It’s been more than a decade since Volkswagen’s iconic Beetle was last sold. Its lacklustre sales figures resulted in the two-door retro hatchback being dropped from the Volkswagen’s line-up in 2013. Recently, the company has been toying with the idea of a Beetle comeback, as evident by the electric Volkswagen Beetle concept created for the animated film “Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir”. A Beetle EV was also hinted last year by former Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess, who suggested that more “emotional” cars were possible with the scalable MEB platform.

• READ MORE: 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Review

Volkswagen’s ID. family of electric-only cars is expanding, will it see something along the lines of an “ID.Bug” joining the line-up? Quite possible. The Volkswagen ID.4 is already well suited to be morphed into a Beetle EV, with its rear-mounted electric motor and rear-wheel drive, just like the rear-engined and rear-driven original Beetle. With a driving range of up to 345km, the powertrain of the ID.4 base model is also perfect for a city-focused car like the Beetle.

While the VW Beetle EV concept in the animated film looks a bit far fectched, here’s a more realistic rendering from automotive renderer Kleber Silva of Behance.net. Retaining the classic silhouette and scupted surfaces of its forebear, the Beetle EV is being reimagined as a modern zero-emission city car.

Image: Behance.net

The post Revival: Volkswagen Beetle Electric on the cards? appeared first on ForceGT.com.

Cut price Audi Q7 or premium Volkswagen Touareg. That’s what we endeavour to find out with the 2023 Volkswagen Touareg 210TDI R-Line.

Sitting at the top of the range, for now (until the arrival of the fire-breathing Touareg R), the luxury VW is priced from $117,540 before on-road costs, making it one of the most expensive models in VW’s showroom today. And while the price tag might raise some eyebrows, it does have the looks and feel to match.

To set it apart from lesser variants, the 210TDI R-Line comes fitted with a sportier front bumper replete with deeper air intakes, along with model-specific 20-inch ‘Nevada’ alloy wheels and less chrome garnishes. It is the best looking model of the range to our eyes.

Compare to its Audi Q7 platform mate priced from $129,400 before on-roads (and any options from the extensive and expensive list), the Touareg R-Line certainly looks (almost!) like a bargain.

Its 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel V6 puts out 210kW at 4,000rpm and 600Nm of torque at 1,750rpm, and is matched with an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission driving all four wheels via VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system – enough to outgun even its upmarket Audi Q7 TDI Quattro cousin by 40kW/100Nm.

In fact, most of its peers such as the Mercedes-Benz GLE 300d and BMW X5 xDrive25D only offer measly four-cylinder engines, which means the Touareg R-Line is in a league of its own.

Just two options are on offer, including the rather reasonable $6,600 Sound & Comfort Package fitted to our tester. It brings four-zone climate control, surround-view camera, Dynaudio Consequence premium sound system, heated rear window seats, and auto park assist with low-speed rear auto emergency braking. A panoramic sunroof costs a further $3,400.

There are five metallic colours to choose from (Grenadilla Black, Silicone Grey, Oyster Silver, Meloe Blue and Malbec Red) with all costing $2,200 while the Meloe Blue metallic carries a slightly higher $2,500 premium. The only standard paint is the solid Pure White.

Standard equipment includes:

• Keyless entry and start
• Air suspension with electronic damping
• Adaptive cruise control
• Eight-speaker sound system
• Head-up display
• 20-inch ‘Nevada’ alloy wheels
• Ambient lighting
• Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Wireless smartphone charger
• Digital Cockpit Pro
• DAB+ digital radio
• R-Line Savona leather upholstery
• Heated front seats with memory and massage function
• Powered tailgate
• Built-in sunshades
• Light Matrix LED headlights.

On the safety front, the Touareg 210TDI R-Line doesn’t skimp. Safety features include:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian recognition
• Adaptive cruise control with stop & go
• Front, side and curtain airbags for front and rear passengers
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane-keep assist
• Driver fatigue detection
• Front- and Rear-cross traffic alert
• Reverse camera and auto park assist

For full specification, head over to the Touareg’s official page.

While it’s safe to say Volkswagen has covered all bases with this car, a front centre airbag found in many newer models today is missing due to the vehicle’s age (it was launched in 2019).

The latest Touareg is 77mm longer and 44mm wider than its predecessor, and the cabin is vast. Soft-touch materials abound, and fit and finish are solid as you’d expect from Volkswagen and at this price point.

The massive 15.0-inch infotainment touchscreen is very responsive to the touch and comes with modern graphics, while the 12.3-inch digital instrument is crisp, classy, and fully configurable with different information.

The driver’s seat is comfortable with ample adjustability, and there are lots of useful storage options, including a large central bin under the armrest and deep pockets in each door.

However, the controversial haptic controls on the steering wheel used widely in VW’s range toppers are not the most user-friendly and is prone to accidental inputs. Thankfully, VW has promised to bring back the old school steering wheel buttons in future models.

Don’t go looking for a third row of seats, either, as you’ll only find a space-saver spare tyre and an ancillary battery for the R-Line’s active stabiliser bars.

But there is ample head, knee, and toe room front and back. The back seats slide fore and aft by 160mm, and there’s a 60:40 split folding backrest and backrest angle adjustment for superb comfort.

There are also rear climate control and a dedicated 12V plug, plus two USB-C ports at the back.

Poke your head behind the electric tailgate and you’ll find 810L boot space that expands to a cavernous 1,800L by folding down the rear seats via handy pull-tabs in the boot.

The load floor can also be raised or lowered via a couple of boot mounted buttons to aid loading and unloading heavy items, thanks to the smart air suspension.

Hop into the driver’s seat and the Touareg R-Line drives and feels like the luxury SUV that it is. The standard air suspension provides impressive body control and ride quality you’ll feel like you’re driving on a cloud, even though this big boy weighs over 2.2 tonnes!

There are six on-road driving modes (normal, sport, comfort, eco, off-road and individual) and four off-road modes (offroad auto, snow, gravel and offroad individual) to choose from the centre console dial. In Comfort mode, the R-Line soaks up potholes and rough pavement with ease without feeling like you’re riding a trampoline.

Dynamic mode isn’t too shabby either and is perfectly suited to town driving, providing a still, comfortable ride with just a hint of firmness to keep body movement in check.

In fact, the degree of difference between Comfort and Dynamic mode is so subtle you could just leave it in Dynamic without needing to get on the speed dial to the chiropractor at the earliest opportunity.

On the downside, throttle response could be better as the Touareg can feel a little sluggish when taking off, with not much happening below 1,750rpm before the full whack of 600Nm kicks in. However, once the engine gets on boil, boy, does it fly!

The engine is muted but respond with a deep note when opened up. It’s all rather pleasant and sporty. Cabin refinement is on par with most luxury vehicles with little wind and road noise intrusion. Audiophiles will also happily fill the vast cabin with tunes of their choice from the excellent Dynaudio system.

The Touareg’s standard four-wheel steering not only aids handling but also reduces its turning circle by a meter, making it easier to manoeuvre in tight spaces.

The Touareg’s adaptive cruise control and active driver assist systems work with polish too. The cruise control will bring the car to a halt at lights and then automatically move on when the car in front pulls off, taking the load off the driver in most of our heavily congested capital cities.

Its lane guidance is subtle and doesn’t exhibit any nervousness on the freeway and its rear-cross traffic alert provides an extra set of ‘eyes’ when reversing out of parking spots or the driveway.

Another trick up its sleeve to shrink wrap itself around the driver is the Active Roll Stabilisation. It comprises two electromechanical anti-roll bars that can independently stiffen or slacken to help the Touareg stay flat and minimise body roll.

When taken off-road the system can even decouple entirely to maximise axle articulation to get itself out of trouble.

When it comes to towing capacity, the big German again excel with a muscular 3,500kg of braked towing capacity, matching the likes of the Toyota Landcruiser and work horses like the Hilux. However, it’s tow ball load of only 240kg might prove a challenge for anything over three-tonnes!

VW claims the diesel-powered Touareg sips just 6.8L/100km on the combined cycle. However, we averaged around 9.0L/100km over our weeklong test with seventy percent city driving.

The Touareg 210TDI R-Line comes with VW’s five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty. It requires a service every 12 months or 15,000km with the German brand offering three- or five-year capped price service plans costing $1,750 and $3,000, respectively.

Verdict

The post 2023 Volkswagen Touareg 210TDI V6 R-Line Review appeared first on ForceGT.com.

Volkswagen has welcomed to Australia the first examples of the ID.4 electric SUV, ahead of a register-your-interest waitlist for customers going live by Christmas.

The two ID.4 electric SUVs arrive in Australia in overseas-market specifications – the 150kW ID.4 Pro Performance with 522km range, and the 125kW ID.4 Pure Performance with 345km range and sharing the Pro’s 310Nm.

A fully loaded ID.4 Pro Performance will most closely reflect Volkswagen Australia’s planned launch specification, while the ID.4 Pure Performance will likely join later and aim at fleet operators and government agencies.

The Volkswagen ID.4 is produced on a dedicated, modular battery electric vehicle (BEV) architecture known as MEB.

By producing the ID.4 on a dedicated platform it allows designers and engineers to minimise the front and rear overhangs of the vehicle. This ensures that more of the ID.4’s 4584mm body length goes into maximising cabin and boot space, which closely mirrors or exceeds that of the Tiguan SUV.

Rear seat space more closely resembles that of the larger Touareg SUV, with USB-C ports and three-zone climate control available. The family-friendly 543 litre boot volume can be expanded to 1,575L with the rear backrest folded.

The MEB platform also ensures the higher kerb weight inherent to BEVs is placed more beneficially to steering, ride and handling qualities than in an equivalent internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle.

The ID.4 Pro Performance and ID.4 Pure Performance utilise an 82kWh and 55kWh battery package respectively. Both are placed ‘flat pack’ under the central part of the chassis for more even weight distribution and to lower the centre of gravity.

Targeted at singles, couples, couples-plus-pet, families and empty nesters, the ID.4 Pro Performance’s long range will be complemented by up to 125kW DC fast charging enabling charging from 0% to 80% in 33 minutes and on to 100% in 42 minutes. The ID.4 Pure Performance’s 110kW DC fast charging is quicker by 7 minutes and 10 minutes respectively.

The Volkswagen ID.4 is rear-wheel drive and uses a multi-link rear suspension setup for the ride comfort and control typified by a Tiguan, or Golf. It is also rear engined, enabling 0-100km/h performance of between 8.5 seconds (Pro Performance) and 9.0sec (Pure Performance).

With specification still to be locked in for Australia, highlights of the Pro Performance above the Pure Performance in overseas specification include 19-inch alloy wheels (vs 18s), progressive steering, area view camera, augmented reality head up display, 12in infotainment (vs 10in) and 450W 7-speaker audio.

The post ID. Check – Volkswagen ID.4 electric SUV headed to Australia appeared first on ForceGT.com.

Remember the Mk5 Volkswagen Golf R32? It’s arguably one of the most celebrated Golf R‘s of all time, sporting centrally-mounted dual exhaust pipes, all-wheel drive and stunning 3.2-litre V6 with its unique burble.

Fans cried foul when Volkswagen ditched the naturally-aspirated six-pot for a more powerful yet fuel efficient 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the Mk6 Golf R in 2010.

“They’ve put a lawnmower in the Golf R” …. “I can’t hear the engine”, they exclaimed!

Mind you, the Mk6 Golf R wasn’t a great deal more powerful than the Mk5 R32 at 188kW in Australia (the R32 had 184kW) and certainly wasn’t the benchmark in dynamics and driver engagement. That went to its Mk6 Golf GTI sibling.

But things start to look up again when the Mk7 Golf R arrived in 2014 when it switches to the beefed up GTI’s EA888 engine producing 206kW. The Mk7.5 R update upped this to 213kW in 2017.

Now in its eighth generation, the latest Golf R churns out an impressive 235kW of power and 400Nm of torque from the ubiquitous but evergreen EA888 albeit in ‘EVO4’ iteration. And for the first time, Australia has not been short changed after being removed from the ‘hot’ climate zone with lower associated output.

Still, that’s 20Nm shy of the Golf R Wagon due to the removal of a petrol particulate filer (PPF) from the hatch, which thankfully, will be reinstated from next year.

There’s been a significant price bump as well, with the most powerful Golf now starting from a steep $65,990 for the hatch, and $68,990 for the wagon before on-road costs – that’s between $10,000 and $12,000 more than their predecessors, respectively. To compensate, you get more technology as well as the headline grabbing Drift mode and torque vectoring for the first time.

Also making their debut are Volkswagen’s excellent IQ.Light Matrix LED headlights with dynamic indicators and a blue grille strip that turns white at night.

Volkswagen has also revamped the R badge which can be found on the grille, front guards and underneath the VW badge on the tailgate.

We also like the greater differentiation between the Mk8 Golf R and the GTI, with the range-topper getting more prominent side skirts, a front bumper with bigger air intakes and larger 19-inch ‘Estoril’ lightweight alloy wheels.

Of course, the new R’s most standout feature is the proud new two-tier roof spoiler at the back, and quad chrome exhaust tips sandwiching an integrated rear diffuser.

Along with our tester’s signature Lapiz Blue bodywork, the new Golf R is certainly the best looking Mk8 Golf in our eyes.

Step inside and you’re greeted with the Mk8 Golf’s fully digital cockpit, albeit with a distinctly R flavour. There is plenty of blue highlights in the cabin, including on the Nappa leather upholstered sports seats and the aforementioned digital dash.

The flat-bottom steering wheel with haptic touch is shared with other performance VW but features a blue-lit R button that takes you straight to Race mode.

Much has been said about the Golf’s new buttonless infotainment screen and they are all true. More about this below.

What features does it have?

Volkswagen Australia has loaded up the Mk8 Golf R with standard kit, with only the panoramic sunroof ($1,900) and Harmon Kardon premium sound system ($1,000) on the option list.

Highlights include:

• R Performance package:
  • 19-inch ‘Estoril’ lightweight alloy wheels
  • Extended rear roof spoiler
  • Drift mode
• Sports suspension with adaptive dampers
• Light Matrix LED headlights with dynamic cornering lights, Dynamic Light Assist and dynamic front indicators
• LED grille strip
• LED taillights with dynamic indicators
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Automatic Park Assist
• Three-zone climate control
• Nappa leather-upholstery
• Electric driver’s seat with memory
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Keyless entry and start
• Automatic wipers
• Ambient interior lighting with 30 colours
• Power-folding door mirrors
• Illuminated front door handle recesses
• 25-inch configurable digital instrument cluster
• 0-inch touchscreen infotainment display
• Embedded satellite navigation
• Digital Radio DAB+
• Head-up display
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Wireless smartphone charging
• Rear privacy glass

Checkout the official Volkswagen Golf R configurator for full features.

How safe is the Volkswagen Golf R?

The entire Mk8 Volkswagen Golf line-up has been awarded a five-star ANCAP rating.

Standard safety kit on the Golf R includes:

• Eight airbags
• 4Motion all-wheel drive with torque vectoring
• AEB with pedestrian/cyclist/junction assist
• Lane-keep assist
• Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
• Traffic Jam Assist
• Travel Assist
• Blind-spot assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Safe exit warning
• Manoeuvre braking
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Driver fatigue detection

You can find more information about Volkswagen’s safety technology here.

On the inside

You can programme the Golf R to unlock as you approach the vehicle without having to touch the door handle. Once unlocked, you’re invited by a pair of sumptuous sports seats with integrated headrests to climb onboard.

The flat-bottom steering wheel with perforated leather and extra-long paddle shifters (finally!) is lovely to hold with just the right thickness, while the stubby electronic gear lever is surprisingly delightful and easy to use, too.

Both screens are crisp and offer plenty of configurability, but you’ll soon notice the utter lack of direct access buttons to almost all the car’s functions a little inconvenient.

Changing the climate control temperature is especially painful with a tiny strip at the bottom of the infotainment screen that isn’t even lit up at night. You might also find yourself changing the temperature unwittingly if you rest your hand on the dash while poking at the screen. It takes some getting used to but once you’ve learnt to live with it, the Golf R’s interior is a nice place to be.

However, cost cutting measures are obvious. While the dash top is covered with quality soft-touch materials, anything below eye-level is cheap and scratchy hard plastic. Even the A-pillars are now made of this stuff and at the Golf R’s price point, it’s somewhat disappointing.

Being based on a family hatchback certainly has its advantage as the Golf R has plenty of cabin stowage dotted around. There are two decent size cupholders up front along with a console box under the centre armrest.

The trademark carpet lined door bins are sizeable along with a useful glovebox. In front of the gear lever is a wireless charging tray with two USB-C ports above it.

Rear seat passengers get their own climate control as well as a further two USB-C ports as well as phone holders on the seatbacks.

Compared to the hatch, the wagon has a significantly extended wheelbase with a bigger boot and 38mm more legroom for second row passengers.

Around the back, there’s 374L of boot space in the hatch and 611L in the wagon, both of which are expandable to 619L and 1,031L with the 60:40 rear seats folded down, respectively.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

Powering both hatch and wagon is the ‘EVO4’ iteration of the evergreen EA888 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, now putting out an impressive 235kW thanks to a new block and revised head and injection.

Drive is sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed wet-type dual-clutch automatic transmission and torque-vectoring 4Motion all-wheel drive, capable of sending up to 100 per cent of the engine’s torque to the rear axle to be directed to either wheel.

While the wagon gets the full allocation of 420Nm, the hatch makes do with 400Nm for now, until the petrol particulate filter is reinstated next year.

Still, the Golf R hatch rushes from 0-100km/h in a claimed 4.8 seconds, against 4.9 seconds for the wagon.

Volkswagen claims the Golf R uses 7.8L/100km on the combined cycle against tested our tested average of 8.7L/100km – not bad for such a powerful machine.

How does the Golf R drive?

It’s a little blah when you first get acquainted with the Golf R. There’s no angry start-up or rorty exhaust note at suburban speeds.

For that, you’ll have to hit the little blue R button on the steering wheel to summon the ‘Race’ mode which opens the valves in the exhaust pipes and dial up the more aggressive engine mapping.

Even then, the sound is artificially generated but it’s not all that bad and we don’t mind it.

For those seeking the ultimate aural experience in the Golf R, there’s a ‘Special’ mode, aka Nürburgring mode, that amps up everything bar the suspension (it’s designed for the ‘Ring’s rough sections) though it’s not entirely suitable for town use.

There’s no shortage of user adjustability in the Golf R, most of it tied to the Vehicle Dynamics Manager that dictates the car’s character by seamlessly managing the extended diff locks, adaptive chassis control, torque vectoring and all-wheel drive system. There’s a 15-step adjustment to the adaptive dampers, for example.

All these mean you can tailor the Golf R to your individual taste like never before on top of the five pre-set modes, though it’s not terribly intuitive to adjust and demands some learning to get familiar with.

The Golf R certainly takes off with great eagerness and keeps pulling until you hit the horizon with unyielding shove. Once the straight runs out and a curve presents itself, the hot Golf takes to it like a fish to water, with a superbly balanced chassis.

The wet-type, shift-by-wire dual-clutch is urgent with aggressive gear changes in the racier modes for a splendidly effortless way of enjoying your Sunday drives.

Turn ins can be taken early and it will hold the line until it powers out through faster corners with supreme confidence and dexterity. Its steering is quick, well-weighted and there’s a mountain of grip but isn’t the most feelsome.

The cross-drilled 357mm ventilated front brakes are an excellent match to the calibre of the Golf R, with a firm bite and good pedal feel.

Roll resistance is good but the extra 82kg added to the Golf R wagon’s rump is certainly noticeable when rushing the sports wagon into corners.

While there is a ‘Comfort’ mode, the Golf R default mode is ‘Sport’. Around town, the judiciously tuned adaptive sports suspension tackles road undulation well and you never feel tired after a long trip.

Verdict

2022 Volkswagen Golf R pricing and specs

The post 2022 Volkswagen Mk8 Golf R hatch and wagon review appeared first on ForceGT.com.

Every year around September, Volkswagen will set a bunch of apprentices loose to turn a production car into something exciting, such as the Golf GTI Next Level and Hybrid “First Decade” seen a few years ago.

But with the advent of electric cars, the apprentices have this year turned their attention to the VW ID.5.

Known as the ID.5 GTX Xcite concept, the mean and green electric SUV was the work of 14 apprentices and features a mix of matte and gloss paint from the Lamborghini and Volkswagen colour palettes, along with a set of striking 22-inch forged aluminium wheels with power-coated finish.

The jazzed-up ID.5 also received modified fenders and extended wheel arches, while the side skirts have been widened to match.

Stepping into the cabin, one will notice the interior is covered almost entirely with Alcantara and vegan leather, including the steering column. To break up the monotony, orange contrast stitching has also been employed on the seats, dashboard, steering wheel and door panels.

The pair of sports front seats are also embroidered with a stylised ‘8’ to signify the eighth apprentice project of its type at Volkswagen.

Other cabin highlights include a high-end audio system that uses components from Gladen, Musway and Bang & Olufsen. It features 10 amplifiers and a subwoofer for a total output of 2000 watts.

Finally, you know this is the work of young people when the ID.5 GTX Xcite comes equipped with a colour-matching Teamgree H5 electric skateboard the company says is for “travelling the last few meters from the car park to the driver’s destination.”

No changes have been made to the running gear though. That means an 82kWh battery pack which supplies power to a dual-motor all-wheel drive system developing 220kW (295hp/299PS) and 460 Nm (339 lb-ft) of torque.

It’s capable of rushing from 0-100km/h in 6.3 seconds, en route to a top speed of 180km/h before running out of juice after 490km based on the WLTP cycle.

The post VW apprentices knocks up ID.5 GTX Xcite Concept appeared first on ForceGT.com.

The new eighth generation of Volkswagen’s Golf R has arrived in Australia, with the hot hatch now available at local Volkswagen dealerships priced between $65,990 for the Golf R hatchback and $68,990 for the Golf R wagon.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf R Mk8 is the most powerful and well equipped Golf R ever. It continues with its predecessor’s tried and tested formula – a potent turbocharged engine matched with an all-wheel-drive system.

Powering the flagship Golf is an improved and updated version of the outgoing model’s 2.0-litre ‘EA888’ turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Australian-spec Golf R churns out a potent 235kW of power and 400Nm of torque – an increase of 22kW/20Nm.

Power is transferred to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Unlike before, the six-speed manual option is no longer offered in Australia. The self-shifter is only available in selected global markets and Australia isn’t one of them – for now.

The Golf R continues the use of a Haldex-type all-wheel drive system, albeit improved to include an R Performance Torque Vectoring system that allows up to 100 per cent of the rear-axle torque distributed between each individual rear wheels. With the new feature, the Golf R promises even sharper dynamics and quicker cornering.

Volkswagen claims the Golf R will rush from 0-100km/h in just 4.8 seconds before hitting a limited top speed of 250km/h.

Like its GTI sibling, the R benefits from the same ‘Vehicle Dynamics Manager’ system which controls the ‘XDS’ electronically-controlled front locking differential, adaptive dampers, all-wheel drive system and other electronics systems to sharpen driving dynamics.

Australian-spec Golf R comes equipped with the‘R Performance’ package, which brings 19-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 performance tyres and a larger roof-mounted spoiler that is said to increase downforce.

The package also adds two new drive modes on top of Comfort, Sport, Individual and Race modes. Drift mode distributes a greater amount of torque to the rear axle to break traction and enable controlled drifts, while Special mode is specifically tailored for those who wish to tackle the Nürburgring Nordschleife. It softens the adaptive dampers to cater for the undulating surface of the German circuit.

The new Golf R’s sits 20mm closer to the road compared to the standard Golf, thanks to the sports tuned suspension with stiffer springs. The Golf R also gains unique anti-roll bars and increase negative front camber for better agility.

Stopping power comes courtesy of 358mm discs clamped by two-piston aluminium calipers up front, which are 60 per cent lighter. They shave 1.2kg off the unsprung mass of the car’s kerb weight, with a further 3kg loss thanks to the lighter aluminium subframe.

Styling wise, the Golf R features a blue-accented LED light strip connecting the headlights, larger side skirts, and a more aggressive rear diffuser sandwiched by quad exhaust tips.

Inside, there’s a flat-bottomed steering wheel with a dedicated ‘R’ button, paddle shifters for the DSG, nappa leather-trimmed sports seats with blue contrast stitching and alloy pedals.

Ahead of the driver is a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with R-specific displays, a head-up display and a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen.

The post Volkswagen Golf R Mk8 checks into dealerships priced from $65,990 appeared first on ForceGT.com.

On this World EV Day Volkswagen can confirm that its first vehicle capable of running on battery power – the Touareg R – is approved for sale in Australia and is scheduled to arrive toward the end of 2022.

This Plug-in Hybrid EV, whose combined electric motor and turbo petrol V6 delivers performance comparable to the now discontinued Touareg V8 turbo diesel, will also be the fifth R performance model to join Volkswagen’s local line-up next year.

The Touareg R will follow the Golf R, Golf R Wagon, Tiguan R (all due in late quarter one) and the T-Roc R (quarter three).

Unlike these, which run high performance versions of Volkswagen Group’s 2.0-litre four cylinder turbo petrol engine, the performance SUV runs a 250kW/450Nm 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine paired to a 100kW/400Nm electric motor to develop a combined 700Nm and 340kW – the latter figure representing more power than any production Volkswagen.

Drive goes to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission, enabling a 5.1-second sprint from zero to 100km/h – barely behind the Tiguan R and T-Roc R.

Power for the electric component of the Touareg R’s drivetrain is supplied by a 14.3kWh lithium-ion battery mounted beneath the boot floor. A self-charging hybrid, it can be charged either on the run using the combustion engine as a generator or via plug-in means at up to 7.2kW on an AC wallbox, or 10A domestic power point, for a full charge in 2.5 hours.

An electric range of some 47km is possible on the WLTP cycle, while an electric only top speed is rated at 135km/h – higher than our legal highway speed limits. Despite its hybrid drivetrain, the Touareg R’s towing weight remains strong at 3500kg.

Further Touareg R details will be announced next month along with the entire 2022 R range.

The post Volkswagen Touareg R ditches V8 for 340kW Turbo V6 PHEV appeared first on ForceGT.com.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf R is already pretty well sorted straight out of the factory, but that did not stop chassis and suspension specialist H&R from sharpening it up even further.

On offer is a lowering sport springs and spacer package for the Volkswagen Mk8 Golf R. Compatible with the standard shock absorbers, the H&R springs lower the turbocharged all-wheel drive hot hatch by up to 25mm all around. According to the tuner, the lower ride height and slightly firmer springs improve handling and reduce roll in corners.

Handling aside, the lowering springs also give the Golf R a racier, hunkered down look thanks to the elimination of those unsightly wheel arch gaps.

Those who demand an even more aggressive stance can further opt for the H&R Track+ wheel spacers. Made of high-tensile aluminium, the spacers push the wheels out by 6mm, making them perfectly flush with the fenders.
The sport springs for the Volkswagen Golf R costs 327.25 euros while the wheel spacers will set you back a further 44.83 euros. All components are manufactured in the tuner’s factory in Germany.

The Mk8 Golf R is powered by a tweaked version of the outgoing model’s 2.0-litre ‘EA888’ turbocharged four-cylinder engine churning out 235kW of power and 420Nm of torque – an increase of 22kW/40Nm.

The Haldex-type all-wheel drive system now features R Performance Torque Vectoring that allows up to 100 per cent of the engine’s torque to be distributed between the front and rear axles, or between each individual rear wheels.
The Golf R is capable of sprinting from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.7 seconds (DSG) before hitting a limited top speed of 250km/h.

The post Volkswagen Mk8 Golf R hots up with H&R lowering springs and spacers appeared first on ForceGT.com.

Some like the restraint, sleeper styling of the Volkswagen Golf GTI but for us, it, and the 2021 Golf R, just look too tame and similar to the regular Golf range. Happily, Prior Design has come to the rescue!

As you can see from the renderings, it totally transforms the Golf GTI into a sexy, DTM racer-like beast.

Starting at the front, Prior Design has revised the front bumper with an elongated splitter to give the GTI better ground effect, but the stand out feature is certainly those amazingly flared front and rear wheel arches that completely change the hot hatch’s stance. They are further complemented by a set of new wheels (we are guessing 20-inches), lowered ride height and chunky side sills.

Around the back, there’s a new rear bumper to match those fat wheel arches, along with a new rear diffuser. Prior Design has also installed a more prominent and stylish roof spoiler to complete the racer look.

The tuner hasn’t announced the pricing or indeed when the kit will be put into production but it’s definitely one worth looking into if you want a more menacing look for your Golf GTI!

The post Prior Design gives Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI a wild racer transformation appeared first on ForceGT.com.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI is fast becoming the darling of the tuning world. From driveline upgrades to aero modifications, there’s an aftermarket part for almost every corner of the hot hatch.

But before the pursuit of more power, it’s important to have the chassis sorted first. And that’s where chassis specialist H&R comes in. 

The American tuner latest offering is a lowering sport springs and spacer package for the Mk8 Golf GTI, GTD and Clubsport, sharpening the hot hatch’s already impressive handling even further.

Compatible with the standard shock absorbers, the H&R springs lower the hot hatch by up to 40mm all around, which, according to the tuner, gives better handling and reduced roll in corners. For those who prefer something a little less aggressive, H&R also offers another variant of lowering springs for the Golf which lower the hatch by 35mm all around.

For better stability and sportier stance, H&R is also beefing up the Golf GTI, GTD and Clubsport with a set of wheel spacers which push the wheels outwards by 6mm, ensuring they sit properly flush with the wheel fenders. The springs and spacer package gives the hot hatch a much more aggressive, hunkered down look, with the factory 19-inch alloy wheels now filling up the wheel arches nicely.

The sport springs for the Volkswagen Golf GTI, GTD and Clubsport costs 354.62 euros while the wheel spacers will set you back a further 44.83 euros.

The post Volkswagen Golf GTI dropped on H&R springs and spacer package appeared first on ForceGT.com.