There are no 2.5 TFSIs for you!
The unveiling of the concept by Volkswagen was six years ago. It was to be a production model, based on the refreshed Golf Mk7 with around 420 horsepower. VW pulled the plug in order to reduce non-essential expenses to address the Dieselgate. The seventh-generation Golf didn’t get the powerful version it needed, but the Mk8 will likely have a slight boost in output. A recent leak indicates that the 2.0-liter four cylinder engine will produce 330 horsepower. According to Autovisie, VW originally had other plans for the new Golf R . The Germans wanted to fit in the five-cylinder Audi engine. VW asked Audi whether they could use the 2.5-liter TFSI motor. However, Ingolstadt’s high-ranking officials politely declined to answer the question, according “one of the parties.”
This decision was made because Audi Sport didn’t want the Golf R stepping on the RS3’s toes. The VW model would have been cheaper, which could have affected sales of the high-performance Sportback. KTM and Donkervoort can use the reputable turbo-five of the Four Rings because their models are not directly comparable to the RS3 or the TT RS.
The issue of increasing production at the Gyor plant, Hungary, where Audi produces the A3/S3/RS3, T/TTS/TTRS and Q3/Q3 Sportback models lines is also a concern. Autovisie cites the same source as above: “Manufacturing a five-cylinder is very laborious. It is therefore very difficult to increase the volume.
Even though Audi is allegedly refusing to share its award winning engine with VW, the Golf R could still receive a power boost above the 330-hp expected from the regular R later in the year. The R400 concept showed that the 2.0 TSI engine can be pushed to 394 horsepower and 332 pound feet (450 Newton-meters) of torque. Rumours abound about a more powerful R+ variant, which will rival the RS3 and the Mercedes-AMG A45S with 416 horsepower.