The Volkswagen Golf R 8 could have had the five-cylinder engine from Audi, but that won't be the case

Many expected the new generation of the Volkswagen Golf R to use the spectacular five-cylinder engine found in several Audi models such as the RS3, the RS Q3 and the TT RS. Without a doubt, the idea was not far-fetched and would have allowed the compact from Wolfsburg to grow in power and rival other models in the segment such as the Mercedes-AMG A 45 or the Ford Focus RS. However, the possibility of using this engine to bring the eighth-generation Golf R to life was ruled out, so we’ll have to go without.

Nevertheless, it seems Volkswagen did put the paperwork on the table to study this option with its sister brand Audi, but the final decision was not the one expected. The House of Four Rings wants to preserve the right to use this engine at least within the group, since other companies use the famous five-cylinder for their own models, KTM being one example.

At the same time, Audi’s production capacity is earmarked for other projects, so including development of the Golf R in its ranks was not feasible. Without a doubt, it would have been very attractive to experience a version of the German compact with the five-cylinder 2.5 TFSI, an engine that could perhaps have stayed at the 367 hp it previously produced so as not to overshadow the RS3.

But, as the leaks predicted, the already known four-cylinder 2.0 TSI will power the new Volkswagen Golf R. With this premise, we will have a car sharing its mechanicals with its siblings in the range, the GTI and GTI TCR, except that it will produce a not-so-modest 350 hp.

However, the large number of arrivals in the sporty compact segment and the countless versions a single model can have could push Volkswagen to develop a more radical variant of the upcoming Golf R. In this way, customers could choose between a standard R and a hypothetical R Performance, a version whose styling and mechanics would be modified.

Initially, it was estimated that this new and revolutionary Volkswagen Golf R would arrive in the summer, at the Goodwood Festival to be more precise. But, considering how the COVID-19 health crisis is affecting the automotive industry, it would not be surprising if the official unveiling of the sporty compact is postponed.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackVolkswagen Golf28 versions · from 24,450 €