2010 Volkswagen GTI R20 Turbo – by JENS MEINERS, of Car and Driver Magazine
It’s no secret that we love the Volkswagen GTI—it’s a three-time reigning recipient of a 10Best Cars award, after all. But even the 210 hp of the upcoming sixth-generation 2010 replacement model leave the GTI at a distinct power disadvantage in its class.
Possible Volkswagen GTI R20 Turbo Photos
In the recent past, VW’s answer for power junkies has been the R32—a GTI with a 3.2-liter V-6 shoehorned into its engine compartment. Heavier than the GTI and equipped with all-wheel drive, the R32 failed to deliver significant performance improvements despite its 250-hp rating. We liked it, but were disappointed by the marginal performance benefits over the base GTI.
Six Becomes Four—Plus a Turbo
Meet the new R-series Golf. It will feature basically the same direct-injection 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that you find in the GTI, tuned to an impressive 270 hp. Power will be transmitted to all wheels. Zero-to-60 times should be in the low- to mid-fives, and while the regular GTI tops out at a drag-limited 149 mph, the new R version will hit its governor at 155, with a theoretical top speed 10 mph or so higher.
Unlike the R32, the new R model will offer performance greater than the GTI’s, with the slightly increased weight and resistance of the AWD system easily offset by the leap in power and torque. We expect a choice of manual and dual-clutch transmissions, each with six forward ratios.
Essentially, the Golf R features the Audi S3’s powertrain. We have driven that car extensively; think WRX performance combined with Audi refinement. It’s worth noting that the new Golf MkVI, upon which this R version will be based, is more sophisticated than the Audi A3/S3.
The exterior of what we believe will be called R20 Turbo is distinguished from the GTI by an even more aggressive front spoiler, complete with three distinct air intakes, a more aggressive rear spoiler, and two center-exit exhaust pipes. Three doors will be standard, but VW will most likely also offer a five-door variation. Our artist’s renderings show a possible look for the three-door R20.
It’s Coming Here!
This ultimate Golf will go on sale in Germany in late 2009, and after some internal back and forth, VW has decided to offer the R model in America.
VW will first show the R-series Golf on May 21 at the ADAC 24-hour race at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Volkswagen will also launch an R version of the sporty, Golf-based Scirocco. Equipped with the same engine as the R20, it will be front-wheel-drive. Torque steer will be managed by an electronic differential VW calls XDS—and a prayer.
So far, no Scirocco is slated for a U.S. launch. But the Golf R is, and we couldn’t be more excited.
This is a reprint from Car and Driver which first reported on this most recent development from Volkswagen of Germany. Jens Meiners writes for Car and Driver Magazine. Neither Meiners nor Car and Driver are affiliated with Blue’s Travels in any way. The above article is the property of Car and Driver Magazine and is reprinted here for informational purposes only.
Note:The flash presentation is my own edit, and utilizes several controls that allow for easy navigation and control of the photos and music. Use the buttons and arrows to control galleries, sound level, as well as the direction of image flow. The music is ‘Astrodyne’, by Ultravox, from the album “Vienna”
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Can not wait to order one!!!!
My 2004 R32 stays also.
Thumbs up VW!
Agreed. I hear tell that Terry Volkswagen in Lynchburg will be getting several in a couple months time.
Any ideas if it will be distributed in Canada?
Gus, I will check into this and get back to you tomorrow!
Gus, I spoke with Tim Hodges, the sales manager at Terry Volkswagen, and he says yes, the R20 will be available in Canada as a 2010 model.
When the R20 coming out for U.S.?? Would it be out same time as mk6 GTI?
Jason, my sources tell me that around September we can begin to see the R20. Whether they will release the two cars concurrently I have no idea.
Timothy
From where do you have your information? Speculation? ETKA?
Martin, some of what is presented here is found in the footnotes where credit is given to my sources. Whether or not they are speculating I am not able to say.
When will this information be relayed to the dealers and made official by VW Canada? I just called the head office in Ajax and they said it will not be available, albeit it was a lady who was reading off a piece of paper. So until there is an official release that will always be their official answer.
Extremely interested in a German AWD Manual. Hard to come buy in a sporty package that is under $55-60k (Cad). Unless you have alternative suggestions. Haha.
Thanks!
I would be very frustrated if I lived in Canada. I will be doing a new post on the R in coming days. The car looks awesome. Would I want one? You bet. Am I glad I held off on the 2008 model? You bet! Whew. That was a close call too, because I almost cracked and bought one. Now it seems like waiting was well worth it!
That is why I am sorry for Dubby’ers in Canada. This is extremely poor thinking on the part of VW Canada if they do not get the new R.
hééé…
i just receive my ”new’ 14k miles R32 2008 (ship from Cali.) from my Fav Québec city dealer… i dont agree about saying that R32 is just dont woth it compare to GTI mk5…”reading the article…” i had both and did 65 000km with mk5 before trading it for a R32… R32 is the Sh*& t common’ !! … for sure i will order too a R20 and have little easy choice on mornings before going to work !!
Seeya
This is great news. I have been waiting for VW to finally come up with a Golf that would be close to the performance of the STI and the Evolution. I drove the 2004 R32 and it was a nice car, but I a positive that the R20 would be an even better vehicle. I own an Audi S4 and I can’t wait for the R20 to come out. I am also glad I held off on the 2008.
when is this awesome car arriving in South Africa (g=GTI R20 TURBO)
Hell Cam! Truth is, I don’t know. My dealer does not know either. Have you considered contacting VW of Germany and asking someone there? They may be tight lipped as well, but it is worth a shot I would think
I saw the car at the Frankfurt auto show early in September 2009 and it was awesome! If it comes to Canada I would definitely buy one. Have a GTI with and extra 70 horses and AWD would be a dream to drive I am sure. If you want to see pictures of it go to http://www.autoblog.com
I drove 1,200 Kms while in Germany and I wished I had one instead of my rental!!
Hey guys…this is truly amazing car..but how much do you think it will go for when its released?
Hi John…
Unfortunately I am told that the .:R Turbo is going to run between 34-38K US dollars. Pretty pricey for a hatch, wouldn’t you say?
I own an MKV gli and I am a muscle car enthusiast. I absolutley love this car. If the R20 comes here you bet I will be purchasing one. My decision will be made much easier if VW puts a nice sized turbo in from the factory and gives me some room to play. Id like to track down a couple pesky Lancer Evolutions if you know what I mean and the stock turbos dont compare so well.
There defintly needs to be a manual option. I will not drive a car that is suppose to be sporty without a stick shift. It takes the fun out of the driving experience. I know the DSG is a technically sophisticated very nice transmission. Nothing is as exhilerating as driving a stick though. Please keep this in mind VW for your options offering and please dont cut ouf the sound on the new radios when its turned up, it drives me nuts with my monsoon system im ready to yank it out. A sub option from the factory might be a nice touch.
I am with you. It has been a while since I had to part with my 04 .:R. The R20 (or just plain R, according to some) is really exciting me.
One last thing a factory boost gauge, or option for it would also be worth while to discuss amongst the marketeers.
And yes, a manual would be awesome. The DSG does not excite me one bit, but if that is all there is, would you choose not to buy the R20? If I can, I may be forced to pull the trigger if DSG is all they have. Still, VW dropped the ball with the DSG in the MKV version of the R. That is why there was so little excitement about the car. VW just does not have it’s finger on the pulse of the typical sports car enthusiast.
I have always felt that VW needed to get into the tuning market just a little bit. There is so much money to be made, and since tuning is something VW owners will do, why not capitalize on it?
Pure speculation… ALL CDN DOLLAR figures. For canadian R20 fans !
http://www.vw.de (germany) commands a 35% premium from a 4-door GTI to a 4-door R20. When applied to a base Canadian 4-door GTI, we get just past 40k (40240). With shipping and handling of 1365$, bottom price gets to 41425$. For a 48 month lease, a GTI gets 46% remaining balance at the end of the lease; this is at the time i’m writing this (for example, a highline passat CC gets to 39% only). 46% of 41425$ = 19055.55.
Amount to finance in lease is 22369.50$. At current VW finance rate of 4.9%, for a 48 months lease, monthly payment of 575$ + taxes.
Keeping in mind that my 04′ GLI 1.8T, valued at 33500$, commanded a 500$ monthly payment (+taxes) I consider this car would be a really good deal.
Before anyone does reply that, taking the EURO retail price of the R20 base price of 36400 Euros and converting it to 55253CAD would be pure fantasy and does not take into account all the global marketing strategies. I think my guess-timate is as close as it gets with the current data available.
Anyone wanting to challenge my numbers is welcome!
please VW Canada bring the R20 here!!!
I love comments like this. Johnny thank you. I will not challenge these numbers accept to say, “OUCH! That is a lot of money!” Whew.
It has been so long since I have had money I don’t even remember what it feels like. All I can say is that if you have it, enjoy it. You never know when your health will be gone and find yourself wishing you had enjoyed it when you were healthy
Ciao
I recently saw a VW Turbo on the highway and I immediately did a double take. I’d love to get my hands on one. I live in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Where can I find one and what colors are available?
Ready to empty my piggy bank!
R.O.
Was this a VW R-20, AKA VW GTI-R? So far, I have not seen one in the USA.
I will be orderings an r20 from Sydney Australia,could someone reccommend and reputable VW custom tuning shop in Germany thanks so I can get the car fully tuned and customised before delivery to Australia.
Cheers
Nick
Hi Nick. As more and more time passes, and as the release of the R20 (or GTI-R, as some are calling it) approaches, I am wishing more and more that I could have one myself. Unfortunately, I think I may have to wait ’til heaven to get my hands on one.
As for a tuner in Germany, I am not able to really help much, as I am in America. However, you could try starting here : http://www.tunershop.de/Home/ See the phone number? Give them a call and see where that takes you. Let me know how that works for you.
Guys, It is most likely the Golf R (R20) will make it to North America, both US and Canada, end of 2010 or early 2011. It is not clear wether it will be a 2012 model, but for sure it will be there, expect a MSRP in the low 40k$, the 19in wheels (optionnal in Europe) would be standard here. For sure the DSG, maybe the 7 speed one and maybe a manual. It will most likely be a one month factory order, means if you don’t order yours in that specific month you won’t get one. Better make sure the sales manager at your local VW dealer has your name close when this order comes
Just finished a lengthy series of back-and-forth emails with various levels of folks at VWoA and local dealerships (Southern California), asking about both the R20 and the GTD. They all confirm that “we have no plans to offer these models in the U.S. at this time.” (This quote is cut-and-pasted directly from the most recent reply from VWoA.)
I am still holding out hope because of the “at this time” part, but I was also very curious as to why they are so reluctant.
You may remember, when the R20 was first announced, most sources reported glowingly that importing the R20 to America was a certainty. Road & Track, Car and Driver, etc. all said it was on its way. Why the about face?
Well, after prodding the folks at VWoA a bit, I came up with a surprising revelation. It seems upper management at VWoA was more than a bit stung about how negatively the 2008 R32 was received – by sites such as this one and others. They were quite surprised by all the negativity and criticism leveled at them by people they thought would be enthusiasts. It’s not like they’re taking their ball and going home, but the experience has made them decide to take a much longer, much harder look at the situation to be sure of what they are getting into before they commit again.
Wouldn’t it be ironic if this site’s professed love for the 2004 R32, as embodied in it’s criticism of the 2008 R32, is what leads us all to be denied the ability to purchase the 2010 (or ’11 or ’12) R20?
I am amazed, stunned, impressed with this post of yours, Ted. Just, wow! And thank you so much.
I never imagined that some of the negative takes on the 2008 model would have the opposite affect of making VWoA gun-shy about shipping us the much ballyhooed R20. Gee whiz. On the other hand, the Germans take pride in their cars so I suppose I have to really respect their position. Having said that, I really think that much of the criticism of the 2008 model was well founded. The 2008 version was heavier was it not, with no improved power. Much of the sport-oriented aspects of the interior were abandoned, and shifting enthusiasts wanted the option of a 6-speed, which VW refused to give them. In the end, the 2008 model really did not improve on the 2004 model, save for the DSG, which was a big selling point for some.
Anyway, the 20011 R20 seems exciting and for all the right reasons, and it seems like most folks in the enthusiast communities are really excited about the car. So, if that is not enough for VWoA then I do not know what to tell them. VWoA had people waiting in the wings to snatch the 2011 model right up. The body style was acceptable, the better brakes, the improved turbo power plant and fuel economy looked like a terrific plus, especially to the tuners out there. I don’t know. Seems to me with the level of enthusiasm surrounding the R20, there is no other way to view VW’s stance than to view it as punitive. What say you??
Thanks for inviting further comment. VWoA’s response was much broader in scope – not nearly so mono-dimensional as I may have made it seem. I only focused on that one aspect because of your site’s take on the 2008 R32.
A few of the other items from the discussion:
1. Though VWAG worldwide has been doing well, VWoA here in America has not. It seems to be gradually improving, but VWoA hasn’t turned much of a profit since 2002. This, of course, worries them and makes them cautious about new product introductions.
2. The R32 was a surprisingly slow seller. According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Group_of_America#cite_note-11), only 133 of them sold in the first four months of 2009. And, interestingly, a search of my local dealerships shows that there’s still at least one brand new one STILL on the showroom floor right now, Nov. 6, 2010, waiting to be sold – no takers. VWoA is reluctant to introduce the R20 if it can’t even sell its predecessor!
3. Here’s a quote that is cut-and-pasted directly from on of the emails I got from VWoA: “There are a lot of rumors of the availability of the R20 and I would agree that there is certainly room for such a vehicle in the model lineup, but the possibility of it being sold in the US will likely depend on how successful VW does in 2011. The upcoming year will be one of the most important in recent company history as the NMS (New Midsize Sedan) and next generation Beetle are already slated for launch alongside the already revised Jetta and just released Touareg 3.” In other words, they already feel they have their hands full with new model introductions and don’t want to dilute their efforts with a model that might meet the same fate as the 2008 R32 (highly criticized non-seller).
So, while they mentioned their surprise at the negative comments and criticism of the 2008 R32, it was only one facet of the conversation. Thus, I can’t say their stance is punitive. Probably just overly cautious because I agree that the R20 would sell like gangbusters. I certainly know that I am dying to get my hands on one!
BTW, I agree with your criticism of the 2008 R32, but I would have come at it from a different direction – comparing it to the GTI.
If you look at the latest Road & Track (Dec., 2010), there’s a road test summary on p. 122. that has some surprising data:
Car R32 GTI
weight 3720 3370
0-60mph 6.0 6.1
0-100mph 16.3 15.8
1/4 mi. 14.6 14.6
at 95.0mph 96.9mph
skidpad .85g .86g
slalom 65.9mph 66.2mph
OK, so this is a 2010 GTI vs a 2008 R32, but they are similarly equipped – 3-door, DSG trans, etc. Look at the figures – the GTI WINS everything but the 0-60 time! Unbelievable! In fact, when I started corresponding with VWoA to find out about the release date of the R20, they told me to consider buying the GTi because it was “comparable!”
The big difference is the weight the R32 has to carry around, negating the extra horsepower and grip of the all-wheel drive.
When you add in the final figure, gas mileage: GTI-25.0mpg, R32-18.2 mpg, I guess I can see why the R32 didn’t sell well.
But that’s EXACTLY the reason I am absolutely wild to get my hands on the R20. At only 3200 lb curb weight and 270 hp, the R20 is NOT “comparable” – it would blow the wheels off the GTI. I want this car so bad, I’m nearly wetting the bed in frustration (fortunately, this is only a figure of speech).
Once again, a stellar input! Thank you Ted, this really adds to the enjoyment of this web site. You are one informed dude!
The comparison suggestion is brilliant. And of course you are right. You show some incredible knowledge. I think VWoA could use you, and I am serious!
Thanks again and please feel free to opine any time.
Tim
to let you know, i have an appointment at my local WV dealer in Canada before x-mas to sign for my brand new R20 2013 (?) , according to my saleman at the dealer, they will be available in canada in march or april 2012… i dont know the price or options available, but i just dont care!
i think i will go with DSG again + 4 doors, if it’s possible
i already have a R32 2008 with unitronic flashe’s (dsg+ecu) / C.A.I / neuspeed catback… guys that car deliver baddddasssely a + – 280hp and bring any 2004 to fight at Calabogie Race Track…i’ll show to retro-type-manual guy !! that my 2008 R32 is the toy!
i like 2004…but it’s a 2000 frame & tech…..10 years old stuff guysss… i know you american guyss spit on 08′ R32 because of DSG… i trully think north of the border that are the BEST customer of VW in north America and SALES prove-it…espically in province of Québec. We like VW up there and give me chance to choose a 2004 that fiends of mine own VS a 2008… i still choose my 2008 !!! DSG wont make me a VW hater like some US persons did with the 08 R32
VW made a Huuuuuge mistake at first by shipping 5000 units to the US instead of having all in canada!!!!! They could have easyly sales them here without all the hating and negativism they endure in US
see ya in my R20, i hope before any american !!!!!
LOVE FROM CANADA