The new 2015 Golf R is the result of nearly 40 years of work by Volkswagen engineers. Said engineers were tasked with making the always-brilliant Golf into a quicker and edgier pocket-rocket.
A little history
The original GTI was the first result of this adventure and started something. On a smaller volume scale, other special edition performance Golfs were created, some in very limited numbers such as the legendary MKII Golf Limited. When the forth generation launched, Volkswagen reissued a challenge to its crew “that makes it happen” and the first Golf R (R32) was born.
The recipe for this Golf R32 was essentially the same as it had been in 1975 for the then GTI except that VW went way beyond… As the first production car to make use of a dual-clutch transmission, the MKIV R32 also borrowed many components from the then TT 3.2. The resulting car spawned a cult following, as all good performance compact cars should. The MKV R32 was a "facelifted" previous car, using the same powertain.
The 6th generation Golf brought with it the new R without the 32. The revised car now made use of VW’s potent turbocharged TSI 2.0 4-cylinder engine, always mated to an AWD system. This R opened up a whole new realm of possibilities by being lighter as well as more powerful. From here, we welcome the latest Golf R, based on the 7th generation Golf.
Der neue Golf R
The claim to fame for this super Golf is being the most powerful production Golf ever. Using the same engine as the previous car, VW has graciously fitted new exhaust-valve hardware, pistons, and (most importantly) a larger turbocharger. Said boost-producer now builds up to 17.4 psi of delicious pressure.
The result is 290+ horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 280 lb-ft of torque from 1,800 to 5,500 rpm. As with most intelligently tuned performance engines, torque drops off its peak production rpm the moment that max horsepower pulls up, thus proposing constant accelerative power.
Haldex still manages the flow of mojo front to back and side to side, but this time with the help of VW’s XDS+ or cross differential lock per axle. This system provides brake-based torque vectoring. Under light and normal loads, only the front wheels do the pulling. Under heavy performance demands, nearly 100% of the available drive torque can be directed towards the rear wheels
Gone Racing
The 2015 Volkswagen Golf R is also expected to be the fastest production hot hatch from Wolfsburg.
Transmission choices remain between a 6-speed do-it-yourselfer and VW’s excellent groundbreaking 6-speed DSG. The latter is the one that will mangle the minds of would-be competitors and their cars. With a new launch control, the Golf R is (according to Volkswagen) able to reach 100 km/h in only 4.9 seconds. The manual will hit the same mark in 5.3 seconds.
For those expecting to track the car -- and you should -- top speed is limited to 250km/h. Without the speed governor, it is said to reach 270km/h. Important knowledge for back-straights…
This new Golf R can be optioned with dynamic chassis control system (DCC). Three modes define the DCC: Comfort, Normal, and most importantly, Sport. Sport has an appreciable effect on the car’s suspension dampers that stiffen up for obvious reasons. Said modes are selected through the touchscreen in the “Driving Profile Selector” menu.
New progressive variable ratio steering rack, requiring only 2.1 turns from lock to lock, means that feeling and precision are always perfectly adapted to driving conditions. The new steering uses a progressive gear ratio, cutting steering effort in low speed situations and doing the opposite when the going gets fast.
The new shape
The 2015 Volkswagen Golf R starts life off as a very handsome 2- or 4-door Golf. To it are added numerous enhancements to make it look as fast as it can go.
The most immediate improvement comes from the front where a massive bumper with gaping air intakes has been affixed for maximum attitude adjustment. Side skirts and handsome 18” wheels complement the standard Bi-Xenon headlights dual-double exhaust tip setup.
The cabin grows in luxury, moving away from the Spartan environment we’ve come to appreciate. Sport seats covered in leather, three-spoke sport steering wheel, and R-specific instrumentation help to remind the driver that this in not an ordinary Golf.
The 2015 Golf R will arrive in about a year with four doors only in North America.
A little history
The original GTI was the first result of this adventure and started something. On a smaller volume scale, other special edition performance Golfs were created, some in very limited numbers such as the legendary MKII Golf Limited. When the forth generation launched, Volkswagen reissued a challenge to its crew “that makes it happen” and the first Golf R (R32) was born.
The recipe for this Golf R32 was essentially the same as it had been in 1975 for the then GTI except that VW went way beyond… As the first production car to make use of a dual-clutch transmission, the MKIV R32 also borrowed many components from the then TT 3.2. The resulting car spawned a cult following, as all good performance compact cars should. The MKV R32 was a "facelifted" previous car, using the same powertain.
The 6th generation Golf brought with it the new R without the 32. The revised car now made use of VW’s potent turbocharged TSI 2.0 4-cylinder engine, always mated to an AWD system. This R opened up a whole new realm of possibilities by being lighter as well as more powerful. From here, we welcome the latest Golf R, based on the 7th generation Golf.
 |
Der neue Golf R
The claim to fame for this super Golf is being the most powerful production Golf ever. Using the same engine as the previous car, VW has graciously fitted new exhaust-valve hardware, pistons, and (most importantly) a larger turbocharger. Said boost-producer now builds up to 17.4 psi of delicious pressure.
The result is 290+ horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 280 lb-ft of torque from 1,800 to 5,500 rpm. As with most intelligently tuned performance engines, torque drops off its peak production rpm the moment that max horsepower pulls up, thus proposing constant accelerative power.
Haldex still manages the flow of mojo front to back and side to side, but this time with the help of VW’s XDS+ or cross differential lock per axle. This system provides brake-based torque vectoring. Under light and normal loads, only the front wheels do the pulling. Under heavy performance demands, nearly 100% of the available drive torque can be directed towards the rear wheels
Gone Racing
The 2015 Volkswagen Golf R is also expected to be the fastest production hot hatch from Wolfsburg.
Transmission choices remain between a 6-speed do-it-yourselfer and VW’s excellent groundbreaking 6-speed DSG. The latter is the one that will mangle the minds of would-be competitors and their cars. With a new launch control, the Golf R is (according to Volkswagen) able to reach 100 km/h in only 4.9 seconds. The manual will hit the same mark in 5.3 seconds.
For those expecting to track the car -- and you should -- top speed is limited to 250km/h. Without the speed governor, it is said to reach 270km/h. Important knowledge for back-straights…
This new Golf R can be optioned with dynamic chassis control system (DCC). Three modes define the DCC: Comfort, Normal, and most importantly, Sport. Sport has an appreciable effect on the car’s suspension dampers that stiffen up for obvious reasons. Said modes are selected through the touchscreen in the “Driving Profile Selector” menu.
New progressive variable ratio steering rack, requiring only 2.1 turns from lock to lock, means that feeling and precision are always perfectly adapted to driving conditions. The new steering uses a progressive gear ratio, cutting steering effort in low speed situations and doing the opposite when the going gets fast.
 |
| Photo: Nathan Leach-Proffer |
The new shape
The 2015 Volkswagen Golf R starts life off as a very handsome 2- or 4-door Golf. To it are added numerous enhancements to make it look as fast as it can go.
The most immediate improvement comes from the front where a massive bumper with gaping air intakes has been affixed for maximum attitude adjustment. Side skirts and handsome 18” wheels complement the standard Bi-Xenon headlights dual-double exhaust tip setup.
The cabin grows in luxury, moving away from the Spartan environment we’ve come to appreciate. Sport seats covered in leather, three-spoke sport steering wheel, and R-specific instrumentation help to remind the driver that this in not an ordinary Golf.
The 2015 Golf R will arrive in about a year with four doors only in North America.
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