Volkswagen is about to give the Golf R the soundtrack fans have been begging for. A new report says the next special Golf R will pack Audi’s turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine – yes, the one from the RS3. The car targets a 2027 launch as a last hurrah for a pure-gas Golf before the lineup leans into electrification, according to Autocar.
Four Vs. Five Cylinders For A Proper Send-off
2025 Volkswagen Golf R
Volkswagen
The current Golf R uses VW’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder. It makes 328 hp and 295 lb-ft in U.S. spec. The Audi five-cylinder starts at 394 hp and 354 lb-ft in today’s RS3, and Audi has already shown 401 hp and 369 lb-ft in the RS3 Performance Edition. Expect the hottest Golf ever, with a 0–62 mph time that chases the RS3’s 3.8 seconds and undercuts the R’s existing 4.6-second claim. Autocar says VW will pair the engine with a revised seven-speed dual-clutch and a more aggressive launch control strategy.
Facelifted Volkswagen Golf R 8.5 breaks cover with 328 horsepower.
Volkswagen
VW won’t just drop in the motor and call it a day. The report points to hardware tuned for real track pace. Look for a reworked rear differential with Audi’s “torque splitter” concept, which can send power side to side across the rear axle to sharpen turn-in and traction. That tech helped the RS3 set a 7:40.748 , a benchmark VW would love to chase – and beat – inside its own house. Today, the Golf GTI Edition 50 holds the internal crown at 7:46.13 on the full course, edging the Golf R 20 Years (7:47.31).
Chassis changes will follow the power. Autocar reports more front camber, tougher knuckles and mounts, and added bracing to handle the extra weight and load. Expect forged aluminum wheels, sticky factory rubber, and bigger brakes than the R 333’s 357 mm steel setup. The five-cylinder swap will add some mass, though – think roughly 25 kg versus a standard R – but the package aims to increase grip and stability so drivers feel the gain in every corner exit.
Why Now, Why Five Cylinders?
2025 Audi RS3 5-cylinder Engine
Audi
There’s a regulatory story here, too. The five-cylinder lives on past Europe’s new emissions step because Audi plans hardware upgrades such as a new particulate filter, more sensitive NOx sensors, and revised catalyst density. That work keeps the charismatic inline-five in the game long enough for VW to celebrate 25 years of the R badge with a proper send-off.
Style will signal the substance. Prototypes wear deeper front intakes and extra hood vents to feed the bigger engine. A chunkier roof spoiler, a new diffuser, and quad pipes with titanium tips and active flaps should finish the look and soundtrack. Inside, VW is expected to fit lighter seats and continue the weight-saving theme. The goal: serious pace, less fluff.
2023 Audi RS3
Audi
Timeline? Autocar says an unveiling could land next year, with sales timed to the R brand’s 25th birthday in 2027. After that, the Golf story shifts. VW is preparing a full-hybrid Golf and upgraded plug-in variants, with the first all-electric Golf due before the decade closes. For purists, this five-cylinder R reads like a last call built for the back roads and the pit lane.
