The redesigned Volkswagen Golf R will once again offer a wagon in Australia.
The Mk8 Golf R Wagon will touch down in 2022 alongside the hatchback, which was previously tipped for a launch in the third quarter of 2021.
“Golf R Wagon, which, in our view, has no direct competitor, remains in Australian consideration in Mark 8 form. While it’s now unlikely that the new R hatchback will reach our shores prior to 2022, it’s VGA’s hope to launch a three-prong R offensive from that time,” said a spokesperson from Volkswagen Australia.
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The other prongs in that range are the recently revealed Tiguan R and the T-Roc R, which will receive a mid-cycle revision for 2022.
Locally, the Golf R outsells its GTI sibling by a three-to-one margin. Australians also buy more Golf Rs than any other country except Germany and the UK.
Ignore the bits of Alltrack disguise applied to this prototype and this is what the R Variant, as it’s known in Europe, will look like.
Key giveaways this prototype is an R include the 19-inch alloy wheels, larger brakes with blue calipers, sporty bumpers and side skirts, and the four large exhaust outlets sticking out from under the rear bumper.
Power in the Mk8 Golf R is expected to be the latest iteration of the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine used in the Mk7 R. It may offer the same tune as in the related Audi S3, which produces 228kW of power and 400Nm of torque.
However, reports have suggested the 2021 Golf R could have up to 250kW of power from its 2.0-litre engine.
The engine will likely be mated to Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Like the model before it, the Mk8 R will also get lowered sports suspension (-15mm or -20mm) compared to the standard Golf, as well as performance-focused wheels, tyres and brakes.
Expect a prominent roof-mounted rear spoiler for both hatch and wagon models, as well as the option for an Akrapovic titanium sports exhaust.
The Golf R will arrive approximately a year after the regular Golf and Golf GTI models, which will touch down in the first quarter of 2021.
