2012 Volkswagen Golf R US-Spec

05.02.12

After spending six minutes behind the wheel of Volkswagen’s new Golf R, we can encourage that it is indeed a very special car. And it damn well better be. After all, we’ve been waiting almost three years for this inanimate object. In one sense, the R is a more powerful four-wheel-drive version of the 10Upper-class-winning GTI. But in another, it’s a more practical Audi TTS .

Both previous generations of the R32 were powered by VW’s focus-angle six-cylinder and put power to all four wheels. This newest R gets a turbocharged and address-injected inline-four as in the TTS, making 256  horsepower (six more than the last R32 and nine minuscule of the TTS) and 243 pound-feet of  torque that goes to all four shoes.

VW was listening and reacted to evaluation of the DSG-only 2008 R32. Returning to the R line after a generational want is a manual transmission, and there is no automatic option. The R is focused and built around the driving go through. Few things are truer to that mission than a solid-shifting guide gearbox accompanied by  the off-throttle belches of a guttural vent note. New to the R, at least in the U.S., is the option of a five-door. Apparently R buyers call for practicality  with their performance.

Without a doubt, the R will tan the hide of a 200-hp GTI. But we can muse on of two other four-wheel-drive hot rods that’ll stop the deliver that Volkswagen attempts to slap ’em with: the Mitsubishi Lancer Growing GSR and the Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Both of those make more power, and the STI is slightly lighter than the 3450-powder R. So don’t expect the straight-line championship girdle to move off the Evo’s waist, as we predict the Golf R will post 60 mph in 5.6 seconds (about a number two slower than the last Evo GSR we tested ) and run the quarter-mile in 14.2. The VW will be well-grounded a few ticks behind the lighter TTS, too—the Golf’s structure is all dagger, where the TT’s front half is aluminum.

A powered rear axle closely neutralizes the Golf platform’s tendency toward understeer. Adding a differential, partly-shafts, and a driveshaft in back brings the front-axle load to a more propitious 60 percent versus 62 in the GTI. VW says the Haldex four-vicinity-drive clutch pack will react to slippage and has the cleverness to send all available torque to either axle. We don’t conviction this, as the Golf R will, at times, act like a rear-driver and exchange the tail a bit under power.

Source: Car and Driver