New Volkswagen Golf R lands with 316bhp, improved handling

The new, eighth-generation Golf R is the fastest and most powerful series-production version of Volkswagen's family hatchback yet. It will arrive in dealerships this month as the fifth member of the brand's significantly expanded performance line-up.

Like its new Arteon R and Tiguan R stablemates, the top-rung Golf takes 316bhp and 310lb ft from an evolved version of the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that has powered the R-badged model since 2009.

The subtle power and torque boosts for the fourth iteration of the EA888 unit – dubbed the Evo4 – bring the Golf R's 0-62mph sprint time down by 0.2sec to 4.7sec, plus Volkswagen claims peak torque is available from 2100rpm all the way through to 5350rpm.

The focus hasn't been solely on improving outright performance, however, with a series of tweaks to the drivetrain aimed at improving agility and responsiveness over the previous car. The Golf R receives the same upgraded version of Volkswagen's torque-vectoring system as fitted to the hot Arteon and Tiguan, meaning drive is distributed variably between the rear wheels for the first time, rather than just between the front and rear axle. Using a pair of electronically operated multi-disc clutches, the system is said to balance output across the axle from 0-100% within milliseconds.

Elsewhere, the camber on the front axle has been upped by 1.3deg, the stabiliser and spring rates have been raised by 10% and the steering software has been tweaked for a more direct turn-in response.

Some 1.2kg of unsprung mass has been shaved from the braking system, too, while the front aluminum subframe has been lightened by 3kg. The brake discs have been expanded by 17mm in diameter on the front axle for improved stopping performance and an uprated master cylinder gives a "crisp, precise" pedal response.

The Golf R is most obviously told apart from standard Golf variants by way of its 20mm suspension drop, "motorsport-style" front splitter, sizeable black rear diffuser, quad-exit exhaust and bespoke wheel designs. Blue brake calipers and a new illuminating blue strip across the grille round off the exterior upgrades.

Inside, the upgrades include sports seats with blue inserts, a sports steering wheel, stainless-steel pedals and a selection of R-specific displays for the touchscreen infotainment system. A new R-view, for example, displays a horizontally oriented rev counter and gives gearchange recommendations when the car is driven in manual mode.

The optional R Performance upgrade package returns for the eighth-generation model, removing the 155mph limiter for a top speed of 168mph, gaining a larger rear spoiler for added downforce and wearing a set of 19in sports wheels as standard.

This pack also brings two additional driving modes: Special, which has been configured especially for optimum performance at the Nürburgring (where the new Golf R is said to beat its predecessor's lap time by 17sec) and Drift, which Volkswagen said "opens up a whole new level of driving dynamics away from public roads and makes the experience behind the wheel even more fun".

As before, an Akrapovic titanium performance exhaust system is available, weighing 7kg less than the standard system and bringing valve control so that the driver can adjust the exhaust volume.

Driving modes are selected using a new wheel-mounted R button, which puts the car into Race upon a hard press. Despite the enhanced focus on driver engagement for the new Golf R, Volkswagen has no plans to reintroduce the option of a manual gearbox, citing greater demand for the dual-clutch automatic (DSG), which it said gives "the best of both worlds" and is equipped with a manual shift function via paddles behind the wheel.

However, as for whether an uprated version of the EA888 engine could be introduced for a more hardcore Golf in future, head of technical development Jan Schiedek-Jacht was less categoric. "As a good engineer, you're never really satisfied with what you have achieved. From that angle, we might look into further improvements in the future," he said, fuelling the suggestion previously reported by Autocar that Volkswagen is plotting a 400bhp Golf R Plus to rival Mercedes-AMG's A45 S.

There's no word on prices yet, but a subtle jump is to be expected, meaning the new Golf R will likely cost from around the £34,000 mark.