The ultimate expression of the hot hatch

With 292 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, the Golf R can propel itself from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and set a blistering time of 8:15 around the Nurburgring. Volkswagen’s engineers have wrung every bit of performance they can out of the 2.0-liter turbocharged in-line four. Then the designers went crazy on the styling, adding 18-inch Cadiz alloy wheels, quad chrome exhaust tips, R badging inside and out, blue interior ambient lighting and more details. The result is stunning.

Under the hood there is heaps of driving technology putting the power to the pavement. It’s got 4MOTION all-wheel drive, progressive variable-ratio steering, the XDS+ electronic differential with four locks and available dynamic chassis control with three modes. There’s exciting new technology at your fingertips as well. A big addition this year is the MIB II infotainment system, which has a USB port to plug in your smartphone and a 6.5-inch touchscreen with gesture controls to use your apps.

The Golf R does more than just deliver power

Just because the R’s focus is on performance doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the Golf’s trademark versatility. It’s got the same 60/40 folding rear seats and adjustable cargo floor as the original Golf, so there’s plenty of space for people and things. And new driver assistance features can bring a new level of safety and confidence to your drive. Adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitor, rear traffic alert, lane departure warning and park distance control are available.

If you’re ready to rev up the power in the pinnacle of hot hatchbacks, we’d love the opportunity to put you in the driver’s seat at Hall VW in Brookfield WI.