Photo: SB-Medien
Reserved and understated, the Golf R is the ideal hot hatch if you don't want to get pulled over and have your exhaust inspected all the time. After an extremely successful Mk7-based generation, VW is now working on its replacement, the Golf 8 R.
We don't even know what the normal Golf 8 is like yet, partly because of the lockdown, but also due to the American market having a noticeable delay when it comes to Volkswagens (and German cars in general). However, first impressions suggest it's an improved version of the old car.
Likewise, the Golf 8 R won't tear up the rulebook; there's need for that here. It would have been nice to get a monster 400 horsepower engine like the R400 concept or an RS3 powertrain like they briefly tried last year. Alas, the power of the 2.0 TSI turbo-four will be slightly increased.
Leaked specs for the European market suggest the car has something like 333 hp or the same as the old Audi S4 with the supercharged V6. The American model might arrive with slightly less but will still play in the same ballpark as the Civic Type R while benefiting from AWD and available DSG quickness.
If these specs turn out to be correct, the Golf 8 R will have more grunt than its closest rivals, the Mercedes-AMG A 35 and BMW M135i xDrive, both of which use 2.0-liter turbos as well.
The Nurburgring debut of the 2021 Golf R does reveal the features we wanted to see. That bumper is all-new, different from every Golf, though it might be shared with the GTI TCR. The new rocker panels are among the thickest of any modern VW while the trunk lid sports a bigger spoiler.
Performance enhancements include the big brakes with blue calipers, quad exhaust, and new suspension setup. All signs point towards the Golf 8 R using a multi-link adaptive-damper setup as standard.
Likewise, the Golf 8 R won't tear up the rulebook; there's need for that here. It would have been nice to get a monster 400 horsepower engine like the R400 concept or an RS3 powertrain like they briefly tried last year. Alas, the power of the 2.0 TSI turbo-four will be slightly increased.
Leaked specs for the European market suggest the car has something like 333 hp or the same as the old Audi S4 with the supercharged V6. The American model might arrive with slightly less but will still play in the same ballpark as the Civic Type R while benefiting from AWD and available DSG quickness.
If these specs turn out to be correct, the Golf 8 R will have more grunt than its closest rivals, the Mercedes-AMG A 35 and BMW M135i xDrive, both of which use 2.0-liter turbos as well.
The Nurburgring debut of the 2021 Golf R does reveal the features we wanted to see. That bumper is all-new, different from every Golf, though it might be shared with the GTI TCR. The new rocker panels are among the thickest of any modern VW while the trunk lid sports a bigger spoiler.
Performance enhancements include the big brakes with blue calipers, quad exhaust, and new suspension setup. All signs point towards the Golf 8 R using a multi-link adaptive-damper setup as standard.
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