You can now pre-order the latest Volkswagen Golf R, with deliveries expected in March 2014. Prices for the range-topping R start at £29,900 for the three-door model with six-speed manual gearbox, and £31,315 for the three-door with six-speed DSG gearbox. The five-door versions cost £30,555 and £31,970.
Whilst this is a significant outlay and not a million miles off some other premium cars, it’s worth remembering that the Golf (particularly in R guise) is just so well rounded it’s scarcely believeable. Whereas other cars seem to have a compromise, the latest Golf does not.
At the heart of the R is a newly developed version of the four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged EA888 TSI petrol engine used in the latest Golf GTI, but in this application producing 300 PS from 5,500 to 6,200 rpm and 380 Nm (280 lbs ft) from 1,800 to 5,500 rpm. Zero to 62 mph takes 5.3 seconds (versus 5.7 seconds for previous Golf R), or 4.9 seconds with optional DSG gearbox. The top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph. Despite this increased performance, a combined fuel consumption of 39.8 mpg (40.9 mpg DSG), and CO2 emissions of 165 g/km (159 g/km DSG) make the Golf R up to 18 per cent more efficient than its predecessor.
The R uses a fifth-generation Haldex 4MOTION four-wheel drive system. Under low loads or when coasting, the rear axle is decoupled, helping to reduce fuel consumption. Drive to the rear axle can be engaged in fractions of a second via the Haldex coupling, which is actuated by an electro-hydraulic pump. Almost 100 per cent of power can be transferred to the rear axle.
So, the statistics are good, performance is exceptional, you can have it with five doors, there’s a manual or auto available and four wheel drive means grip whatever the conditions. I do sometimes wonder why we buy anything else, price not being a factor of course…
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