As far as hot hatches go, the current VW Golf R is a pretty sweet package for the street. With 300ps (296hp) on tap, a quick-shifting six-speed DSG or six-speed manual transmission and 4MOTION four-wheel drive as standard fare, it’s not hard to see why either. That’s not to say that it can’t be improved upon though, and to prove that the engineers at Volkswagen R GmbH were tasked with creating the ultimate interpretation of the Mk7 Golf-based machine. Over the weekend at Auto China 2014 – aka the 13th annual Beijing International Automobile Exhibition – VW pulled the wraps off the Golf R 400.
Practicality meets punch in this conceptual creation, with room for four and 3.9-second 0-100km/h and 280km/h (limited) top-end performance. It’s all thanks to 400ps – hence the name – (395hp) and 450Nm of firepower wrapped up in a perfectly balanced package.
Visually, it’s not hard to spot the differences between the R 400 and the Golf R production car it’s been fashioned from. Along with a reimagined front bumper complete with carbon fibre front splitter and an aerodynamic wing-type element designed to channel airflow towards the grille, the concept received ’88 Rallye Golf G60-inspired wheel arches too. At 20mm wider per side, they’ve allowed the fitment of evolved and more aggressively offset, 19-inch Volkswagen Cadiz wheels wrapped in high performance 235/35R rubber. The dual-vent rear bumper is new as well and four tailpipes have given way to two large 110mm outlets reminiscent of the ’02 Golf R32.
Like the Golf R, the R 400 is powered by VW’s EA888 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo mill, but it’s been breathed upon to develop that extra 100ps (98.6hp) over the standard car. Engineers in the R division achieved this by fitting a newly-developed turbocharger and twisting up the boost pressure – but not before strengthening the engine’s architecture with a reinforced crankcase.
The R 400 is dressed for the occasion on the inside as well, with the Golf R’s optional harness-ready motorsport shell seats given a special trim upgrade with Alcantara and carbon leather, and contrasting stitching to pick-up the other Lemon Yellow accents around the car.
Although the Golf R 400 is still a concept and there are no immediate plans for Volkswagen to make the car available for order – or at least any it’s letting onto at this stage – we’ll take the fact that it’s looking production-ready to be a fairly promising sign. One thing’s for certain – there won’t be shortage of people putting their hands up for one, if and when it does go on sale and the price is right. We can only hope!
Brad Lord
brad@speedhunters.com
Photos: Volkswagen
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
Yes please
C&D: "It’s going to be built, the confirmation of which we received directly from VW research and development chief Heinz-Jakob Neusser."
TAKE MY MONEY.
That lemon yellow accent suits this car great! I like it
200hp per litre? Damn, I wonder if (no, WHEN) tuners will push that even further now that it's confirmed the car will be produced.
That's a nice car - now if it would come in under A$60,000
Im I the only one that finds the engine cover hideous? Its completely overdesigned and looks like a crazy pair of ski goggles or something, I cant figure out what it reminds me of, but definitely not a motor... Besides that I love it.
Edit, Am not Im, and i figured out what it looks like.
I'm feelin it, just not the price.
wheatgod very wrong...
I just wish VW would give us mere mortals an appearance package for the gti that resembles aggression such as this.
Can someone please remove all that plastic crap under the bonnet end show us the ENGINE? Or is it as ugly and untidy as a Renault bay from the eighties? Some modern cars these days are so fucked up they should just have a sticker on the bonnet ( or perhaps the doors) saying" No user serviceable parts inside" I myself am not offended by the sight of an engine in the flesh, but perhaps the young generation of car buyers develop eyesore and acne if they are exposed to an inlet manifold or god forbid a visible DOCH alloy head! I remember how I used to SIT in the engine bay while changing the water pump and if I wanted I could even change the headlight bulb myself. From inside the same engine bay! Yes it is true. Back in the days you didnt have to remove the front wheel to change bulbs. And many cars actually used the same cheap and readily available halogen bulbs! I am so glad I managed to collect some good cars and some pretty engines before the Ncap ratings destroyed car design and the euro 3 emission rules made cars blip the throttle AFTER I get off the pedal to please the 3 cats and some nearly extinct frogs. Nice Golf by the way:-)
Maybe it's just me but I was never a big fan of 19's on a car this size.
Caterham's legal department should investigate this deeper.
I like this one. I know I'm in the minority here, but, I'd like to see it with four doors. Although I could never spend that kind of money on a car.
Anyone else think the gap in the engine cover looks like a crab with its claws up?
Take that Civic Type R this is so much more a premium product than the Honda
anyway,it's a monster....
holy shit box concept garbage
VW is crazy.