The 2015 Volkswagen Golf R has been out for several months now and the German car maker has finally confirmed a U.S. launch date for its latest Golf R based on the seventh- generation Golf platform. Sales of the new Golf R, in its five-door version, begin in the first quarter of 2015, which is more than six months after the regular Golf and sporty GTI variants are scheduled to hit the showrooms.
The 2015 Volkswagen Golf R is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which will deliver an
estimated 290 horsepower, 34 more than the 2.0-liter motor in the outgoing Golf R. This will make it the most powerful Golf ever sold in North America.
Despite the additional horsepower, the new Golf R is expected to be significantly more fuel-efficient than its predecessor. On the European cycle, the car achieves a combined figure of 33 mpg with a six-speed manual gearbox, up from 28 mpg. Customers also have the choice to buy the car with a six-speed DSG dual-clutch tyranny, with the DSG emerging as the quicker option. The DSG box dismisses the 0-62 mph mark in a scant 4.9 seconds, with the manual taking around 5.3 seconds to do the same.
VW’s 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system remains standard on the car. It’s a Haldex-based system capable of sending 100 percent of engine torque to the rear wheels when needed. To ensure great chassis dynamics, there’s a new sport suspension, speed-sensitive steering, and a stability control system which can now be fully deactivated for track driving by pressing and holding for more than three seconds the ESC button. Even with the stability system switched on, Golf Rs use a sportier setting as standard.
The car also comes with a cross differential lock (XDS) at the front and rear axles. During cornering, brake pressure is applied to the inside wheel to aid traction as soon as the electronics detect excessively light loads. The XDS thereby operates as a transverse differential lock that helps compensate for understeer during fast cornering. The version fitted to the new Golf R is designated XDS+, which has been tuned to function over a
greater range of dynamic performance.
On the inside, the car is equipped with sports seats with leather trim, a sports steering wheel, faux carbon accents on the dash, and more R badges. A 5.8-inch touchscreen display will also be fitted. It features proximity sensors so that as soon as the driver or front passenger moves a finger near its surface, the screen automatically switches from display mode to input mode.
Pricing for the 2015 Volkswagen Golf R will be released closer to the cars launch next year.