VW confirms 395bhp Golf R 400 18 | 04 | 2014
THIS IS THE FIRST image of the extreme new Volkswagen Golf R 400 concept car. Set to make its debut at the Beijing Motor Show this week, VW has onfirmed the model is an extreme version of the Golf R hatchback.
Power has been hiked up to a whopping 395bhp, meaning the four-wheel drive Golf R 400 can hit 62mph in just 3.9 seconds — that's more than a second faster than the standard Golf R — and can continue on to a maximum of 174mph. It's the most potent version of the MkVII Golf since the V6-powered Vision GTI concept.
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VW hasn't confirmed the car's powerplant, but it's safe to assume the Golf R 400 will be fitted with the same turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine as found in the Golf R. That said, it will come complete with significant tuning and the addition of an electro-mechanical Haldex multi-plate clutch.
Fitted with DSG transmission as standard, the Golf R 400 will also have new body and bumper elements, as well as flared wheelarches. There will also be new alloys and an upgraded interior, featuring motorsport-grade seats and head restraints.
When will it enter Scottish showrooms? Well, that's the burning question. At the moment, VW is saying the R 400 is purely a concept, with no plans for production. We'll wait and see though.
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Jim McGill