Volkswagen Golf R Could Come to the US

Hothatch enthusiasts in the US have long been craving for a successor of the legendary Volkswagen Golf R32 ever since the the new Golf R made its debut, but, due to cost issues, Volkswagen didn't seem to want to sell the high-performance hatchback in the States. According to a report from Car and Driver, the compact racer could be bound for the US shores, with the decision to be announced at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.

At the moment, the US market only receives the CC R-Line, which isn't true to its name, as it only features a few sporty styling touches, with no mechanical changes whatsoever. The Tiguan, Touareg and Jetta could also receive R-Line trims in the near future, but those models aren't as appealing to the American public as the 2011 Golf R.

If everything goes well in January (and we're almost certain it will), the Golf R could arrive in American showrooms by the end of 2011 as a 2012 model. Pricing is still uncertain, but the fastest Golf could come in at a hefty price of $33,000. While it may seem a bit too expensive, that amount will get you an adjustable suspension, alloy wheels, sport tires, dual exhaust, a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four cylinder engine mated to a either a 6-speed manual or a DSG dual clutch transmission that sends the power to all four wheels via VW's 4Motion drive system. Impressive package, isn't it?

Provided Volkswagen gives the Golf R US sale the green light, the high-performance Jetta R is likely to follow.