The all-wheel drive R was clad in camouflage and was showcased at the Ice Race in Zell am See in Austria.
The flagship Golf model will celebrate its world premiere in mid-2024 alongside the new Golf GTI. Both will no longer be offered with a manual transmission but instead be specified with a capable seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
Although the R shares the same new headlights and taillights as the GTI, it comes with different front bumper and bodykit. A rear spoiler and large exhaust tips along with bigger wheels and big blue brake calipers are standard equipment on the R.
The turbocharged 2.0-litre inline-four petrol mill is expected to deliver more power than the 315hp found in the outgoing R.
On the whole, the Volkswagen R catalogue comprises five performance-boosted and enhanced production vehicles – from the extremely dynamic Golf R to the brand’s top model, the Touareg R eHybrid.
With over 35,000 vehicles produced, 2023 was a record year for the Volkswagen R. A total of more than 300,000 R models have been delivered since 2002.
The Volkswagen R portfolio will gradually see a shift to all-electric R models by 2030.
