Herndon, VA — For nearly two decades, the Volkswagen Golf R and its predecessor, the Golf R32, have represented the pinnacle of hatchback performance. Looking back at the history of the line shows how customer expectations for accessible sports cars have changed – and how the new Golf R will offer the fastest, most capable version of the name to date.
The first production Golf to wear a 'R' badge from the Volkswagen Racing division was unveiled in Madrid in 2002, following a concept unveiled a year earlier. While the Golf GTI had created the hot-hatch segment, Volkswagen engineers envisioned an even higher-performing model that drew from the company's success in rallying.
The Golf R32 offered a breakthrough level of tech advancements for its time; a high-output version of the 3.2-liter VR6 with 240 horsepower, linked to a standard, performance-focused 4Motion all-wheel-drive system that sent power to the rear axle as needed. In Europe, the Golf R32 also debuted a DSG® dual-clutch automatic transmission – a first for a production vehicle. The North American version was available in the 2004 model year solely with a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission, and limited to 5000 units. The R32 signature Deep Blue Pearl exterior color also made its debut. While other models in its category may have been faster in a straight line, few matched the road grip or driving pleasure the first Golf R32 delivered, setting the template for the future.
With the arrival of a new generation of Golf came a reworked Golf R32. Power rose to 250 hp, and other enhancements allowed the Golf R32 to go from 0 to 62 mph in 6.2 seconds with the DSG transmission. The interior of the Golf R32 was also upgraded, offering a mix of technology and near-luxury appointments. The U.S. version was imported starting in a limited, 5,000-vehicle production run for the 2008 model year, available only with a DSG transmission and paddle shifters, featuring a production number laser etched on the steering wheel.
2009: Golf R (Mk VI)
At the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009, Volkswagen unveiled a thorough revamp of the highest-performing Golf. The new Golf R now used a higher-rated version of the 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder engine employed in the Golf GTI, rated at 256 horsepower in U.S. trim, still powering all four wheels through a more advanced 4Motion system. A new signature blue debuted for the Mk VI Golf R, known as Rising Blue Metallic. Offered in both two- and four-door models, with trademark center exhaust and 6-speed manual transmission only, Volkswagen began importing the new Golf R to the United States in 2012 for the 2012 and 2013 model years.
2013: Golf R (Mk VII)
The fourth generation of the Golf R was once again unveiled in Frankfurt, in September 2013, and arrived in U.S. specification in 2015. Power rose to 288 hp, and the car was offered with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed DSG transmission, later upgraded to the 7-speed DSG. Technological innovations like launch control and the DCC adaptive damping system (DCC) gave the Golf R even better handling and allowed it to now hit 60 mph from rest in less than 5 seconds with the DSG transmission. This time around, Lapiz Blue Metallic signified the new blue exterior for the 7th-generation Golf R.
2021: Golf R (Mk VIII)
The 2022 Volkswagen Golf R will not just be the most powerful version of the Golf R when it is expected to arrive later this year, but also the most capable. In this generation, power from the 2.0-liter EA888 TSI engine has risen to 315 horsepower, 27 more than the outgoing U.S. model, as well as 310 pound-feet of torque. Developed in part on the famed Nürburgring Nordshleife race track, a newly developed torque-vectoring 4Motion all-wheel-drive system and a Vehicle Dynamics Manager allow selective wheel torque control on the rear axle—distributing the power between the front and rear axles, and also between the two rear wheels for optimal cornering. The updated systems even enable a Drift Mode for track use, a first in a Volkswagen production model. The speed, precision and technology of the Golf R continue to increase – but the template set by the first model remains intact.
Photo credit: Volkswagen
posted on conceptcarz.com
2002: Volkswagen Golf R32 (Mk IV)
2005: Golf R32 (Mk V)
posted on conceptcarz.com
