Some call them minor facelifts, but the Germans seem to love the updates made to the Golf R and SEAT Leon Cupra. There's now an AWD version of the Spanish car, but we're not here to talk about that, as our focus is on the 2018 Volkswagen R Variant.
It's forbidden fruit for the American, and for a good reason. One of these performance wagons costs the equivalent of $50,000 because of all the bells and whistles.
On paper, they only gave it 10 extra horsepower from the last model year. That's not going to get anybody's attention, especially when there's a 450 HP Audi RS4 Avant coming out as well. However, in reality, most of the tuning has changed slightly over the previous model year - suspension, exhaust, torque delivery.
As far as we know, they didn't change the type of Haldex system used, so it can only send 50% of the power to the rear. That means you can't make it drift and do donuts like the Ford Focus RS. However, under certain conditions, you can use opposite lock.
Those special conditions include damp conditions and winter tires, which offer less traction. The oversteer is barely noticeable from the outside. Even so, you can see the driver putting on opposite luck and enjoying the car.
If you want a drifting wagon, you're probably going to be better off buying a BMW 3 Series Touring. But the Golf R Variant has certainly become a snazzy-looking machine. After the facelift, it's got more attractive LED headlights and a new bumper.
We thought you might also like to sample the exhaust sound, which Automann-TV says is better than the Leon Cupra and Golf 7.5 R hatchback. It's strange that Volkswagen decided to put the sportiest configuration in the most practical version of the R. Isn't there an Akrapovic version as well?
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. Full profile
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