VW's answer to the evo and sti

[RL...]

May be old news or a repost, but it was news to me! I like it a lot


http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/09/v...rica-official/



It's been a couple of years since Volkswagen's heavyweight hot hatch, the R32, graced America's shores, but now we have official word of a successor. Tuned by the in-house R team at Volkswagen, the Golf R should be a good bit more exciting than its already entertaining forebear, and hopefully, it will shave a few pounds off, too.

Unlike the R32, which was powered by VW's popular VR6, the new model will be powered by Volkswagen's ubiquitous turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. And while Volkswagen isn't quoting power output for the new U.S. model, the European version currently on sale conjures up 270 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. All of that gumption will be routed through VW's fourth generation Haldex 4Motion all-wheel drive system, which means the VW should once again be a good foil for cars like the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart.

Along with the power increase, VW is promising bigger brakes, an uprated suspension, 18-inch wheels, center-exit dual exhaust and a more liberally tuned ESP. Perhaps most interestingly, the Golf R will be available in both two and four doors and be paired exclusively with a manual transmission. That's right, we said it.

Although the press release after the jump doesn't mention when it will debut (our money's on Detroit), additional R accoutrements include model-specific aero bits and badging, along with upgrated trim and a new steering wheel, shift knob, and so on.

In other words, it's time to get excited.

[nreggie454]

It will be definitely cool. I still partly wish they stuck with a V6 because they sound so good, but the extra power is a plus. If it is like other 2.0T VWs, the turbo should spool pretty quickly.

[KutThroat]

Vr6 does sound better but 2.0 with an apr chip/ tune on that guy would put some good numbers down

[[3000gt20s]]

very nice.... this car should be a hit

Kuthroat- apr chip/ tune ......ftw

[RUFFIAN]

Ring me up! Id take this or the new RS500.

[thegreatfnr]

I like the fact that it is going to be exclusively manual. The MK5 R32 was only available with the DSG auto which in my eyes was pretty lame.

[NoRotor]

Given the power numbers that are coming in mustangs and camaros, I have a feeling that 270hp isn't going to cut it in the "performance" market. How much is this thing going to weigh? Of course I'm not ignorant of the aftermarket potential of the motor, however I think the from-factory output should be a little higher before warranting excitement.

/my $0.02