Forget the Golf R. VW has confirmed it will be bringing the 395bhp R400 concept to market, dwarfing the all-wheel drive hot-hatch by 99bhp.
VW powertrain boss Dr Heinz-Jakob Neusser was speaking to Car Magazine when he confirmed the news: “We have made the Golf more sporty than ever before, since we soon will have the Golf R400 – we will do this car. We are in fact in development of it right now.”
The Golf R400 concept was originally unveiled in China back in May 2014. It featured the Golf R’s 2.0-litre direct injection four-cylinder tuned to 395bhp and 332lb/ft of torque, the latter available from 2,000rpm to 6,000rpm. VW’s 4-motion all-wheel drive system is also present.
That and a 56kg lower kerb weight means 0 to 62mph takes 3.9 seconds, which makes it a full second quicker than the DSG-equipped, all-wheel drive Golf R and nearly as quick as a Ferrari 458 Speciale. Top speed, meanwhile, is more than double the UK speed limit, at 174mph.
As you would expect from what will become the sportiest Golf ever and by some margin, the styling is much bolder. A larger, more aggressive bumper, splitter, wider wings and a carbon fibre rear spoiler to improve downforce do their best to make it look mean and dangerous.
Amazingly, reports suggest the price will be below £40,000, making it cheaper than its nearest rival, the absurdly expensive and also potentially slower Mercedes A45 AMG and the even more ‘feeble’ 326bhp BMW M135i. In addition, it could be here within the next few months.
Some people complain the new Golf is a bit too tame, even with the R badge on the back. If there’s one way to change that, it’s by having an extremely healthy dose of horsepower. Just a bit of a shame if you have just bought the Golf R.
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