Volkswagen has opened the order books for its new Golf R, the most powerful Golf ever made, with prices starting from £29,900.
For that you get a three-door model with a six-speed manual gearbox. £31,315 buys you a three-door version with a six-speed DSG gearbox, while five-door versions cost £30,555 and £31,970 with manual and DSG gearboxes, respectively.
Under the bonnet, the Golf R is fitted with a four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged engine which develops 296bhp and 280lb-ft of torque. 0-62mph takes 5.3 seconds in the manual version -- a 0.4 second improvement over the old Golf R -- while the DSG gearbox takes just 4.9 seconds. The top speed is limited to 155mph.
The R also uses a Haldex four-wheel drive system which automatically decouples the rear axle under low loads or when coasting, effectively turning the Golf R into a front-wheel drive car and reducing fuel consumption.
On the topic of fuel consumption, the Golf manages 39.8mpg on the combined cycle (40.9mpg with the DSG 'box), while emitting 165g/km of CO2 (159g/km with the DSG).
The suspension is 20mm lower than on the standard Golf and 5mm lower than on the GTI. VW's Adaptive Chassis Control system is also an option, offering a 'Race' mode which increasing damping, reducing body movement.
On the outside, the Golf R gets a new front bumper, larger air intakes, a modified radiator grille with a 'R' logo, daytime-running lights, bespoke sills and chrome-capped door mirrors. 18-inch wheels come as standard, with 19-inchers available as an option.
Inside, there are cloth sports seats with alcantara bolsters, while leather upholstery is available as an option. Bespoke dials unique to the R are also included.
The first customer deliveries of the new car are scheduled for March 2014.
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