2017 Golf R With Akrapovic Exhaust Sounds Like Popcorn, Makes People Go Bananas

Yes, the 310 horsepower can use launch control to outpace a Porsche 718 Cayman, but it's the Akrapovic exhaust system that seems to have everybody preoccupied during a recent track event. We even get to see the custom pipes out of the car, so that we can better appreciate the craftsmanship.

The exhaust is part of a Performance package costing €3,800 on top of what's already a €42,000 hot hatchback. But, if we remember correctly, the Akrapovic pipes for the Megane RS 275 Trophy-R also cost a lot of money. What's funny is that the Wikipedia description still says Akrapovic mainly does motorcycle exhausts.

Also part of the optional package is an adjustable suspension system and 17-inch front brake discs, a set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and a modified rear spoiler. But you don't get any more power, at least not on paper. Every Golf R (wagon, 3-door and hatch) has an output of 310 PS and 400 Nm, except for the U.S., where it's stuck at 292-hp.

Frankly, spending this much money on a hatchback that doesn't wear the AMG badge is ridiculous. But if you can afford to do so, you are going to be one cool dude that makes popcorn everywhere he goes. That's what the Germans call this kind of exhaust sound.

But that's not the only place where Volkswagen cut loose. For example, the Golf R's cabin boasts a new 9.2-inch infotainment system that costs as much as a new MacBook. And to think the Golf started out as a cheap car, a FWD successor to the Beetle.