VW Golf R local pricing and launch date confirmed

Volkswagen confirmed on Tuesday that the Golf 8 R will go on sale in South Africa from April 25. The local launch of this flagship model was delayed by production constraints brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the consequent parts shortage crisis. 

The new Golf R is powered by a 2.0l four-cylinder turbocharged engine tuned to deliver 235kW and 400Nm of torque. Sent to all four paws via a seven-speed DSG transmission, Volkswagen claims this hot-hatch will charge from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and reach a VO2 Max of 250km/h. Specify the optional Black Performance Package and this increases to 270km/h. Ticking this box also equips the Golf R with “drift mode” that, when selected, gives the 4Motion all-wheel drive system a more rear-biased power delivery.

Standard features are generous for the money and customers can look forward to niceties such as smartphone inductive charging, a panoramic sunroof, keyless entry with safelock, Nappa leather R sport seats and a choice of three exterior colours (Pure White, Lapiz Blue metallic and Deep Pearl Black). Infotainment duties are handled by a top-tier Discover Pro system that pairs a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with a 10.25-inch central HD touchscreen compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Also included is adaptive chassis control with driving profile selection, a gorgeous set of 19-inch Estoril alloy wheels and fully automatic LED headlamps with high-beam assist.