After having already known and tested the Golf R hatchback, Volkswagen has just presented its “sister”, the Volkswagen Golf R Variant.
We had already caught it in a set of spy photos about three months ago, but it has only just been introduced to the world, with the same mechanical “power” of the hot hatch, that is: 320 hp of power and 420 Nm of maximum torque.
Thanks to these numbers, this becomes the most powerful production Golf Variant ever, but without compromising its family credentials, continuing to offer 611 liters of luggage capacity, which can grow to 1642 liters with the rear seats folded down.
The sportier character of this version is soon announced by the exterior image, which is much more aggressive than in the “conventional” Golf Variant vans. The specific bumpers, the more prominent diffusers, the 18” wheels with an exclusive design and the brake calipers in blue stand out.
In addition to all this, the four huge tailpipes at the rear, which can optionally be in titanium from Akrapovič. In addition to a more aggressive sound, they allow savings of around 7 kg.
In the cabin, new sports seats with blue accents, sports steering wheel and stainless steel pedals. There are also specific views for the R versions in the infotainment system and in the digital instrument panel.
For quick family trips
The 320 hp of power and 420 Nm of torque are extracted from the 2.0 TSI engine (EA888 evo4), which is combined with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and a four-wheel drive system.
Thanks to this combination, the Volkswagen Golf R Variant is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9s — 0.2s more than the Golf R hatchback — and reaching a maximum speed of 250 km/h, a limit which can be “raised” up to 270 km/h if they choose the R-Performance Pack.
In addition to boosting the top speed, this optional pack also adds 19” wheels with a black finish and two extra driving modes: Drift and Special, the latter being specially thought out — and tuned! — for the mythical Nürburgring circuit.
As with the hatchback version, this van also maintains the 4Motion system (four-wheel drive) with R Performance Torque Vectoring (torque vectoring), which distributes torque between the two axles and is capable of sending up to 100% of the force for a single wheel.
With a MacPherson suspension scheme at the front and multi-arm rear, the Volkswagen Golf R Variant features adaptive suspension (DCC) and an electronic limited-slip differential as standard.
As with the hatchback body, this Variant has also modified the steering calibration software, with the new Golf R promising a more direct response to our commands.
When arrives?
Volkswagen has not yet announced the date of arrival of this model on the Portuguese market, nor how much it will cost. However, on the German market, the Golf Variant R can be ordered from next August.