Volkswagen Golf R to follow GTI

Proof is on the floor at Frankfurt in the shape of the Volkswagen Golf R, which will replace the much-loved R32.

Despite carrying a smaller engine — a 2.0-litre four-cylinder rather than the 3.6-litre V6 of the R32 — the outputs are higher than the predecessor. Power has 15kW increased to 199kW and torque has gained a handy 30Nm at 350Nm, which stays with you for a broader band of 2500-3500rpm.

That means it shaves the R32’s 0-100km/h time of 6.5 seconds by a fat second at 5.5, if you opt to have the twin-clutch DSG transmission, rather than the manual (still just 5.7 seconds), putting the outputs to all corners via VW’s 4Motion system, which has been revised to allow 100 per cent to burst to the rear axle when needed.

You can also dial in three steering modes, comfort, normal and sport — an unlike some other cars, this is one in which the owners will probably stay glued in the sport slot.

But while muscles and attitude may be the obvious cues of the new R, it’s the fuel consumption that the German brand is equally making a highlight. At 8.5L/100km, the new car has a drop of some 21 per cent on the Golf R32’s 10.7L, thanks to the smaller and lighter turbo boosted engine.

And it will look the goods, with menacing black chrome accents around the nose, daytime running lights, LEDs at the tail, sports seats, 18-in wheels (19-inchers on the options list) and riding 25mm lower than the GTI we’ll see here in October.

The R will follow it, possibly in the final quarter of next year, although there’s no confirmation of timing yet, says Volkswagen Australia spokesman Karl Gehling. “We will take the new Golf R,” Gehling says. “But the timing will depend on the start of the right-hand drive production, and when they decided to schedule our production in.

Gehling declined to comment on whether or not the price would sit near the R32’s mark of $65,000, saying only that it would be “very competitively priced.”