During a European driving event for the upcoming Golf R, Volkswagen representatives confirmed that the company will establish a new performance division called R GmbH.
In an interview with Insideline, an unnamed company executive explained that “BMW has its M, Mercedes-Benz has AMG, and our sibling Audi has Quattro GmbH (not to be confused with the company’s all-wheel drive system). This new division will be our Quattro.”
R GmbH will be set up within Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg plant and will build R versions of appropriate models from the ground up. The most recent examples of the company’s R-badged offerings are the 199 kW all-wheel drive Golf R and it’s slightly less powerful, but eminently stylish, sibling the Scirocco R. There is also a rumour that a Jetta R Sport model could be in the pipeline.
The overall operation will run as an extension of Volkswagen’s Individual programme, which currently offers sporty accessories and styling components under the R-Line brand in Europe. It is not yet clear which countries will receive R models and R-Line-based accessories.
The division will be officially confirmed at Volkswagen’s Geneva Motor Show in March.
