Volkswagen Golf R assembled in Malaysia, estimated price from RM330,000

When the Volkswagen Golf 8 was launched in Malaysia, it was not just a new model being launched but Malaysia was also the only other country outside Germany that the hot-hatch GTI version is being assembled in. The other country is China which has a considerably larger market size so for Volkswagen to agree to assemble it here was really something special.

Now Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has done it again with the even hotter Golf R version being assembled in Malaysia. This time, we are the only country outside Germany to assemble the Golf R.

“To be the first country outside of Germany to assemble this product is a real honour for us. This special mandate given by Germany validates our continuous commitment towards the Volkswagen brand. Now with this new introduction, I am pleased to note that our full range of products here are entirely assembled at the Volkswagen plant in Pekan, Pahang,” said Denyu Bostandzhiev, Managing Director of VPCM.

Confident that the locally assembled Golf R will excite enthusiasts in Malaysia, Mr. Bostandzhiev said: “We are extremely proud to present the new Golf R here for our loyal fans. With the new upgrades, we see this performance hatchback as the ultimate driving machine, on the road and track, offered at a very attractive price.”

The Golf R will be priced between RM330,000 to RM350,000 (price not finalised) and comes with the R Performance Package as standard. This includes features such as a titanium Akrapovic exhaust, ‘Drift’ and ‘Special’ modes, a new rear spoiler and 19-inch Estoril alloy wheels.

Other standard features are a Head-Up Display (HUD), wireless smartphone charging and automatic high beam assist.

320 ps/400 Nm with 4MOTION AWD
With further tuning by the engineers at the R division (which handles Volkswagen’s high-performance products), the Golf R’s 2.0TSI turbocharged 4-cylinder engine develops 320 ps/400 Nm. With the 7-speed DSG and 4MOTION all-wheel drive to effectively transfer all that power to the road, the Golf R can get to 100 km/h within 4.8 seconds after take-off, it is claimed.

Contributing to the significantly more impressive performance is the Akrapovic exhaust which is made of titanium, saving 7 kgs.

Drift and Special modes
For skilled drivers, enjoying high performance is not just about going very fast in a straight line but also going sideways around a turn. To assist them in this, the Golf R has ‘Drift’ and ‘Special’ modes which deactivate the ESC (Electronic Stability Control) so that the torque can be distributed evenly.

This is achieved by not having the Haldex AWD system (used before) and instead using a torque-vectoring rear differential. It is possible now to direct 100% of torque to an individual wheel and not just to the front and rear axles.

However, only 50% of the torque still goes to the rear; but the difference is now it can send all of that torque to the rear outside wheel when drifting.

While the Drift mode is intended for conscious sliding, the Special mode is for twisty roads or track use. In this mode, which was tuned with the 22-km Nurburgring-Nordschleife circuit in mind, the suspension is optimised (softer settings than Race mode) to keep the tyres gripping the surface even in the more demanding driving  conditions. The programming also downshifts the DSG (depending on brake pressure) as the car begins decelerating for turns.

Over 250,000 units of the Golf R have been sold worldwide through 4 generations and the fifth one is now ready to start a new chapter.

The Golf R is available in three colour options – the signature Lapiz Blue, Deep Black and Pure White. Bookings are now accepted at authorised Volkswagen dealerships nationwide but VPCM has not indicated when the first deliveries can start.

To know more or to locate a showroom, visit www.volkswagen.com.my.

Volkswagen Assurance Package available for latest Golf GTI and updated Arteon R-Line 4MOTION with IQ.DRIVE