the customer feedback is so positive, it gives us now the idea to think about other R models. It’s only a question of whether the market is willing to take the car and, from our side, whether it’s commercially attractive to make it,” stated Neusser.
Neusser also revealed that the company could well start re-assessing the viability of turbocharged six-cylinder engines and all-wheel drive for larger potential R models, such as the Passat and a possible estate variant
“We also have six-cylinder engines which fit longitudinally across the car and these can always be turbocharged, which means there is no limit [to what we can offer]. The question is do we need a six-cylinder? It’s a question of power and torque. With too much you can’t get the traction, which is why we have 4Motion in the toolkit, the platform system, and in each car this is possible.”
With the launch of the limited edition Polo R WRC, the stepping stones towards an R-badged B-segment hot hatch are very much in place, although this model will likely feature a tuned version of the updated Polo GTI’s 1,8-litre turbopetrol engine. But with the sudden interest in the compact SUV/crossover segment, a model such as an R-fettled Tiguan wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility, either.
