The company just last week insisted that the hatch will not be added to its formal lineup. Research and development head Heinz-Jakob Neusser suggests the car has already been approved for production, however, according to his conversation with Car and Driver.
The executive also shed more light on the R 400′s upgraded powerplant, based on the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder EA888 mill that powers the basic Golf R and many other models. It is said to have only required minor modifications to handle higher turbocharger boost and more than 100 extra horsepower.
Extra ponies and lighter weight help bring the R 400 up to 62 mph from a standstill in just 3.9 seconds, with a ceiling of 174 mph.
The modifications could presumably serve to improve performance specs in other VW and Audi vehicles powered by the EA888, however the company has yet to announce any plans to expand use of the retuned engine.
Availability and pricing details for the Golf R 400 remain unclear, leaving uncertainty surrounding a potential US launch.
Leave a Reply