2014 Beijing Auto Show: Volkswagen Golf R 400 Concept
To show the potential of the new Golf, VW has taken the 290 horsepower, all wheel drive Golf R and turned up the heat on the hot hatch with the Golf R 400 Concept, introduced at the Beijing auto show.
The 400 stands for 400 PS, which converts to 395 horsepower, and while the R 400 is based on the same turbo 2 liter four used in a variety of VW group cars, that engine has obviously been seriously tuned, probably with a bit more boost, resulting in 333 lb.-ft. of torque to go with the more than 33% increase in power. The result is a sub four second 0-60 time and a 280 kmh (174 mph) top speed that is electronically governed. VW says that the motorsports inspired Golf R 400 has a power-to-weight ratio and specific power per liter displacement on par with exotic supercars. VWs fulltime 4MOTION all-wheel drive transmits all that power to the wheels. On the outside, the Golf R 4oo has silver flake paint with lemon yellow highlights, with a restrained body kit featuring fender flares said to be a tribute to the 1988 Rallye Golf G60. The motorsports theme is carried to the inside of the car with racing seat shells, though they’ve been upholstered in Alcantara and what VW calls “carbon leather”.
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Around 300 hp is generally considered the limit for FWD cars before major torque steer sets in. Granted this car is AWD, but it is on a FWD platform where power is directed to the rear wheels as needed which means it will drive like a FWD car most of the time Not sure how well or or how much AWD will counter torque steer
Well, one thing is for sure - the crankshaft is not the bent piece of wire found in the normal new EA888 engine, with half the counterweights missing to save weight. I wonder how the tiny main and connecting rod bearings will handle diuble the power.