VW Will Debut U.S. Spec 2015 Golf R at Detroit Show

TTAC Staff
by TTAC Staff

The U.S. version of the 2015 Golf R will be a five door, unlike the three door Euro spec model.

Volkswagen of America confirmed that the U.S. spec 2015 Golf R will debut at the Detroit auto show next week. While at 290 horsepower, it’s down 6 HP from the Euro spec Golf R shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show last September but that still will be enough power driving through all four wheels to tick off 5.3 seconds in a zero to sixty run with a six speed fully manual transmission and an even quicker 4.9 seconds in the DSG dual clutch equipped R. That’s correct, U.S. consumers will finally have a choice of gearboxes in the R. Starting with the 2004 R32, VW has only offered either the six speed manual or the DSG transmission on American versions of the Golf R.

The U.S. Golf R will only be available as a five door hatchback and will go on sale in the first quarter of 2015. No official EPA rating is yet available but VW says that the car will show an improvement of 4 MPG (highway) over the 2013 Golf R’s 27. All 280 lb-ft of torque is available from 1,800 to 5,500 RPM.

In addition to more boost than in the GTI, the 2015 Golf R has significantly quicker steering, 2.1 turns lock to lock versus 2.75 on the lower powered Golfs, along with progressive variable ratio steering. The Golf R sits on an upgraded suspension that’s 0.2 inches lower than the GTI and 0.8 inches lower than the standard Golf. The U.S. Golf R also comes with 18-inch wheels, a more aggressive body kit, and bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights. Out back there is a four-tip exhaust. Stability control can be deactivated for track use. The brakes are also upgraded with 13.4-inch rotors and 2.4-inch brake pistons in the front along with 12.2-inch rotors in the rear with 1.7-inch pistons.

There are four driver selectable modes: comfort, normal, individual and race that adjust shock absorber damping, shift points and engine throttle mapping.

The interior gets upgrades as well, with nappa leather trimmed sport seats, “carbon touch” dashboard inlays, a three-spoke steering wheel and a gauge cluster unique to the Golf R..

TTAC Staff
TTAC Staff

More by TTAC Staff

Comments
Join the conversation
13 of 31 comments
  • Qest Qest on Jan 09, 2014

    Lemme know if they do the lease deal that makes it cheaper than the GTI again, and I'll forgive them the lack of the VR6 soundtrack.

    • See 3 previous
    • Krayzie Krayzie on Jan 10, 2014

      @LeeK Really worth to get a VAGCOM cable whenever you buy a VW/Audi.

  • Cubista Cubista on Jan 09, 2014

    This is Vee-Dub's Evo X MR fighter...I am guessing the buy-in is @ $40k.

    • See 6 previous
    • Corey Lewis Corey Lewis on Jan 10, 2014

      @Fordson You done being a dick yet? Just let me know. ;)

  • JMII I did them on my C7 because somehow GM managed to build LED markers that fail after only 6 years. These are brighter then OEM despite the smoke tint look.I got them here: https://www.corvettepartsandaccessories.com/products/c7-corvette-oracle-concept-sidemarker-set?variant=1401801736202
  • 28-Cars-Later Why RHO? Were Gamma and Epsilon already taken?
  • 28-Cars-Later "The VF 8 has struggled to break ground in the increasingly crowded EV market, as spotty reviews have highlighted deficiencies with its tech, ride quality, and driver assistance features. That said, the price isn’t terrible by current EV standards, starting at $47,200 with leases at $429 monthly." In a not so surprising turn of events, VinFast US has already gone bankrupt.
  • 28-Cars-Later "Farley expressed his belief that Ford would figure things out in the next few years."Ford death watch starts now.
  • JMII My wife's next car will be an EV. As long as it costs under $42k that is totally within our budget. The average cost of a new ICE car is... (checks interwebs) = $47k. So EVs are already in the "affordable" range for today's new car buyers.We already have two other ICE vehicles one of which has a 6.2l V8 with a manual. This way we can have our cake and eat it too. If your a one vehicle household I can see why an EV, no matter the cost, may not work in that situation. But if you have two vehicles one can easily be an EV.My brother has an EV (Tesla Model Y) along with two ICE Porsche's (one is a dedicated track car) and his high school age daughters share an EV (Bolt). I fully assume his daughters will never drive an ICE vehicle. Just like they have never watched anything but HiDef TV, never used a land-line, nor been without an iPad. To them the concept of an ICE power vehicle is complete ridiculous - you mean you have to STOP driving to put some gas in and then PAY for it!!! Why? the car should already charged and the cost is covered by just paying the monthly electric bill.So the way I see it the EV problem will solve itself, once all the boomers die off. Myself as part of Gen X / MTV Generation will have drive a mix of EV and ICE.
Next