Nadim and his MotorShow team took the 2023 Volkswagen Golf R for a comprehensive drive in Dubai.
Volkswagen’s high-performance unit has been offering sports models with expressive designs and outstanding technology since 2002.
It all started with the Golf R32 with a 3.2-litre six-cylinder engine, 4MOTION all-wheel drive and 177 kW (240 HP) of power. Nowadays, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder TSI delivers 235 kW (315 HP) of power and catapults the Golf R to a standard top speed of 250 km/h. It can reach a speed of 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, which is almost two seconds quicker than its forebear.
The maximum torque of 420 Nm is available even at low engine speeds of just 2,100 rpm and remains constant at this high level up to speeds of 5,350 rpm. The R-specific 4MOTION all-wheel drive with R-Performance Torque Vectoring helps the vehicle to achieve its outstanding degree of agility. The race-track-ready high-performance brake system guarantees the best possible deceleration.
Thanks to the modular transverse matrix (MQB), the Golf R sets the benchmark when it comes to safety and driving comfort. It is equipped with extensive assist systems such as Travel Assist with Lane Assist, Front Assist, Side Assist and the especially bright IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights with Dynamic Light Assist advanced main-beam control, normally only available in higher-level vehicle classes.
The four driving profiles Comfort, Sport, Race and Individual come as standard. Drivers can use a menu to adjust the ESC to their requirements by selecting one of two settings. ESC can also be switched off completely for all driving situations (ESC off mode), however, the Autonomous Emergency Braking Front Assist and the Swerve Support reactivate the full ESC system in an emergency.
In the cockpit, touch buttons, touch sliders and touch screens substitute the functions of classic controls and analogue displays. The R-specific Digital Cockpit Pro offers exclusive features such as a new, horizontal engine speed display at the upper edge of the fully digital display as well as a lap timer for track sessions.
You can also operate the vehicle with the new, natural, learning voice control, if you wish.
To hear Nadim's feedback from inside the latest Volkswagen Golf R, watch the video at the end of the album below: