Volkswagen Golf R400 confirmed for production - report

Tim Beissmann
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Volkswagen Golf R400 confirmed for production

The red-hot Volkswagen Golf R400 has been given the green light for production. Volkswagen Group head of powertrain development Dr Heinz-Jakob Neusser told UK publication Car his team is hard at work honing the most insane production hatchback in the company’s history. “We have the Golf more sporty than ever, since we soon will have the Golf R400 – we will do this car,” Neusser revealed. “We are in fact in development of it right now.”

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Neusser’s confirmation comes a little over a year after Volkswagen originally unveiled the Golf R400 concept in Beijing, and six months after reports started circling that a production version was on the cards. The Volkswagen Golf R400 looks set to become the first model powered by the company’s high-output 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine.

The Beijing concept car produced 294kW at 7200rpm and 450Nm between 2400-6000rpm – 88kW and 70Nm more than the current Golf R flagship on which it’s based. Car suggests the production version could produce anywhere between 294kW and 309kW.

Volkswagen claimed the six-speed dual-clutch, all-wheel-drive R400 concept can sprint from 0-100km/h in a supercar-rivalling 3.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 280km/h, making it a whole second and 30km/h quicker than the Golf R respectively.

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The R400 concept featured the same suspension and tyres as the R but wore unique 19-inch alloy wheels and was fitted with uprated brakes.

The concept’s understated styling is expected to carry over to production, differentiated from the standard R by its lower and more aggressive front and rear bumpers, twin exhaust outlets reminiscent of the Golf R32, and potentially yellow trim highlights, among other details.

The production model is rumoured to be unveiled at September’s Frankfurt motor show before rolling down the assembly line either late this year or early in 2016.