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2016 Volkswagen Golf R400 First Spy Photos Show Hyper-Hatch with AWD

Update: We've added another set of photos that show the same prototype on the Nurburgring. The photographers said it sounds like a 2.5-liter TFSI, not a 2-liter Golf R. Volkswagen is getting ready to take the hot hatch to another level by introducing a production version of the Golf R 400, which they showed at an auto show in China in 2014. Our team has caught up with the testing team near the Nurburgring and is bringing you the full story.
2016 Volkswagen Golf R400 25 photos
Photo: CarPix
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The project has already been confirmed by VW group powertrain chief Dr Heinz-Jakob Neusser. What's more, he hinted that the 2-liter turbo engine will develop even more power than initially expected, reaching 420 horsepower.

These spy photos were taken near the Nurburgring and show a production Golf R with lowered suspension, a rear wing and larger wheels, probably 20 inches in diameter.

In about a year, you will be able to buy a Golf with more power than a Lamborghini Miura P400SV. The cool part is that everything should be coming from a 2-liter turbo engine.

We don't know exactly how this is possible since Audi says it can't get more than 367 PS from its larger 2.5 TFSI. Some owners of the 300 horsepower TSI have already reported turbo failures, which the company has admitted and is fixing under the warranty. Maybe VW is using electric turbocharging or a hybrid system like the Golf GTE Sport Concept that debuted at the Worthersee.

With 400 or 420 horsepower, the hyper hatch might also need a new gearbox or at least a stronger one. The DQ380 DSG gearbox used by the Golf R can only take 380 Nm of torque, so maybe they will choose to use the 7-speed DQ500. That wouldn't be a bad thing, now would it?

Mercedes is working on launching a 380 horsepower version of the A45 AMG which should debut in September. But by the looks of things, they won't be able to claim that the M133 (that's the name of the engine) is the most power-dense 2-liter in the world.

Giving a 2-liter as much power as BMW used to offer on the 4-liter in its M3 is a hard job. You need tougher pistons, a larger turbo, intercoolers and better exhaust technology. All that won't come cheap, which is why we expect the R400 will cost somewhere in the region of €50,000.

That's a lot to pay for a family hatchback, which is why production is likely to be limited to a couple of thousand units, just like it was with the Polo R WRC.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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