The 2022 Volkswagen Golf R comes in a single trim which is the top-most version in the Golf lineup. The car is equipped with a 2.0 L Inline-4 engine that can be mated to a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG transmission powering all four wheels via the 4Motion AWD system. An 'R' Performance pack is also expected to be available with the Golf R which includes a drift mode and rear spoiler in motorsport optics, along with an increase in top speed.

The following are the major features in the 2022 Golf R-

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The 2022 Golf R will be a standalone trim that resides at the top of the Golf lineup from Volkswagen. The Golf R would be even sportier and faster than the already hot hatch model of the Golf, the GTI. The Golf R comes with a single powertrain and engine configuration while a choice between a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission is available.

 The 2022 Golf R will come packed with all the muscle under its hood. Likely to be powered by a 2.0L turbocharged Inline 4 cylinder engine that pumps out an outrageous 315 hp of power and 310 lb-ft of torque which catapults the car from 0-60 MPH in about 4.6 seconds. It Will come with two transmission options; a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed DCT. The Golf R will come equipped with a 4Motion all-wheel-drive system with an improved active rear differential for better handling. It Will be getting 6 driving modes (Comfort, Sport, Race, Special, Drift, and Individual) with the Drift mode giving you the joys and charms of a rear-wheel-drive car. The Special and Drift mode will be only available with the optional Performance Pack. 

The Golf R will also feature the Volkswagen torque-vectoring system, previously seen in the Tiguan. It basically sends power to the outside wheels when the car is in a corner, to keep it planted and stable throughout the corner. It will also get DCC adaptive suspension which can be manually selected from the 18 choices in the Infotainment system. The R will have an electronically-limited top speed of 155MPH while the performance pack will remove that limiter to hit a top speed of 168 MPH.

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The 0-60 timings are at par if not better than the competition. The DSG naturally will be much quicker than the manual. The power and torque figures are also better. The Golf R is likely to get a sweet-sounding exhaust system with quad exhausts and occasional natural-sounding pops and bangs. The Hyundai sounds much more artificial, popping and banging all the time. The Merc has to do with fake quad exhausts. In terms of pricing, it will be in a similar range as the Mercedes-Benz but significantly more expensive than the Veloster N and the Type R which are the other hot hatches, and when pricing is considered the Type R would be the ideal option but keep in mind that it is manual only. 

How does the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R handle?

With the new improved active rear differential, the new Golf R will genuinely perform better in the handling department, added to that will be the 4 wheel drive system which will help it to put all the 315 horses on the road in a civilized manner. The 4Motion AWD system also adds to the stability, grip, and traction of the vehicle contributing to making the car more stable while offering better drivability.

It should handle pretty well in the corners and will be very stable with minimal body roll. And if you want a bit of oversteer, just switch on the Drift mode. We expect the car to be very playful and will be pretty fast too. The 19-inch wheels and the lowered ride height compared to the GTI also add to the handling and corner-carving capabilities of the vehicle. Overall the Golf R is expected to be a superb handling machine.

While the exact fuel economy numbers are yet to be released by Volkswagen, we can assume that they’re going to be lower than the outgoing version. It is because of the increased power and torque that the engine delivers. With impressive specs, one may believe that the fuel economy is compromised, however, the Golf R is expected to deliver a respectable 30 MPG out on the highway, which is a good figure for a hatch that possesses more than 300 hp.

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Coupling the impressive MPG figures with a 13.2-gallon fuel tank, the overall range is expected to be around 343 which is super good. The mpg figures are the best with the Golf R and the same is the case with the range also. The Mercedes follows the Golf R with the second-best mpg figures. The Golf R is the most powerful and fastest car in the segment and at the same time offering the best efficiency figures makes it the undisputable best performer in the segment.

 Despite being a hot hatch it will be surprisingly spacious and of course, will be sporty. We expect that it will come with a thick-rimmed steering wheel with touch-sensitive controls. The interior would be themed in a blue and Soul Black color code and will feature bolstered front seats wrapped in Nappa leather, making the Golf R’s interior a looker. 

There will be an R button on the steering wheel to select the drive modes. The headrests will have a blue R logo on them and the seats will have blue and carbon-grey accents in the dash and front door trim panels. It will also get stainless steel pedals, carbon fiber trim on the dashboard, and ambient lighting of 30 colors. The cabin also features the Climatronic 3-zone climate control system with a rear air conditioning control panel for added comfort.

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The fit and finish will definitely feel very premium - what you would expect from a typical Volkswagen. But since there is a Mercedes in the comparison, there is no doubt about which car has the best-looking, high-quality interior. The Mercedes being a crossover is also the most spacious among the competition. Some of the standout interior highlights expected in the Golf R are as follows:

• Driver and front passenger sport seats
• Nappa leather seating surfaces with blue accents
• The heated and multifunction leather sport steering wheel
• Ergonomic DSG paddles
• R button for direct selection of the various standard driving profile selection (Comfort, Sport, Race, and Individual)
• 30-color ambient lighting

2022 Volkswagen Golf R: Infotainment and Connectivity

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf R will offer a 10-inch touchscreen display in the center of the dashboard. Air-conditioning will be controlled through touch-sensitive sliders and there will be no use of physical buttons or knobs. The infotainment system will definitely support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. For music lovers, it probably will come equipped with a premium Harman Kardon Sound System with 9 speakers with a subwoofer and a 12-channel amplifier outputting 480w. Some of the highlights of the infotainment system are as follows:

• Configurable Digital Cockpit Pro instrument cluster
• Standard Discover Pro infotainment system
• Digital Cockpit configurable instrument panel with 10-inch Discover Pro touchscreen display
• Harman/Kardon premium audio system
• Apple CarPlay, Android Auto integration

 Exterior changes will be kept minimal. Following the VW subtle styling, the R will get a larger rear spoiler to help with increased downforce and will come with 19-inch rims as standard with sporty blue-colored R branded Brake calipers. The ground clearance will be lowered by 20 mm in comparison to the normal Golf and there will be an addition of a motorsport-styled front splitter. The Golf R will be available in three color options which are Lapiz Blue Metallic, Pure White, and Deep Black Pearl Effect.

The headlamps will get projector HIDs and DRLs that look menacing and sporty along with the LED taillights. Overall the VW will get subtle looks with a hint of sportiness in it. In the front, it will probably get a menacing blue brow-line with a small R logo to differentiate it from the regular Golf, as seen in the MK8 Golf R released in the UK. The available ‘R’ Performance Pack comes with a rear spoiler including other performance updates. 

*speculated specs

The Volkswagen Golf R’s exterior dimensions are comparable to the other hot hatches. It offers considerably more headroom than the Veloster due to its greater height. But the Merc is truly the overwhelming giant over here due to the fact that it is a crossover. The Golf R along with the Type-R are the ones that sit the lowest down to the tarmac offering better cornering control while compromising practicality.

• Blue crossbar with LED strip that runs from the radiator grille to the fenders
• Standard sunroof
• 19-inch Estoril aluminum alloy wheels
• Chrome-plated twin tailpipes
• Optional Panoramic Sunroof

Talking about the safety features, it is worth mentioning that a blind-spot monitoring system and lane-keeping assist will be present in this new R. Along with that, it will also include the XDS - electronic differential lock for improved traction and handling, 4Motion AWD system for improved stability along the lowered ride height for better grip and stability. The 2022 Golf R is expected to come equipped with the following safety features-

• Forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
• Lane Change Assist
• Oncoming vehicle braking when turning including swerving support
• Adaptive cruise control (ACC)

The 2022 Golf R will make you wait for a while. Volkswagen North America has still not confirmed if and when we will get to see the 2022 model. However, if you are in the market for a really hot hatchback with subtle low-key looks and German build quality then yes, the upcoming Golf R will be worth your money and wait. It is the perfect blend of sportiness with practicality while also offering super-impressive fuel efficiency.