The new-gen Golf R might be electrified
after all, but it’s for the best, as VW seems to be interested in launching an
even more potent version of the all-wheel drive hot hatch. Possibly dubbed the
Golf R+, the car is reportedly 3 to 4 years away, according to WhichCar, if it
gets green light for production that is, as a decision is still pending.
If it gets approved, then it might target
the fastest hatchbacks in the compact segment, such as the 415 HP Mercedes-AMG
A45 S and its rival from Audi, the new RS3 Sportback. The rumored targeted
output is in excess of 400 horsepower, but it’s unknown how they are planning
to achieve that number.
One possibility is a heavily tuned version
of the 2.0-liter four-pot, although with the stricter emissions regulations,
that might not be the best solution. So, electrification might be possible,
with an electric motor assisting the turbocharged four pot and taking the juice
from a battery pack. This is a delicate matter, as hybridizing the hot hatch
could ruin the driving dynamics, so Volkswagen needs to pay extra attention to
the placement of the battery and take the extra weight into account. It’s
possible that the electric motor might power the rear axle, while the ICE could
run the front wheels.
The publication reached out to VW’s local
arm, which said that they are unaware of such a version of the car, and even if
it is in the pipeline, chances are that it would be years away. Volkswagen has been
flirting with the idea of launching an upper spec variant of the Golf R for a
few years now, and they even turned to Audi to implement the 2.5-liter
five-banger into the car, although that project was reportedly shelved as they
didn’t get the four-ring brand’s blessing, apparently.
In the meantime, development of the
‘regular’ Golf R continues, and should end in a few months, as the unveiling
date has been reportedly scheduled for this summer. The model will feature the
2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with around 330 HP being directed
to the all-wheel drive system through a dual-clutch automatic transmission.
