2014 Volkswagen Golf R Unveiled At IAA Show in Frankfurt

The 2014 Volkswagen Golf R The New Flagship

Wolfsburg, 21 August 2013 - It is the year of the Golf. The first six months of 2013 have already seen the debuts of the new Golf GTI, Golf GTD, Golf Estate and Golf TDI BlueMotion. Now, Volkswagen is continuing its Golf product offensive with the flagship of the model series – the new Golf R.

The sports car is powered by a newly designed 300 PS TSI (221 kW), which is 30 PS stronger but up to 18 per cent more fuel efficient than that in the previous model. Like all three previous Golf R models, the new model also transfers its turbocharged engine power to the road via a permanent all-wheel drive system; in this case, it is the latest version of the 4MOTION system with a fifth-generation Haldex coupling.

Delivering pure dynamic performance are a newly configured sport suspension system (body height lowered by 20 mm), the new progressive steering system and "ESC Sport" – which can now be fully deactivated for driving on a race track. Optional highlights include the further developed DCC dynamic chassis control system with the driving profile selector that features a new Race mode.

The Golf R with a manual gearbox reaches 100 km/h after just 5.1 seconds (previous model: 5.7 s); with an automatic dual clutch gearbox (DSG) the sports car completes the classic sprint in an even faster 4.9 seconds. The car’s top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h. Despite the car's exceptionally agile driving performance and 30 PS more power, fuel consumption of the Golf R was reduced from 8.5 to 7.1 l/100 km compared to that of the previous model.

CO2 emissions were also improved from 199 to 165 g/km. Even more fuel efficient is the Golf R that is equipped with a Stop-Start system and battery regeneration, together with the optional 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG). In this configuration, fuel consumption is 6.9 l/100 km (159 g/km CO2). Fuel savings compared to the previous model with DSG (8.4 l/100 km) are 1.5 l/100 km, which represents the mentioned 18 per cent improvement.

The new Golf R is equipped with an extensive package of customised and exclusive features. Along with specially designed bumpers, side sills and 18-inch alloy wheels, the Golf R can also be visually distinguished as an impressive sports car by details such as standard bi-xenon headlights with newly designed LED daytime running lights (in dual-U design), dark red LED rear lights and two-branch exhaust system with four chrome tailpipes. Inside, the Golf R underlines its position as the flagship of the model range with sport seats in a "fabric-Alcantara" material mix, leather-trimmed three-spoke sport steering wheel, ambience lighting, automatic climate control and a radio-CD system with touchscreen.

The market launch of the most powerful and fuel-efficient Golf R as a two and four-door car will take place in the fourth quarter of this year.