Volkswagen is out testing a hardcore version of its already potent Golf R hatchback as a potential swan song for the current Mk8 Golf, and now we have some idea of just what’s nestled under the hood – and it’s something Golf fans have been waiting a long time for.
British publication Autocar reported this week that a mystery Golf R prototype, seen only days ago lapping Germany’s Nürburgring racetrack, is powered by the 5-cylinder engine found in the related Audi RS3. The engine, a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five, delivers 401 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque in the RS3, and a similar output may be used for the hardcore Golf R – especially as the RS3 is tipped to receive an upgrade for its own hardcore variant that’s also out testing. Yes, it’s a good time to be alive for hot hatch fans.
Base Trim Engine
2L I4 ICE
Base Trim Transmission
7-speed DSG auto-shift manual
Base Trim Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
328 HP @5600 RPM
Base Trim Torque
295 lb.-ft. @ 2000 RPM
Hardcore Golf R To Celebrate 25 Years Of R Division
Volkswagen Golf R Prototype
CarBuzz/Valnet
According to Autocar, the hardcore Golf R will arrive in 2027 to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the founding of VW’s R performance skunkworks division and the launch of the Mk4 Golf-based R32 hot hatch, the first model to feature a dual-clutch automatic transmission. The date also aligns with the expected final year for the Mk8 Golf. A Mk9 Golf is planned but is expected to come exclusively with electrified powertrains to help VW meet emissions targets.
With the Audi five-cylinder under the hood, the hardcore Golf R should be the most powerful Golf in the nameplate’s history. Currently, that title goes to the limited-edition Golf R 333 launched in 2023, which features a 328-hp (333 metric horsepower) version of the regular Golf R’s turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four. If the hardcore Golf R gets the full 401 hp of the RS3, we could be looking at a Golf that runs to 60 mph from rest in under four seconds and reaches a potential top speed of more than 180 mph (if unrestricted). That’s by no means confirmed, and when the spy shots surfaced, rumors around the Nurburgring suggested we were looking at 350 hp.
According to Autocar, the car will also receive a host of upgrades to suit the new engine, including a recalibrated seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, stiffer front suspension, upgraded brakes, and weight-saving modifications. The all-wheel-drive system will reportedly also get a Haldex differential with multi-disc clutches on each rear axle shaft that enable torque to be split between each of the rear wheels, as well as between the front and rear axles. Labeled a “torque splitter” by Audi, the system already features on the RS3 and S3, as well as the Golf R in a slightly tamer form.
Prototypes Provide Further Clues
Volkswagen Golf R Prototype
CarBuzz/Valnet
The prototypes we spied were fitted with additional cooling ducts on the hood and a new intercooler system – modifications that hint at a new powertrain. The prototypes were also fitted with bigger brakes, and while it’s hard to judge, they appeared to sport increased negative camber on the front wheels, which would help improve grip levels while cornering. The Golf R 333 already benefits from 1.5 degrees of negative camber at the front.
As mentioned above, Golf fans have been waiting a long time for a Golf R with around 400 hp on tap. Some readers may recall that VW rolled out the 395-hp Golf R 400 concept at the 2014 Beijing Auto Show and then quickly confirmed it for production. However, the Dieselgate scandal that erupted a year later quickly put an end to the car’s development as VW looked to curb costs.
Sources: Autocar
