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Volkswagen Golf R

Hotter than a VW Golf GTI: the Focus RS rivaling 280bhp four-wheel-drive Golf R

Volkswagen’s Golf R has been spied out testing.

It’s the hardest and most powerful production Golf yet, despite downsizing from the VW Golf R32’s 3.2-litre V6 to a 2-litre four-cylinder engine.

The unit in question is essentially the same as the one in the mk5 Golf GTI, with a larger turbo cranking the power up to at least the 261bhp of the VW Scirocco R. The team behind the R-range are keen to wind the Golf up a notch further, though, with around 280bhp likely.

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That’s to accompany another difference from its Scirocco sibling – the Golf will be four-wheel drive, with the ‘Roc’s power going through the front two wheels only. The coupe does 0-62mph in 6.4sec; expect the more potent (and more planted Golf) to do better and potentially post a sub-6sec time.

It’ll need to if it’s to compete with perhaps its most natural rival, the Ford Focus RS. The Blue Oval’s hardcore hatch is the real-world performance car of the moment, combining front-wheel drive and 300bhp with blistering point-to-point pace.

The Volkswagen Golf R will have a job on its hands trying to compete, but we eagerly look forward to seeing how it’ll do. Keep your eyes on evo.co.uk for more information.

Follow evo Magazine on Twitter for the latest performance car news

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