The next-generation VW Golf R is expected to launch in South Africa in the first quarter of 2022, with a powerful engine and four-wheel-drive system.
The Golf R may be the final model of the Golf 8 range that will reach the local market, with the company electing to keep its focus in South Africa on the “performance attributes of the Golf”, VW told TopAuto.
Golf R specs
The South African specifications for the VW Golf 8 R have not been made official yet, but in Germany the Golf 8 R is fitted with the most powerful 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol engine ever put into a production R model.
A reconfigured 4Motion all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring – along with a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission – has then been installed to put to power to the road.
The set-up generates 235kW and 420Nm, allowing the Golf 8 R to sprint to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds and reach an electronically-limited top speed of 250km/h.
Inside, the Golf 8 R coming to South Africa is expected to receive much of the same equipment as the front-wheel-drive GTI.
This model offers a wireless charger, leather seats, a digital instrument cluster, and a 10.25-inch infotainment display with smartphone mirroring as standard.
The market
In Germany, the Golf 8 R currently sells for €50,305 (R880,000).
It is unlikely we will pay this converted price at local VW dealerships, however, and to err on the side of caution we will give the Golf R a price tag of R900,000 to R1 million for this article.
Based on this price and the VW Golf R’s performance, we lined up its biggest competitors in South Africa, below.
Click on the underlined prices to visit TopAuto Car Prices for more information.
Audi S3 Sportback Quattro
- Price – R795,000
- Power – 213kW/400Nm
- 0-100km/h – 4.9 seconds
Honda Civic Type R
- Price – R813,100
- Power – 228kW/400Nm
- 0-100km/h – 5.8 seconds
BMW M135i xDrive
- Price – R865,988
- Power – 225kW/450Nm
- 0-100km/h – 4.8 seconds
Mercedes-AMG A35 Hatch 4Matic+
- Price – R916,000
- Power – 225kW/400Nm
- 0-100km/h – 4.7 seconds
Subaru WRX STi Premium
- Price – R853,000
- Power – 221kW/407Nm
- 0-100km/h – 5.2 seconds
BMW Z4 sDrive20i M Sport
- Price – R920,014
- Power – 145kW/320Nm
- 0-100km/h – 6.6 seconds
Mercedes-AMG CLA35 4Matic
- Price – R992,640
- Power – 225kW/400Nm
- 0-100km/h – 4.8 seconds
Ford Mustang 5.0 GT Fastback
- Price – R1,045,200
- Power – 331kW/529Nm
- 0-100km/h – 4.8 seconds
Toyota GR Supra 3.0T Track
- Price – R1,067,900
- Power – 250kW/500Nm
- 0-100km/h – 4.3 seconds
Audi TT RS Coupe Quattro
- Price – R1,083,000
- Power – 294kW/480Nm
- 0-100km/h – 3.7 seconds
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