Photo: Screenshot from YouTube video by Auto Top NL
The Volkswagen Golf R 7.5 is not considered to be underpowered or slow, as it comes with 300 metric horsepower from the factory and can sprint from naught to 100 kph (62 mph) in 4.6 seconds. That's fast enough for most people, right? Well, not for Manhart, as they developed a kit for it a few years back. This is how one of those cars can accelerate.
The tuners at Manhart install a carbon fiber intake on the Golf R's 2.0-liter TSI motor, and then they remap it to offer 450 metric horsepower (336 kW), and peak torque rises to 500 Nm (368 lb.ft.). With those figures, the Manhart-tuned Golf R 7.5 becomes capable of hitting a top speed of 285 kph (177 mph), which is 35 kph (21 mph) more than its stock limiter allows it.
The values described are impressive. Most tuners who work on DSG cars also reflash the TCU, or transmission control unit, before letting cars like thee off into the world with such an increase in power. There is no mention of that modification here, but that does not mean it is not present on this all-wheel-drive hatchback.
As you can observe, the tuned Golf R is mighty quick from a standstill, and it will quickly reach speeds that will get you in serious trouble anywhere in the world except for a few unrestricted bits of the German Autobahn. Well, you can get in trouble there if you drive too fast, but that is a different issue.
Like many other vehicles in the compact class, the acceleration up to 124 mph (200 kph) is impressive, and things seem to slow down a bit from there. It is normal, though, as air resistance is to blame, and you need massive power to have a shot of beating it. Yes, even more than the claimed 450 horsepower, which some viewers do not feel is accurate.
If you look closely, you will notice that the first 100 kph (62 mph) is reached in the third gear, while the fifth gear is enough to break the 200 kph (124 mph) barrier. Some say that the modified Golf R should be able to crack 300 kph (186 mph) with that much power under its hood, but that does not happen, as noted in its technical specification chart.
Sebastian's love for cars began at a young age. Little did he know that a career would emerge from this passion (and that it would not, sadly, involve being a professional racecar driver). In over fourteen years, he got behind the wheel of several hundred vehicles and in the offices of the most important car publications in his homeland. Full profile
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