The Golf R: How to Transform a Family Car to a Ferocious One

One of the bigger automotive mysteries is the Volkswagen Golf, a car than is now in its 7th generation.

The mysterious part about the vehicle is why it is so successful in markets that aren’t the U.S.

That is, realize that in 2014 Volkswagen delivered a grand total of 33,675 Golfs in the U.S., which is even a low number by the metrics of other VW models (e.g., they delivered 96,649 Passats in 2014.  Even though the number of Golfs sold was up 8.9% and the number of Passats was down 11.9%, the delta is still rather vast.)

That said, the fortunes for the Golf in the U.S. may be turning, given that the Golf lineup in the U.S.—the mainline Golf, the Golf GTI, and the e-Golf (all electric)—was named Motor Trend Car of the Year last fall and named North American Car of the Year this past January.

Certainly this recognition can’t help but help the Golf.

But what may help even more is another Golf version, this one which is the proverbial halo car: the 2015 Golf R.  No, it is not going to be the shining light because its fuel efficiency is better than the car it replaces by 3 mpg (to 30 mpg highway), though some may take that as a good sign.

But it does have something to do with the EA888 engine that Volkswagen has managed to flex for various vehicle applications.  The version of turbocharged and direct-injected, four-cylinder 2.0 liter TSI engine is basically like the one used in the Golf GTI, but then the powertrain engineers went at it and made some significant modifications.  Whereas the last generation Golf R produces 256 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque, the 2015 model produces 292 hp @ 5,400 rpm and 280 lb-ft of torque at from 1,800 to 5,500 rpm.  That’s a horsepower increase of 36 hp and 37 lb-ft of additional torque, and in both cases, the numbers are delivered at 600 fewer rpms.

Oh, and that engine in the Golf GTI with Performance Package?  It produces 220 hp @ 4,700 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm.  So the engineers were able to more than eek out considerable performance for the R.

Not only is the 2015 R more powerful and fuel efficient than its predecessor, it is worth noting that the vehicle itself is bigger:
                                      2013          2015
Wheelbase:                 101.5 in.    103.5 in.
Length:                       165.8 in.    168.4 in.
Width:                          70.3 in.       70.8 in.
Height:                         57.5 in.       56.5 in. 
                             (OK, it is lower)
Yet it weighs less:        2013          2015
Curb weight:               3,340 lb    3,325 lb.

One contributor to this mass-to-space difference: the use of ultrahigh strength steels in the new Golf R: approximately 28% of the body compared with 6% in the previous model.

But what about the engine?  How did they achieve these numbers?

The powertrain engineers went at it as though it was a race engine.

Realize that the base Golf has an EA888 engine.  It produces 170 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque. It was improved to get to the engine that is in the GTI.  And it was improved yet again to get to the Golf R.

So they modified or completely redesigned the cylinder head (including the exhaust valves, valve seats, and springs), the pistons, the high-pressure injection valves, and the turbocharger. The Golf R features a fully electronic coolant control system, which helps overall thermal management, particularly during warm-up, which is shorter than had previously been the case.  This helps reduce friction losses, which contributes to better fuel efficiency.  There is a dual injection system, which provides direct and port injection.

Another characteristic of the Golf R is that it has a permanent all-wheel-drive system, or 4MOTION in VW parlance.  The new system features a Haldex 5 coupling that is activated by an electrohydraulic oil pump when the system controller detects conditions for potential wheel spin (i.e., it is activated before wheel spin occurs).  Under light driving conditions, the car operates with the rear wheels decoupled from the drive system, thereby helping save fuel.  But when necessary, the oil pump increases pressure on the clutch plates responsible for the engagement/disengagement of the rear wheels, with the amount of pressure being proportional to the torque required at the rear axle, with 50% being the maximum that can be achieved.

While the Haldex coupling operates longitudinally (that is, directs power to the two axles), there are electronic differential locks on each axle so as to briefly brake a wheel that is slipping so there is stable drive power transversally along the axles.

There are two transmissions available for the Golf R, a six-speed, dual-clutch transmission (DSG) that provides paddle-shifting capability, and a six-speed manual (later availability).

The suspension setup (struts in the front; multilink in the rear) is driver-adjustable.  There is an active damping dynamic chassis control (DCC) system that allows the driving mode to be Comfort, Normal or Race.  The system adaptively controls damper valve settings based on inputs from wheel displacement sensors and accelerometers, as well as from the chassis CAN bus.

Also, there is a Driving Mode Selector that offers Normal, Individual and Race modes.  So, for example, when Race is selected, engine and transmission calibrations are adjusted, and the suspension settings are stiffened.

From an external design standpoint, the Golf R looks more planted than either the Golf or GTI because it is: the ride height is lower by 0.8 in. compared with the Golf and lowered 0.2 in. compared with the GTI.

But there are also differences fore, side and aft.  For example, the front fascia has large intakes and a modified radiator grille.  (Yes, there is an “R” badge on the grille).  The headlamps are bi-xenon and the daytime running lamps (DRLs) and turn signals are LEDs.  The DRL LEDs form a U-shape beneath the headlamps.

There are body-color side skirts, black-painted door mirror caps, and there are R-specific 18- or 19-in. alloy wheels.  Around back there is a rear diffuser, and four chrome tailpipes.

Inside, it is an example of multi-materials at work, with leather being used for the seats and steering wheel, metallic trim (aluminum-alloy finish on the pedals; a stainless-steel like surface on the door sills), and polymers that are piano black or carbon-fiber-like in appearance.  Blue is the color signifying R on the inside, with the needles of the tach and speedo being blue, as well as the ambient internal lighting.

The Golf R is not a mass-market trim level by any means.  That’s what the basic Golf is for.  For the 2012-2013 Golf R, the company delivered 5,500 units in the U.S. market.  While Volkswagen is committed to fulfilling demand for the Golf R from its plant in Wolfsburg, it should be fully recognized that when it comes to halo cars, the numbers are always comparatively small, but that the potential that they offer to boost the sales of other models is enormous.  (E.g., someone comes in to buy a Golf R and sees that the starting MSRP is $36,595, so suddenly the GTI at $24,395 might look somewhat better, and the Golf Launch edition at $17,995 looks really attainable. . . .)

Be that as it may, the Golf R is an outstanding example of German performance engineering for the rest of us.