To mark the 25th anniversary of Volkswagen R in 2027, Volkswagen is rumoured to be cooking up a special edition Golf R, fitted with Audi’s 5-cylinder turbo engine from the RS3.
Autocar points out that Volkswagen plans to launch the model in 2027 as the final petrol-powered Golf before it goes electric.
The special edition is expected to deliver close to 400 horsepower, using the same 2.5-liter, 5-cylinder engine from the Audi RS3, paired with 480 Nm of torque. That’s a big step up from the current Golf R’s 328 hp and 400 Nm. What does that mean on the road? The new model is expected to go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds—much quicker than the current 4.6 seconds—making it the fastest Golf R ever built.
With the RS3 engine pushing the Golf R’s weight up by 25 kg, VW plans to trim the load and boost performance with lighter wheels, better tires, and upgraded brakes and suspension.
The new Golf R debuts in 2026, with sales starting in 2027 as the last pure-petrol model, with hybrid and electric versions to follow.
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