AUSmotive.com

We know the Golf R is coming to Australia, and we know it should be hear by the middle of 2010. What we don’t know is how much customers should expect to pay for what is essentially an Audi S3 in Volkswagen clothing. Signs from the UK are not good, with the Golf R costing around £2000 more than the S3.

However, it would appear that will not be the case in Australia with the Golf R looking like it will enter the local market quite a few thousand dollars cheaper than the S3. Speaking about the new Golf R to carsales.com.au, Karl Gehling, General Manager Press and PR for Volkswagen Australia, said, “It’s going to be priced between the current R32 and the GTI.”

So we can expect some very sharp pricing for the Golf R, then. Happy days. The outgoing R32 had a starting list price of $57,990. Entry level pricing (including GST and LCT) for the Audi S3 is $66,500. While Gehling states the Golf R will hit the market priced between the old R32 and the current GTI (around $40K, depending on configuration) one would assume the final price will be much closer to the R32 than the GTI. Still, even at a starting price of $57,990 the Golf R represents cracking value.

Also revealed by Gehling was a sneak preview of the Golf R’s local specification. In order to keep Golf R pricing so sharp items such as leather sports seats, Adaptive Chassis Control, 19” alloys (shown in the image above) and more will remain on the options list.

[Source: carsales.com.au | Thanks to Dmitry for the tip]

Following their review of the new Golf GTI last year, British e-mag iMOTOR is now showing off in the new Golf R. In a brief written review they claim “the Golf R is brilliant. In fact, it’s the most exciting production Volkswagen ever.”

Although, the kick in the guts for the Golf R in the UK market is its pricing. For £2000 less than the asking price of the R you can get an Audi S3. That’s over $3500 is Australian terms. Nothing has been confirmed for local pricing, but educated speculation sees the Golf R hitting showrooms with a sub $60K sticker price. This would be almost $5000 less than entry level S3 pricing. I guess we shall have to wait and see, suffice to say, pricing the Golf R higher than the equivalent Audi would be a fast way to intensify sibling rivalry in the Australian market.

Anyway, back to the iMOTOR gig, in their video footage they compare the Golf R to the Ford Focus RS. While it seems clear the RS is going to win in the raw thrills stakes it is the Volkswagen’s ability to, once again, be the better all-rounder that will be its greatest selling point. Shame the mini-test was held on snow covered tarmac, but it does give a very graphic comparison of the R’s 4motion all-wheel drive system.

So, what are you waiting for, click on the image above to load the iMOTOR review now.

For an alternate view, check out Autocar’s thoughts. They ran the Golf R against the Ford as well as the Renaultsport Megane 250. Again, they reckon the Golf R’s strength lies in its versatility. But they also had this to say, “the Ford and Renault are singing from an entirely different hymn sheet. They are designed to intentionally singe your fingers from time to time and be much more exciting company as a result.”