2018 Golf R – Drive, Interior and Exterior.
The Golf R has a more advanced version of the EA888 four-cylinder turbocharged and direct-injection TSI® 2.0-liter engine than what’s fitted to the 2018 Golf GTI. The engineers boosted power to 292 hp (achieved with premium fuel), delivered at 5,500 rpm, thus creating one of the most powerful four-cylinder production engines in the world. Maximum torque has been increased to 280 pound-feet, available over a broad speed band from 1,800 to 5,500 rpm. To attain this output, the Golf R model’s 1,984-cc engine was subjected to a motorsports-style development program. The following components were modified or completely redesigned compared to the GTI engine: the cylinder head (together with exhaust valves, valve seats, and springs), pistons, high-pressure injection system, and turbocharger.
The Golf R model’s EA888 series engine has innovative engineering solutions such as water-cooled exhaust gas channels running through the cylinder head to the turbocharger to help efficiently reduce full-load fuel consumption. Thanks to its fully-electronic coolant control system, the Golf R TSI engine has more efficient thermal management with a reduced warm-up phase that help reduce frictional losses and fuel consumption. In addition, the TSI engine has variable valve timing on the intake and exhaust sides, as well as two-stage exhaust-valve lift. This helps enable greater control of the charge exchange process for improved performance and fuel economy.
New for 2018, engineers have mated the engine with the seven-speed DSG automatic transmission with Tiptronic®, the most advanced such unit Volkswagen offers.
The Golf R features a sport suspension setup that is specifically tuned to the car. Compared to the base Golf, the ride height was dropped by 0.8 inches, which makes the Golf R even lower than the GTI, by an additional 0.2 inches. In the Golf R, the strut-type front suspension has a modified lower control arm and the multi-link rear suspension was enhanced with different tuning of the toe-link bearings.
The engineers designed the running gear of the 2018 Golf R for maximum driving fun combined with extraordinary stability and good long-distance comfort. Compared to the previous model, steering response was improved thanks to the progressive variable ratio steering rack. In addition, maximum attainable cornering speeds were significantly increased and understeer reduced.
The Golf R has the uprated brakes from the GTI Performance Package model. At the front, the car has 13.4-inch diameter vented discs that are 1.2 inches thick, while the rear rotors are 12.2 by 0.9 inches. The black brake calipers have the R logo on them. Up front, the single pistons are 2.4 inches in diameter and are 1.7 inches at the back.
In addition, the Golf R is equipped with the XDS® cross differential lock at the front and rear. The latest XDS+ version applies this functionality to a larger range of dynamic performance, helping make the vehicle more agile. When the car is being driven at highway speeds, brake pressure is applied to the inside wheel to help restore optimal traction as soon as the electronics detect excessively light loads. The XDS+ system operates like a limited-slip differential and can help compensate for understeer during cornering.
The Driving Mode Selection feature has four programs in the Golf R: “Normal,” “Individual,” “Eco,” and a “Race” mode that has been specially designed for the Golf R. In “Race” mode, which is designed only for high-speed track driving, engine response and the shift points of the DSG transmission are configured to be even sportier. In the “Individual” driving profile, the driver can combine mode settings for various individual parameters.
The 2018 Golf R is equipped with “ESC Sport” as standard. The system is activated by a two-stage switch on the center console. When the driver presses this switch, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) switches to the “ESC Sport” mode. In very fast driving on a race track, the ESC system has a higher threshold in this mode. When the ESC button is pressed for longer than three seconds, the system is fully deactivated for high-performance track driving, a feature that is available only on the Golf R.
To help protect occupants, the Golf R provides a combination of both passive and active safety systems. The Golf R has been engineered to meet or exceed all current crash regulations and features no fewer than six airbags as standard along with a number of electronic and mechanical safety systems, including standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
