LOCAL LAUNCH
More powerful Golf R unleashed in SA
VW decides Mzansi is ‘cool’ enough to get the full-power version of the high-performance Golf
South African drivers can now buy a Golf R with the full quota of power from the 2.0l turbo petrol engine. According to the company’s spokesperson, the decision was simply down to a change in the country’s status. With SA previously categorised as a hot climate country, the Volkswagen Auto Group has decided that Mzansi weather is now cool enough to allow the all-wheel drive Golf R to roam freely without an engine detune. The new Golf R thus outputs the full 228kW and 400Nm that has been available all along to drivers in Europe — up from the 213kW and 380Nm that South African drivers have until now been restricted to. Top speed is still governed at 250km/h and VW claims an unchanged time of 4.6 seconds for the 0-100km/h blitz, despite the mightier punch. If you hurry, the first batch of cars has been shipped in with a new lightweight Akrapovic exhaust system included in the R676,000 price. Going forward, this exhaust system will be a R39,900 optional extra. The car is also available ...
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