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Golf R's Interior

The sixth generation Golf, with its high-end interior materials, breaks through class distinctions to the next higher class. The 2011 Golf R benefits from this quality image too; its power reserves alone put it in a league of its own. Additional special upgrades developed by Volkswagen Individual highlight the car's high-end positioning.

A key equipment option here is the newly designed "Top Sport seat system" with heated seats in front that have excellent ergonomic properties. The driver just sits down, adjusts the longitudinal and height positions of the seat, adjusts the steering wheel, buckles up, and is ready to go. The seat fits as though it were tailor-made. Here, the Golf R - together with the Golf GTI and Golf GTD - is setting standards among the international competition. The center panels of the sport seats are upholstered in the honeycomb textured grey-black "Kyalami" design
- named after the race course of the same name in South Africa; the front edge of the seat is upholstered in Titan Black fabric. The inside panels of the side supports are upholstered with crystal-grey "San Remo" micro-fibers. The rest of the seat components and the roofliner are colored black. The new R-logo is embroidered in the front head restraints as well.

Motorsport shell seats for driver and front passenger are also available as an option; they have integrated head restraints with embroidered R-logos. In this case, the center seat panels are upholstered in the "San Remo" micro-fiber fabric. On the outside, the shell seats are upholstered with black leather.

All seams of the interior are in "Art Grey" (exception: Motorsport shell seats). As so are the decorative seams of the standard multi-function three-spoke leather steering wheel. Perforated leather is used at the top and bottom of the steering wheel, ensuring maximum hand grip. The sides of the steering wheel with their ergonomic motorsport attributes are fully trimmed in leather. Spokes in fine black piano paint add an elegant aspect that finishes the sporty image. The center steering wheel spoke bears the R-logo. The fascinating material contrast of piano paint and chrome conveys the passion for finesse and precision in every detail of the interior.

Also re-styled are the R gearshift knob, carpet floor mats with piping in "Art Grey", aluminum door tread plates with R-logo and the instruments with their blue pointers and a speedometer scale that reads up to 200 mph (300 km/h). Stainless steel sport pedals and R-specific instrument and door accents in "Silver Lane" styling round out the custom features.

Standard equipment on the Golf R also includes an automatic climate control system ("Climatronic") and the "RCD 310" radio-CD system (4 x 20 Watt) with MP3 player plus dual tuners.

TSI Engine

The new Golf R uses the EA113 series direct-injection petrol engine; its turbocharger makes it very flexible and variable right up to the highest end of the performance curve. The 1,984 cc TSI's specific power is a respectable 135 hp per a liter of displacement, and its responsiveness is just as impressive. The engine's power can be spontaneously summoned in the blink of an eye over its entire speed range. The engine also shows off its potential acoustically with strong sound across the range. Visually too: Its two chrome tailpipes are visible under the diffuser integrated at the center of the bumper - an "R trait" of the previous model as well.

The four-cylinder engine develops its tremendous propulsive power via a turbocharger (up to 1.2 bar boost pressure) with intercooling. The engine, weighing in at just 335 lbs (152 kilograms), is controlled by a fully electronic engine management system with E-Gas. The cylinders of the four-cylinder engine have been equipped with reinforcing bolts, unlike less powerful TSI versions. Design engineers also designed stronger connecting rods that can reliably transfer the engine's high torque to the crankshaft. Last but not least, the cylinder block was reinforced to handle the aggressive engine forces.

New All-Wheel-Drive of the Golf R

The 2011 Volkswagen Golf R transfers the TSI's power to the road via the latest generation of Volkswagen's 4MOTION all-wheel drive system, which is standard equipment. Compared to the version implemented in the Golf R32, the system underwent significant advanced development. Above all, power transmission between the front and rear axles - especially the all-wheel differential that operates in an oil bath - demonstrates clear advantages compared to the previous generation. The most important one: Activation of the all-wheel differential no longer requires a difference between the front and rear axle speeds.

That is because an electric pump is being used to build pressure for the first time. The electric pump supplies oil to a hydraulic reservoir with a working pressure of 30 bar. A control module computes the ideal drive torque for the rear axle, and it uses a valve to control how much oil pressure is applied to the working pistons of the multi-plate clutch. The contact pressure at the clutch plates rises in proportion to the desired torque at the rear axle. The amount of torque that is transferred can be varied continuously by the amount of pressure applied to the clutch plates. Unlike the previous 4MOTION generation, the system operates independent of slip, since the system's working pressure is always available. When starting up and accelerating, spinning of the wheels at the front axle is prevented more effectively, since the control module regulates torque distribution based on dynamic axle loads. In extreme cases, nearly 100 percent of the drive torque can be directed to the rear axle, a plus in terms of active safety and dynamic performance.

Sporty Chassis

When it came to the running gear, development engineers adopted the first-class system of the current production Golf. This means that in front the familiar McPherson strut suspension with helical springs and telescoping shock absorbers; at the rear a multi-link suspension ensures that the standard ESP system seldom needs to intervene. The basic layout was transformed into a sport chassis with ride-height lowered 1 inch (25 millimeters), and the springs, dampers and stabilizers were completely re-tuned to this new configuration. Also available as an
option is DCC dynamic chassis control whose character was fully tuned to the 2011 Volkswagen Golf R. This system continually adapts suspension damping to the roadway and driving situation. In addition to the standard "Normal" mode, the driver can manually activate a "Sport" or "Comfort" mode.

The brake system was also modified for the Volkswagen Golf R's higher level of driving performance. Instead of a 16-inch system, a 17-inch brake system is used; all brakes have internally ventilated discs and R-specific brake calipers painted a high-gloss black with R-logo. In front the discs are 345 millimeters in diameter, and 310 millimeters at the rear.

If the 2011 Golf R is ordered with optional DCC dynamic chassis control, the power-assisted steering is given a specially tuned characteristic for each of the system's driving modes ("Sport", "Normal", "Comfort").

The running gear maintains its contact with the road via new 18-inch alloy wheels ("Talladega" type in "Sterling Silver" color) with 225/40 tires as standard equipment. The same style wheels are available in a 19-inch version with 235/35 tires as an option. Customers can also order the 19-inch wheels in "Glossy Black". Regardless of the color, when 19-inch wheels are selected the headlight housings always appear completely in black, and the Golf R windows are tinted from the B-pillars back.

Volkswagen Golf R: Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications