Volkswagen in Germany has published the starting price of its new Golf 8 R, which slots in at the very summit of the eighth-generation Golf range.

So, how much will the latest version of Wolfsburg’s all-paw hot hatch set you back in VW's domestic market? Well, pricing for the DSG model in Germany starts at €48 018,15 (inclusive of VAT), which translates to around R900 000.

Whether or not that turns out to be a reliable indicator of the new Golf R’s price in South Africa remains to be seen, considering equipment levels will likely be slightly different when the fresh-faced hot hatch arrives on local shores either late in 2021 or early in 2022. For the record, though, VW SA’s outgoing Golf 7 R is currently priced at R727 400.

In Germany, the Golf 8 R ships standard with items such as 18-inch “Jerez” alloy wheels, the Digital Cockpit Pro instrument cluster and the Discover Media infotainment system.

As a reminder, the new Golf R generates 235 kW and 420 N.m (the latter from 2 100 to 5 350 r/min) from its familiar EA888 turbocharged 2,0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, delivered to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. According to the Wolfsburg-based firm, that’s enough for a sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 4,7 seconds, with a top speed of 250 km/h (or optionally 270 km/h).

The new Golf R gains fresh “Special” and “Drift” modes in addition to the usual Comfort, Sport, Race and Individual settings. In Special mode, VW says all of the main drive system parameters are “configured” for the Nürburgring Nordschleife, resulting in a 17-second quicker time for the DSG model in “internal tests”.

In Drift mode, which the German firm points out is “meant for track use only”, the parameters for the electronic stability control and the distribution of power via the all-wheel-drive system enable the Golf R to get a little sideways.

Original article from Car