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One of the most highly anticipated arrivals of the 2014 year is upon us as the VW Golf VII R has officially been launched on local shores, sporting 206kW and all-wheel drive, set to take the market by storm.
The new Golf VII R mirrors its sister model, the Audi S3, with a 206kW, 380Nm 2.0-litre TSI engine, with peak figure occurring at 5500-6200rpm and 1800-5500rpm respectively. With a manual gearbox the 2.0T is good enough to sprint from 0-100 in 5.2 seconds, whilst the optional DSG twin-clutch gearbox will shunt the Golf R from standstill to 100 in 5.0 seconds flat according to VW’s claims. Top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h. The high-output engine is still able to retain healthy consumption figures of 6.9l/100km according to VW.
The engine drives all 4 wheels via the 4MOTION branded 5th generation Haldex all-wheel drive system, eliminating loss of traction almost entirely, especially under high-load driving situations. The Haldex system primarily operates as a FWD drivetrain; however it has been programmed to send up to 100% of the torque to the rear wheels under extreme situations. The suspension has been upgraded on the Golf R, and has been lowered by 5mm over the Golf GTI.
In addition, the Golf R features a sporty steering system, upgraded brakes, and a drive selector system with Race mode. The brakes used are internally ventilated discs with black calipers – discs are 340mm at the front and 310mm at the rear – housed within 19-inch alloy wheels wearing 225/35 tyres.
The Golf R has received a host of visual styling upgrades. The calipers wear R branding, and the front and rear bumpers have received visual upgrades. The R also wears upgraded side sills and chrome quad tailpipes. The Golf R wears 19-inch “Cadiz” design alloy wheels to accentuate the low, wide proportions. Inside, the R receives leather sport seats, with R logos, as well as a spattering of R design features around the cabin, such as the steering wheel and instrument clusters. Carbon trim has been added to the door panels, whilst the pedals and foot rests receive stainless steel trim as standard.
The infotainment system in the Golf R is available in two display sizes, either a 5.8- or 8-inch display. These systems come standard with navigation capabilities, as well as a DVD drive, voice control, and 10 GB onboard storage. Other standard features are the Automatic Multi-Collision Braking System, ESC, an electronic parking brake, climate control, Light Assist, and keyless entry, whilst optional extras available include a panoramic sunroof, and a Nappa-Carbon leather package.
The Golf R is available locally in DSG only at this stage, and is priced at R486 200. Included in the price is a standard 5-year/90 000km service plan and a 3-year/120 000km warranty. Service intervals are every 15 000km.
