News of the demise of the V6 powered Golf R32 has been around for some time now. So too, then, has speculation over what Volkswagen would produce to replace the gap left in its R model range. Consensus seems to indicate the gap will be filled rather nicely by a 200kW Audi S3 inspired Mk6 Golf R20.
Back in March rumours were suggesting the R20 riddle would be solved in September with a full reveal at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Now, only a few weeks away from the Frankfurt show, Autocar has published spy shots that start to give some real weight to the R20 rumours.
You can see from the front grille that there is likely to be massive air intakes similar to the Scirocco R. For the first time, we can also see that Volkswagen may continue with R32-like centre mount twin exhausts.
Along with the usual suspension and chassis tweaks one would expect with a model such as the R20, it is now beginning to appear that Volkswagen’s 4motion all-wheel drive system will be fitted to the R20. That the 195kW Scirocco R is lacking the Haldex AWD system is perhaps its biggest disappointment. Of course, giving the R20 an AWD system does help to set it apart from its coupé cousin.
Now all we have to do is sit back and wait for official confirmation of the R20 at Frankfurt. If all goes to plan you can probably expect Volkswagen to release details a few days before the Frankfurt show begins. So, lets take a stab at Tuesday 15 September (Australian time).
[Source: Autocar]
UPDATE 15 September: The above speculation for release information was bang on the money—CLICK HERE!
13 replies on “200kW Golf R20 4motion one step closer to reality”
What proof do we have that this is indeed a AWD car? Maybe it will be FWD like the Scirocco?
The reason I’ve read about why they wont do another V6, is because of emissions. Yet Audi can put a Supercharged 3L V6 in the S5 and S4? Why wont they do another R32?
@WAY: CAR speculated/have been told about the AWD for the Golf. You can read about that here:
http://www.ausmotive.com/2009/03/13/golf-r20t-gti-r-to-be-unveiled-in-september.html
@FL00DY: Yes, that question has puzzled me too. The 3.2 and 3.6 are different engines, so it could be as simple as not being able to fit the 3.6 into the Golf’s engine bay. Remembering Golf/A3 engines are transversely mounted, while they are longitudinally mounted in A4s.
Lima, again it was just speculation. VW hasn’t confirmed it. It’s like everyone thought the Scirocco will be AWD, but it wasn’t. I for one cannot see how they could develop a FWD Scirocco, then have AWD in the Golf. It is a way for them to differentiate VW and Audi going forward by making VW FWD and Audi AWD. I hope I am very wrong though as I want a Golf R that is AWD.
The fact that VW actually build a 4motion Golf VI should be confirmation enough that the Golf R will be all wheel drive.
Shane, I wasn’t aware of that. You could well be right and I sure hope so too!
2wd or 4wd I hope it happens.
A couple more pics here too
http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evospyshots/240094/volkswagen_golf_r.html
interesting hearsay(heresy) for the R20 being FWD and not AWD in this post on vwvortex
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4526020&uid=69074&postid=59910652#59910652
“2. This picture is of the car in testing. You’ll note that the torque sensors are only mounted on the front wheels, which would seem to mean that there is no power going to the rear wheels
ugh… tcl, say it ain’t so.
interesting hearsay(heresy) for the R20 being FWD and not AWD in this post on vwvortex
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4526020&uid=69074&postid=59910652#59910652
“2. This picture is of the car in testing. You’ll note that the torque sensors are only mounted on the front wheels, which would seem to mean that there is no power going to the rear wheels”
ugh… tcl, say it ain’t so.
Ads, we don’t believe in what is said on Vortex…oh wait, that is just the Aussie section. 😛
[…] highly anticipated Golf R32 replacement is almost here, as these leaked images show. The old 3.2 V6 engine has made way for a […]
Well, it looks like my stab at a release date is going to be on the money! 8)
Lima, what is this week’s Powerball numbers?