Report: A refreshed Volkswagen Golf to come in March, hot R420 model to follow

Some big news for Volkswagen Golf fans recently surfaced by way of AutoBild in Germany, who reported that a new mid-cycle refreshed Golf should surface in the European market by March, with the hotly anticipated R420 model due shortly after.

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This seems like big news, but know how the Germans like to treat their domestic continent to new vehicles first before the US, we can still expect some time to elapse before we see our updated version. For instance, we still have yet to see the eighth generation Volkswagen Passat, which has already been out in Europe for quite some time.

In comparison, we still get the seventh generation Passat bespoke to our own market, and that was just given its mid-cycle refresh this year.

So while the Volkswagen Golf news is cool, the impending arrival of the R420 model is even cooler.

As a refresher, Volkswagen pitched the idea at a super-hot GTI-based hatch with over 400hp in the form of the Golf R400 Concept at the 2014 Beijing Auto Show. It was certainly cool when it was revealed, but we had our doubts that Volkswagen would even consider making it, since they tried making a hot Golf with Bentley’s W12 wedged in the middle to make a mid-engined Golf. But that was absolute bonkers and impractical.

But to our surprise, Volkswagen confirmed to be putting the R400 into production. The result: the aforementioned R420 model.

Originally, the R400 Concept came with a seriously souped-up 2.0L TFSI turbocharged inline-four, allowing for an extra 100hp and 51 lb-ft of twist. Combined with a DSG gearbox and Volkswagen’s renowned 4MOTION all-wheel drive system, along with a weight reduction to 3,130lbs, the Golf R400 Concept hits 62 in just 3.9 seconds for a top run of 174 MPH.

Though given the new “R420” designation, this could mean power has been bumped to 420hp. Though, specific details haven’t been announced just yet.

Given the caliber of this new super-hot Golf, you can expect it to be very limited in production.

More info will certainly become more available as we get closer to Geneva.

– By: Chris Chin

 

 

Chris Chin

Chris Chin is the Editor-In-Chief of egmCarTech and is a regular contributor to Automobile Magazine.

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