A fresh report out of Australia claims the rumoured 300 kW Volkswagen Golf R Plus is still on the cards, although adds it’s likely to hit the market only in 2023.
According to whichcar.com.au, the Wolfsburg-based firm has yet to officially sign off the (possibly electrified) hyper hatch, which would go head to head with the 310 kW Mercedes-AMG A45 S and fill a void left by the scrapped Golf R400 project.
The publication claims a “styling proposal” for the Golf R Plus has already been completed, with the halo version of the Golf 8 set to feature “significant visual differentiation” from the yet-to-be-revealed standard Golf R (itself apparently coming with 245 kW) and the Golf GTI.
So, what would power the hyper hatch? Well, talk of VW pilfering Audi’s 2,5-litre five-cylinder unit has already been shot down, so whichcar.com.au suggests the German firm might electrify its familiar turbocharged 2,0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine as it seeks to meet increasingly stringent emissions regulations in Europe.
One option put forth involves electric motors powering the rear axle while the combustion engine takes care of the front wheels. What sort of impact the weight penalty that comes with electrification would have on performance figures and agility remains to be seen.
Other updates, says the publication, would include a stiffer suspension setup, a wider track and more aggressive exterior styling.
