An electric Volkswagen Golf R gets ahead of tomorrow's sports cars

Electrification is the order of the day, something that directly affects vehicles with a sporty character. Volkswagen has taken its first steps in this sector with the ID.3, a model with a clear urban focus that inherits the legacy of the ID.R, a true competition vehicle. Now, the company from Wolfsburg has decided to create a highly revealing concept car, based on the Volkswagen Golf R 7, a model that, before bidding us farewell, decided to flex its muscles by adopting the same powertrain as the ID.R.

For now we are looking at a prototype that has no intention of joining Volkswagen’s motorsport lineup, but it is undeniably revealing. The engineers at the German brand have decided to build a car that not only shows the potential of electric powertrains, but also previews the steps that the production performance models will follow.

We must not forget that the Volkswagen Group is strongly committed to hybrid powertrains in this latest wave of vehicles it is unveiling. The Skoda Octavia RS is a clear example of this and, as both leaks and rumours suggest, the future Golf R as well as the CUPRA León will use a mechanical layout in which petrol and electricity work hand in hand.

However, this exuberant prototype is characterised by a 100% electric powertrain, just like its donor, the ID.R. With this premise, we find a Golf R in which the turbocharged 2.0 TSI engine disappears in favour of two electric motors capable of delivering 680 CV and 650 Nm of torque, figures that triple the original power of the Wolfsburg company’s souped-up compact.

Of course, the engineers have had to modify various aerodynamic components so that the Golf R can handle this new power range with composure. A large rear spoiler and a body kit with much wider wheel arches and bumpers stand out at first glance, aimed at delivering handling far better suited to the level of performance the German compact now offers.

Either way, Volkswagen has not used this prototype to create a new racing car, but to offer us a preview of what its future performance vehicles will bring. The German brand is convinced that the future is electric, a way of life that is not incompatible with high-performance models.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackVolkswagen Golf28 versions · from 24,450 €