VW Turns Up Hatchback Heat With ’22 Golf R

Earlier this year, Volkswagen took the wraps off the eighth-generation Golf GTI hatchback. It’s quicker, more advanced and comes loaded with more features than the cars before it, but it won’t be the peak of Golf performance for the 2022 model year.

That title will go to the just-announced ’22 Volkswagen Golf R – an all-wheel-drive rocket that stands as the performance benchmark for hot hatchbacks everywhere.

VW says the new Golf R’s turbocharged 2.0L will pump out 27 more hp than its predecessor, now up to 315 ponies, and 310 lb.-ft. (420 Nm) of torque.

Power hits the pavement through standard 4Motion all-wheel drive and either the standard 6-speed manual gearbox or an optional 7-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission. That powertrain is good enough for the Golf R to scoot from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in a scant 4.7 seconds before going on to its 155-mph (250-km/h) top speed.

Those are solid numbers, but other improvements make at least as big an impact on the Golf R’s capabilities.

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The 4Motion system has been upgraded for ’21 with a new torque-vectoring system. It’s capable of shifting power between the front and rear axles, as well as from side to side. The system can be configured for drifting, allowing the rear to break traction and slide.

The automaker notes the system is deeply integrated with other vehicle functions, such as the electronic differential locks and adaptive dampers to provide the best traction, handling and precision possible.

Visually, the new Golf R won’t be a radical departure from the models we’ve seen before, though it will feature a more aggressive front end and muscular hood. It will be sold only as a 5-door model, and cars destined for U.S. soil will get a standard sunroof.

Elsewhere, there will be 19-in. wheels with summer performance tires, blue brake calipers and a new rear bumper with a high-gloss black diffuser.

Only three colors will be offered: Lapiz Blue Metallic, Pure White and Deep Black Pearl Effect.

Inside (above), there’s a standard 10-in. (25-cm) infotainment touchscreen and the award-winning Digital Cockpit, which replaces the traditional gauge cluster with a configurable screen.

In addition to displaying maps and media information in the cluster, the Digital Cockpit can show Golf R-specific data such as a rev counter and performance metrics.

Just like the Golf GTI, the ’22 Golf R will head to dealers’ lots in late 2021. Volkswagen says both models will land around the same time in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but it shouldn’t stray drastically from the MSRP of the last Golf R, which was priced at about $44,000 including destination charges.

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