VW Golf R20 - 270HP, AWD

[team_v]

UPDATE:

No more hiding for the hottest Golf VI that receives the 'R' badge as the first official photos of the car have made their way on the net ahead of Frankfurt Show grand opening. Set to replace the fifth-generation Golf R32, the new Golf R ditches the latter's 250HP 3.2-liter V6 for the Scirocco R's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder unit, slightly tweaked to produce 270 horsepower and 320Nm or 236 lb-ft of torque.

However, unlike the Scirocco R that keeps the standard model's front-wheel drive layout, the hot Golf is fitted with a new hydraulic four-wheel drive system similar to the one found on the Audi S3.

A six-speed manual gearbox will be offered standard, while a six-speed, twin-clutch DSG transmission will be optional.

From what we have been told (we'll update the story as soon as VW comes out with an official release), with the manual gearbox the Golf R speeds up to 100km/h (62mph) from standstill in 5.7 seconds, while the DSG model is a tad faster completing the same sprint in 5.5 seconds. In both cases, top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h or 155mph.

By comparison, the FWD 210HP Golf GTI with a DSG gearbox hits the 100km/h mark in 7.2 seconds and goes on to a top speed of 239 km/h or 148 mph.

Classically, the Golf R's chassis has been significantly upgraded with a lowered suspension, new dampers and springs as well as a beefed up braking system.

On the outside, the hot Golf features similar -some could say, even subtle- revisions to the Scirocco R with new bumpers, side skirts, darkened headlamps and tail lights, glossy exterior mirrors, a roof spoiler, a rear diffuser that houses twin exhaust pipes in the center and five-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in chunkier rubber.

Likewise, the R's interior has been lightly enhanced with a pair of front bucket sport seats, a flat bottomed steering wheel and sportier trim.

The newest addition in the Golf family that will be offered in both three and five door bodystyles is expected to go on sale in Europe towards the end of the year, while the model is also slated for a U.S. market debut in early 2010.

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2009/09...-20-turbo.html

AWD, 270HP, 0-100 in 5.5 Seconds, sounds pretty ace to me!
The only thing i don't like is the wheels, vw needs to take some wheel design cues from Holden me thinks.









UPDATE FOR PRESS RELEASE:

The most powerful and fastest-accelerating Golf ever produced, the all-new Golf R, has been officially revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show. As we informed you in our previous post, the Golf R32's successor replaces the 3.2-liter V6 FSI with a lightly modified version of the Scirocco R's 2.0-litre TSI four-cylinder engine developing 270HP at 6,000 rpm and 350Nm / 258 lbs ft of torque at 2,500 rpm. The Golf R gets a new hydraulic all-wheel drive system that's able to react more quickly than the one found on the R32 while also limiting the torque being channeled through either axle to reduce wheelspin.

According to the German firm, in extreme cases, the system can transfer up to 100 per cent of the torque to the rear wheels if required.

With the standard six-speed manual gearbox, the Golf R can accelerate from rest to 100km/h (62 mph) in 5.7 seconds while with the DSG dual clutch transmission, this figure drops to 5.5 seconds (Golf GTI 210HP: 7.2 seconds). Either way, top speed is limited to 250km/h or 155 mph.

VW says that the new engine that is derived from the Mk V Golf GTI and not the newer unit used on the VI Golf GTI, is not only 35 kg (77 lbs) lighter and 20HP more powerful than the 3.2-litre V6 found in the outgoing Golf R32, but also more fuel efficient as economy rises from a combined 22.0mpg US (10.7lt per 100km / 26.4mpg UK) to 27.7mpg US (8.5lt per 100km / 33.2mpg UK) while CO2 emissions fall from 257 g/km to 199 g/km.

To further improve handling, VW's engineers added new 345 mm diameter front brake discs (rear: 310 mm) and callipers while the uprated suspension that has been lowered by 25 mm gets revised spring and damper rates and new anti-roll bars.

The Golf R features a revised Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP) with two stages that has been designed for track use while the electro-mechanical power steering system has also been tweaked to sharpen responses.

The cosmetic upgrades are less spectacular that the ones under the hood with the Golf R receiving a similar treatment to the Scirocco R. Up front there's a new bumper with larger air intakes and LED running lights, and a new black grille flanked by Xenon headlights while at the back there's a newly styled bumper with a black diffuser housing a pair of central exit exhausts and darkened tail lamps.

The gloss black mirror housings and the new sill extensions along with the 18-inch five-spoke wheels complete with 225/40 tires (19-inch wheels with 235/35 tyres are optional) complete the changes.

Step inside the Golf R and you'll be greeted by a pair of front bucket seats finished in grey Alcantara contrasted against high-grip black mesh cloth, a set of aluminium 'R' kick plates while the gloss black accents throughout the interior are complemented by electric blue needles in the tweaked instrument panel.

The new Golf R is set to arrive in European dealerships in December with prices and detailed specifications due to be announced closer to the launch date. VW has yet to make an announcement for the North American market, but from what we've heard, the Golf R will most likely make its way across the Atlantic sometime in 2010.

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2009/09...golf-ever.html

[GoLfMan]

I hope that its AWD

it sure will be a real cheap S3 then!!!!

[pinzvidz]

Oh the suspense... I can't wait for the press release!

(Wish there was an anxiety smilie, lol)

[anthony_VWJET]

I hope that its AWD

it sure will be a real cheap S3 then!!!!

If you put it that way, something tells me they may not go the AWD way. I doubt they would want to threaten S3 sales by making a VW that almost has the same capabilities but cheaper.

But hey if they do, i aint complaining!

[Yevvy]

If you put it that way, something tells me they may not go the AWD way. I doubt they would want to threaten S3 sales by making a VW that almost has the same capabilities but cheaper.

But hey if they do, i aint complaining!

why would they ditch the AWD system after two R generations had it?

[anthony_VWJET]

why would they ditch the AWD system after two R generations had it?

Why did they ditch the V6 after two R Generations had it?

[dubbed]

Touche!

This is starting to sound like a real cracker. If it's AWD I'd def consider this over the S3. My aim is to be the owner of one within two years lol

[gregozedobe]

If you put it that way, something tells me they may not go the AWD way. I doubt they would want to threaten S3 sales by making a VW that almost has the same capabilities but cheaper.

But hey if they do, i aint complaining!

There have been "family feuds" in the past with the lower ranked brands selling cars with similar (or even better in some cases) performance to models in the more up-market brands (ie Skodas, VWs and Seats being better than Audis). VAG seems to like to maintain their niches, so you get (JMHO here, feel free to disagree) :

Skoda - budget with some good points
Seat - sportyish but not too expensive (plus more adventurous styling)
VW - middle of the road (but trying to cover a lot of territory)
Audi - performance and lower-level prestige
Bentley - higher level prestige and exclusive
Lamborghini - super sporty and high performance
Bugatti - Uber-fast, uber-expensive

So I guess it depends on the infighting between the brands at head office in Europe whether the R20 gets a really hot motor or not, and if AWD is fitted or not. Then there is further argument in Australia between Audi and VW as to whether the R20 will steal too many sales from the S3 or not.

I hope we do see it for sale in Oz, as it will be a good alternative to the S3 (unless they set the price too high).

[gerhard]

Why did they ditch the V6 after two R Generations had it?

That's easy - heavy, and not as eco-friendly as the smaller turbo option.

Back to question 1 - no easy answer as to why AWD would be dropped.

If the S3 engine/running gear is going to be used, will that include the S-tronic 7 speeder rather than the VW DSG 6 Speeder ???

Now that would be tempting - the S-tronic can handle nearly twice the power/torque of the DSG-6

[Fury]

Considering it'll probably be 10k less (55k vs 65k for the s3), they need some form of poitn of difference apart from the badge... So my guess would be on it only be a 6spd... if it can handle the torque...?