Volkswagen has hinted that the production version of the wild Golf R400 concept is right around the corner.
“There might be a surprise coming. We have this year the 40th anniversary of the Golf GTI. Be surprised in May or June. Let’s see what will happen,” said Dominik Hoberg, Volkswagen’s head of product communications, in an interview with Australian website Drive.
Hoberg didn’t provide a more specific time frame, but his comments suggest we’ll see the car either next month during the annual Wörthersee meet in Austria, or in June at the Goodwood Festival of Speed that will take place in England.
While the R400 concept (pictured) was powered by a 2.0-liter turbo four put on steroids, the latest rumors indicate that the production model will use a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine borrowed from the Audi RS 3. It will send at least 400 horsepower to all four wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The super-Golf will be capable of hitting 60 mph from a stop in less than four seconds, and it will go on to a top speed of over 170 mph, figures that will make it the fastest series-produced Golf ever. Sitting on model-specific wheels, it will use brake and suspension components borrowed from the Golf R and modified to handle the extra power.
The Volkswagen Golf R400 will go on sale in select markets before the end of the year. It will be priced well above the Golf R, which carries a base price of $35,650, and production will be strictly limited.
Photos by Ronan Glon.
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