Needs a VR6, a proper 6-speed manual, and a physical volume knob to really commemorate the R32.
Photography courtesy Volkswagen
Next year will mark 25 years since the introduction of the Golf R32 in 2002. Volkswagen’s celebrating with a racing version of the Golf R, with all-wheel drive “designed for the demanding requirements of the Nordschleife.”
The automaker provided a glimpse of its plans with a Golf R 24H show car, which will make a public appearance at the 24h Nürburgring.
“With the Golf R 24H show car, we are making our vision for 2027 tangible at an early stage,” Reinhold Ivenz, Head of Volkswagen R, said. “The preparatory work for the real racing car has already begun. Even though we don’t want to reveal much about the technology yet: fans of the 24h Nürburgring can look forward to the most spectacular Golf R to date.”
Needs a VR6, a proper 6-speed manual, and a physical volume knob to really commemorate the R32.
In reply to DirtyBird222 :
No word on powertrain, yet - there's hope.
BTW: The first VW Golf R was the world's first production car with a DSG. Just saying.
Just last autumn there were a lot of journos and internet influenzas reporting that VW was putting the 5 cylinder motor from the Audi RS-3 into what would be an automotive equivalent to a “So Long, and thanks for all the fish” special edition Golf R.
I could see them doing that for this show car.
J.A. Ackley said:In reply to DirtyBird222 :
No word on powertrain, yet - there's hope.
BTW: The first VW Golf R was the world's first production car with a DSG. Just saying.
Technically yes, in that "DSG" is what VW called a dual clutch transmission. There were vehicles made with the trans style before the 1980s, and I am still trying to find schematics for those!
I'll just go out on a limb and say whatever VW does as a Golf R send off, we won't see here in the USA. Especially if it has anything but the current 2 liter 4 cylinder in it, plus no chance of a 6MT.
docwyte said:I'll just go out on a limb and say whatever VW does as a Golf R send off, we won't see here in the USA. Especially if it has anything but the current 2 liter 4 cylinder in it, plus no chance of a 6MT.
FWIW, there was a hot second in which North America was the only market to get a six-speed manual Golf R.
The VW of America product manager for the Golf line, Megan Closset, was the reason we had the choice of transmissions longer than the rest of the world did. She listened to enthusiasts and had the sales data to make the case to VW corporate in Germany. The suits in Germany listened, at least for a few years, but then they eventually nixed it anyway.
Nonetheless, thanks for fighting the good fight Megan. 
So I guess the inference here is this isn't going to be a TCR car, but something a bit spicier? Like a TCR chassis with more power and AWD maybe?
In reply to JG Pasterjak :
IMO, yes. If it’s “R” branded then AWD is a “must have” item. It would be more cost effective (i.e., bean counting) for VW to tune the existing motor for moar powah than to adapt the RS-3 motor and ancillaries, but the 5-cyl motor does fit and there has been chatter, for what that’s worth.
In reply to Coniglio Rampante :
No matter what ends up under the hood, it sounds like it's going to be a really fun time.
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