VW Opens Up About the Details of the 2025 Golf R

Thankfully, Volkswagen will bringing the Golf R back for another year of sales in the U.S. in 2025 — but while Stateside details will be revealed later this year, the official launch in Europe has already arrived. With over two decades of all-wheel-drive hot hatch experience to consider, it’s not surprising that Volkswagen is taking a careful approach to updating its flagship performance model for 2025.

A slight increase in power will continue the Golf R’s reign as the most powerful Golf ever made, with the EA888 EVO4 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four-cylinder engine adding 13 horsepower for a total of 328 hp. Peak torque of 310 lb-ft is available as early as 2,100 rpm and spanning up to 5,500, with power sent to all four wheels through a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission and Volkswagen’s proprietary 4Motion AWD system.

Other powertrain updates that Volkswagen made sure to mention include a faster engine start speed, with a special sequence allowing for a brief blip to 2,500 rpm. This creates a sort of cold-start burbling noise, modernizing the sounds that accompany a proper winter startup on older cars. Additionally, VW has also re-tuned the Akrapovic titanium exhaust system to backfire from revolutions as low as 2,500 rpm — and even included a sound actuator to further enhance the four-cylinder growl.

Volkswagen said the 2025 Golf R will do the 0-62 mph sprint in 4.6 seconds and, for U.S. models, will top out at 167 mph. Following in the footsteps of the previous year, the Golf R will benefit from Volkswagen’s Vehicle Dynamics Manager, which allows for on-the-go tuning of the hot hatch’s AWD system, electronic differential lock, and lateral dynamics components. The DCC adaptive dampers remain a critical feature of the Golf R, with active road adjustment and menu-controlled driving modes.

Visually, the 2025 Golf R doesn’t change much from the outgoing model, save for a new 3D LED taillight cluster and R-specific chrome mirror housings. The hub caps on sets of standard 18-inch and optional 19-inch wheels will now feature an “R” logo, instead of the familiar Volkswagen one. Upfront, Volkswagen says that its high-performance LED main headlight beam has up to 15 percent better range than the outgoing lights.

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Inside the Golf R, Volkswagen has updated the infotainment system software, though the same 12.9-inch infotainment and 10.2-inch instrument displays as before remain standard.

While Volkswagen’s initial release is focused on the European market model, an email from representatives from Volkswagen of American explained that the U.S. version will not be cheaper than the outgoing vehicle’s base price of $45,665. Similarly, the U.S. will get a special, murdered-out variant known as the Black Edition… though we will continue to not get the Golf R station wagon here in the States.

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