Facelift to VW Golf R adds 10 horsepower, base model only 85 HP

Also, the 2.0 TDI engine is now compatible with 4Motion AWD.

The updated Volkswagen Golf was unveiled earlier in the year. Now, the German company has revealed details about the most powerful and base versions of the car.

The range-topping Golf R gets a slight power boost of 10 horsepower (7.4kilowatts), which makes the output to 310 HP (231kW). This makes the Golf R as powerful as the limited-edition Golf GTI Clubsport. The most powerful mass-produced Golf, available in a hatchback or estate. It also has a 295 pound foot (400 Newton meters) peak torque and is sent to all four wheels via an all-wheel drive. It can sprint from 0 to 62 miles per hour (or 100 km per hour) in 4.6 seconds. This is slightly faster than the BMW 340i xDrive.

The entry-level Golf comes with a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine that produces 85 horsepower (63 kW) and is more economical. According to the manufacturer, the efficient turbocharged direct injection petrol engine consumes only 4.8 liters per hundred kilometers (49 miles per gallon). Volkswagen also launches the Golf 2.0 TDI 4Motion, which has 150 hp (110 kW).

Facelift to VW Golf R adds 10 horsepower, base model only 85 HP

The Golf R and Golf 1.0 TSI both receive the same improvements as the other Golf variants. These include LED taillights and the Composition Colour infotainment systems. The 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster can be added to higher trim levels. It offers the same features as the Passat’s larger model. A new top-spec infotainment package is also available, featuring a 9.2-inch display that supports touch-and-voice-command operation. Optional gesture control is also available in the so-called Discover Pro system, making it the first model of its kind to have this technology.

The Golf R hatchback is priced at EUR40,675 in Germany with a manual gearbox, while the automatic version starts at EUR44,800. The base Golf 1.0 TSI Trendline starts at EUR17,850. Volkswagen states that “its price hasn’t risen one penny despite substantially improved features.”