Volkswagen will introduce the new Golf R on November 4th

• The new Golf R is the most powerful Golf model in history

• The original version of the sports car made its debut in 2002 as the Golf R32 with 238 hp and all-wheel drive; in 2003, it was the first Volkswagen to receive a dual-clutch transmission

Wolfsburg — The first Golf R32 was an automotive sensation. It was introduced in 2002 with 238 hp, all-wheel drive, and a zero to 62 mph time of just 6.6 seconds. It sold three times as well as planned, and was the first Volkswagen in the world to be available with a dual-clutch automatic transmission (DSG®) from mid-2003. Four successive generations of Golf R have been developed from the R32 and now the countdown begins for the world premiere of a new Golf R, which will occur on November 4th.

The new Golf R is the dynamic flagship of the eighth Golf generation—it is more agile and more powerful than any previous Golf R. Particularly noteworthy is the innovative 4Motion® all-wheel drive with wheel-selective torque control on the rear axle. The all-wheel drive is controlled by a vehicle dynamics manager that is networked with other chassis systems such as the electronic differential locks (XDS®) and the DCC® adaptive damping.  

As a result, the new Golf R offers optimal traction, precise and neutral driving characteristics, a high degree of agility, and, ultimately, maximum driving pleasure. The engine is the most powerful version of the EA888 2.0-liter turbocharged four that is available. The high-tech direct-injection engine is characterized by innovative detailed solutions such as integration of a water-cooled exhaust gas duct to the turbocharger integrated into the cylinder head, or variable valve timing with dual camshaft adjustment.

Eighteen years ago, the first Golf R32 with its 238 hp 3.2-liter six-cylinder engine was the most powerful Golf that Volkswagen had built to date. In 2005, the second Golf R32 made its debut, and with 247 hp, it was even more powerful. Four years passed before the 2009 Frankfurt auto show, where Volkswagen switched to a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo (TSI®) engine. “R32” became “R”, and the output of the third generation increased to 256 hp. In September 2013, the fourth generation followed again at the Frankfurt Show—now with 292 hp. Next week, Volkswagen will redefine the status quo of driving dynamics with the fifth-generation Golf R.