Volkswagen has just announced the new 2021 MK8 Golf R, following the 2021 Golf GTI which was recently released.
The new Golf R sports the same 2.0 litre βEA888β turbo 4 cylinder petrol engine that the previous Golf had, but with upgrades that create 235kW, or 320hp and 420Nm of torque.
Compared to the outgoing Golf R 7.5, thatβs an increase of 22kW and 40Nm.
Compare this to the new GTI which puts out 180kW of power, and we see a huge difference between the two hot hatches β 55kw, or almost 75 horsepower difference between them. This does not include the insane new GTI clubsport which puts out 221kW of power.
Power is sent to all four wheels via either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, although the manual option will be limited to North American Markets. Regardless, letβs rejoice that the manual IS staying in the lineup (for now).
The Golf R shares the same new generation Haldex-type all wheel drive system as the Arteon R and Tiguan R, with Torque Vectoring that allows up to 100 per cent of the engineβs torque to be distributed between the front and rear axles or between each individual rear wheel in milliseconds.
VW claims a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.7 seconds and has an electronically limited speed of 250km/h. This makes the new Golf R a quicker accelerating car than the Civic Type R, BMW M135i, Megane RS and more.
The R Performance package also increases the top speed to 270kmh, adds 19 inch wheels and a larger rear spoiler intended to increase downforce.
The R includes the same βVehicle Dynamics Managerβ system as the GTI, which controls the βXDSβ electronically-controlled front locking differential, all wheel drive system, and has βDCCβ adaptive dampers for driving dynamics.
The package also introduces two new drive modes. Including an insane special mode, which softens the adaptive dampers, enabling the MK8 Golf R to reduce its NΓΌrburgring lap time by 17 seconds.
Then we have: DRIFT MODE. This sends some of the engineβs torque to the rear axle to break traction and enable controlled drifts. Sweet as.
The new Golf R sits 20mm lower to the ground than a standard Golf thanks to retuned suspension with 10% stiffer springs, revised control arms and wheel mounts, negative front camber and anti roll bars.
Filling the arches are the 18 inch alloy wheels with the 19 inch model wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 performance rubber available as an option. Behind the wheels are larger performance brakes, measuring 358mm up front and clamped by two piston aluminium callipers.
Then we have the popping Akrapovic exhaust system that pops and bangs, and shaves off a neat 7kg as well.
On the outside is a restyled front bumper, a more aggressive rear diffuser, quad exhaust tips, larger side skirts, a larger rear spoiler a blue accented LED light strip across the front fascia and a bunch of R badges.
Inside includes R-badged leather trimmed sports seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel with an easy to access βRβ button for race mode, metallic petals, paddle shifters for automatic models and a blue stitching throughout the cabin.
Australian customers will need to wait until 2022 to drive the new hot hatch on Aussie roads.
However, it is set to form part of a three vehicle R performance line-up alongside the Tiguan R and T-Roc R performance SUVs.
