The Golf That Takes You to 100km/h in Under 4 Seconds

Beijing Motor ShowAt the Beijing Motor Show, Volkswagen unveiled the "Golf R 400," engineered based on the seventh-generation "Golf R"Golf R." This special vehicle was crafted by "Volkswagen R GmbH," a subsidiary of Volkswagen's motorsport division that has demonstrated its prowess by winning the manufacturer's title in its debut year of the World Rally Championship with the "Polo WRC" since 2013. The powertrain delivers 400ps from its 2-liter turbocharged engine, as its name suggests.

The base Golf R features a tuned 2.0 TSI engine producing a maximum output of 300ps (221kW). It drives all four wheels via a 6-speed DSG, achieving 0-100km/h acceleration in 4.9 seconds. The further refined R 400 boasts a 100ps increase in maximum output to 400ps, and its maximum torque is also enhanced by 70Nm to 450Nm, available across a wide range from 2,400 to 6,000rpm.



The immense power generated by the engine, producing 200ps per liter of displacement, propels the 1,420kg Golf R 400 from a standstill to 100km/h in just 3.9 seconds. This represents a full second faster than the Golf R.

The transmission is a 6-speed DSG, and the drivetrain utilizes the fifth-generation Haldex coupling for its 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system. This system optimizes driving force by distributing more torque to the front wheels during low-load conditions to improve fuel economy, while instantly distributing torque to the rear wheels when needed, a feature inherited from the Golf R. Naturally, it is also equipped with all the electronic systems necessary for optimal torque distribution to all four wheels and for enabling swift cornering through slight braking on the inner wheels.

Design Incorporating Motifs from Legendary Models

The exterior is adorned with numerous sporty, dedicated features. Carbon parts, optimized for aerodynamics, are integrated from the front to the sides and rear of the lower body. The bumpers are also of a dedicated design, featuring C-shaped or U-shaped motifs at both the front and rear. The roof and door mirror covers are also made of carbon, harmonizing with the silver flake body color.

The front splitter is inspired by the "Rally Golf G60," developed in 1988 for homologation purposes. The dual center-exit rear exhaust differentiates it from the standard Golf R's dual-pipe setup on each side, and its layout is reportedly a nod to the "Golf R32," the first Golf to bear the "R" designation, unveiled in 2002.



Lemon yellow accents are used for the shadow of the "R" logo badge, which features model-specific colors—chrome for the Golf R, red for the Golf GTI, and blue for the Golf GTE—as well as for the line on the front grille. This color appears as an accent throughout the interior and exterior, and even on the specially designed engine cover.

The driver and front passenger seats are integrated shell-type sports seats with headrests, featuring Alcantara in the center and carbon leather on the sides. The two individual rear seats use the same leather combination. Lemon yellow stitching is applied, creating a unified design with the exterior's gray and yellow theme.

This model was developed as one of the explorations into the potential of the latest Golf.Geneva Motor ShowThe "Golf GTE", a plug-in hybrid announced at the 2014 "e-Golf", and the electric vehicle "MQB", which enables a single model to offer such diverse variations, showcases one facet of the Golf's capabilities.