Volkswagen have announced the formation of a new performance division; titled Volkswagen R GmbH. The company will be based in Warmenau, a few kilometres from VW’s Wolfsburg headquarters. Today’s news confirms speculation which first came to light in late January.
With over 350 staff assigned to the program Volkswagen R will assume responsibility for existing models such as the Golf R and Scirocco R as well as the R Line and Volkswagen Exclusive range of cosmetic enhancements (generally not available in Australia).
The scope of Volkswagen R appears to closely mirror quattro GmbH’s role for stablemate Audi. So let’s hope we see a few more cars adorned with R badging and the associated performance upgrades. Australian customers should get their first look at the 188kW Golf R in a few months when it goes on local sale.
Volkswagen R GmbH in the starting blocks
Wolfsburg, 16 March 2010 – The Volkswagen R GmbH will be the specialist for sporty exclusive models from Volkswagen in the future. Volkswagen AG has bundled the responsibilities and competencies for development, implementations and sales of individualised vehicle offers into Volkswagen R GmbH. For example, its portfolio includes the two new top models, the Scirocco R and the Golf R as well as the dynamic R Line design packages and luxurious Volkswagen Exclusive items.
“Our vehicles contribute to the emotionalisation and growth of Volkswagen brand,†explained Ulrich Riestenpatt gt. Richter, General Manager of Volkswagen R GmbH.
The company’s name, Volkswagen R GmbH, responds to the increased global demand for individualised vehicles with contemporary sportiness and exclusivity. The sporty positioning will be reflected more intensely in the programme of Volkswagen R in the mid and long term. The company has its headquarters in Warmenau near Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen R GmbH employs a staff of more than 350.
6 replies on “Official: Volkswagen R GmbH announced”
Will this really be any different from the existing program? It reeks of marketing to me, trying to put some street cred behind the VW badge. If the R cars are little different than the rebadged Audi S models they are now, then my hypothesis is correct.
However, should the R range (beyond the current Scirocco and Golf) be more RS than S (a 2.5T would be nice in the Golf), it could be very interesting.
There’s probably a degree of accuracy in your comments revdes. I can’t imagine seeing the 2.5T in a Volkswagen, though.
The connection between quattro GmbH and Audi AG is pretty seamless, so much so, that I would suggest the majority of Audi customers wouldn’t even know that quattro GmbH existed.
[…] brought us this Polo R rendering. It looks great, too. Speculation of a new hot Polo from R GmbH had been building for some time. However, according to a new report plans for a Polo R have been […]
[…] has emerged suggesting Volkswagen’s R division are ready to spice things up with the new Touareg SUV. Accordingly they’ve set their sights […]
[…] The Beetle R will remain front-wheel drive only. That means, in basic terms, then, we can expect R GmbH to grab a 195kW Scirocco R and reskin it with Beetle clothing. That should go […]
[…] top brass from Volkswagen performance arm, R GmbH, say “The future is diesel and all-wheel drive.” Sure, in current day context that […]