BMW M and Mercedes-AMG are not the only manufacturers celebrating notable anniversaries. Fellow German automaker Volkswagen is also celebrating the 20 year anniversary of its R performance division and its commemorating the occasion with the debut of its most powerful Golf R yet. Set to go on sale in global markets in the coming months, the new Golf R 20 years edition is essentially an uprated version of the existing Golf R with more power, a new exhaust and cosmetic updates. VW has also said that the model will be available in limited numbers with plans to phase out the special edition by mid-2023.
VW's R brand first introduced a high-performance Volkswagen back in 2002 which too was based on the Golf – the fourth-gen hatchback to be precise. The company took the Mark IV Golf and squeezed a 3.2-litre V6 engine under the bonnet and created the iconic all-wheel drive Golf R32.
Special edition gets the R Performance pack as standard adding a larger rear spoiler and performance torque vectoring system.
Starting with the mechanicals, the Golf R 20 Years carries forward using the same EA888 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine as the standard R though power is now bumped up to 328 bhp from 315 bhp. The upgrade in power makes the hot hatch the most powerful road-going factory Golf ever. Aside from the bump up in power VW says that the special edition gets a new “emotional start” function that revvs the engine to 2,500 rpm on start-up. Additionally, the company says that the turbocharger too has been reconfigured to offer quicker acceleration while the DSG gearbox in S and S+ modes offers more feedback when changing gears.
Cabin gets carbon fibre trimming on the dashboard and doors.
The special edition also gets VW's R-Performance pack as standard adding in a larger rear spoiler, a drift mode and a performance torque vectoring system. The special edition is available in just two colour options Blue or White with contrast finished wheels.
Inside, the changes over the standard Golf are more noticeable with new carbon-fibre trimming on the dashboard and doors along with larger paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
