Volkswagen Golf R Locked In For Frankfurt Show: Report

REPORTS ARE CIRCULATING that Volkswagen is preparing to unveil its most powerful Golf model yet at next week's Frankfurt Motor Show.

Dubbed the Golf R, this new model will become the performance flagship of the Golf range, taking over from the outgoing R32 as the most powerful production Golf ever.

The Golf R is expected to drop the R32's 3.2 litre V6 in favour of a highly-tuned version of the Golf GTI's 2.0 litre turbocharged four.  Output is expected to be around 208kW, and torque is likely to be north of 350Nm.

VW's other hot hatch, the Scirocco R (below) currently uses a 195kW/350Nm version of the GTI's 2.0 turbo four.

However, unlike the FWD Scirocco R, the Golf R is expected to take power to all four wheels via a Haldex AWD system similar to that used by the current R32.

The Golf R will also receive its own unique bumpers, wheels and exhaust system, and numerous styling changes will provide more differentiation between it and the Golf GTI.

Like the R32, the Golf R is anticipated to be offered in three and five-door guise.

Images and precise specifications of the Golf R have yet to be released, but expect the covers to drop on September 15, when the Frankfurt Motor Show opens its doors.