2019 Volkswagen Golf R Special Edition First Drive Review
Volkswagen is getting more serious about its R Performance sub-brand, and the 2019 VW Golf R Special Edition is Australia鈥檚 first taste. This hot hatch with 鈥榯he lot鈥?is, essentially the same a standard Golf R with 213kW and 380Nm, Volkswagen鈥檚 4Motion all-wheel drive, and an interior to suit the tastes of those with the cash to pick one up. But what said buyers will find is that this R has a little more character, even if it鈥檚 more in the bark than the bite. A handmade Akropovic titanium exhaust, which saves 7kg compared to the R鈥檚 standard pipes, provides a more raucous soundtrack than is expected of VW鈥檚 otherwise 鈥榮leeper-like鈥?hot hatch. It also scores the R Performance brake system with cross-drilled front discs and better pads, as well as Volkswagen鈥檚 fetching Pretoria 19-inch alloys. The brakes are around 2kg lighter than standard in total, while the Pretorias only weigh 9.6 each. That saves 1kg per corner. At a very rainy Luddenham Raceway in Western Sydney, we had a chance to sample the Special Edition. While wet weather is generally not the preferred condition for testing a car, it gave the 4Motion system a chance to shine on the tight and winding track. Continental Sport Contact 5P tyres and all-wheel drive do their best to improve traction rather successfully, though one particular off-camber turn at Luddenham provides ample opportunity to rotate the R with some gentle trail braking. If driven smoothly and with considered inputs, traction control is altogether avoidable - even in the pouring. The biggest selling point, we expect, will be the much more lively exhaust. High revs and gear changes now have a different character to the standard R, sounding more aggressive and louder than before. The Akrapovic鈥檚 trademark crackles shine through on the overrun.
In the event of a high-speed offset accident, an extremely strong bumper cross-member ensures that energy is efficiently absorbed even on the side of the car furthest from the impact. Further protection of the footwell is achieved by the use of a cross-member to distribute longitudinal forces to the sill, the underfloor side-member and a stiffened transmission tunnel. COF, or Crash-Optimised Foot controls, retract forwards in a crash to reduce the risk of foot injury. The previous Golf's already high levels of passenger protection against side impacts were enhanced in the current model thanks to the greater use of high-strength body panels and a three-layer B-pillar structure. Impact loads are spread more uniformly as a result, preventing localised overloading. High-strength side reinforcements are employed in the doors. Safety standard requirements due to come into force in 2005 were taken into consideration in the design of the Golf's rear protection systems.
These new regulations require that, when the rear hits a deformable barrier at 50 mph, the fuel tank system must develop no leaks. Thus the tank filler neck and associated pipework is located ahead of the rear wheel, outside the crumple zone. A high-strength bumper cross-member ensures that impact loads are distributed as evenly as possible to both sides of the car. For active safety measures, please see Braking section. The Golf name has always been synonymous with safety, and the well being of all occupants is paramount. Despite the GTI being designed for fun and dynamism, safety has in no way been compromised. In the event of an accident, a central control unit electrically triggers the Golf's belt tensioners. Belt tensioning ensures the best performance, with energy being absorbed over a longer period of time with more moderate deceleration values. Both front and rear seat belt systems are fitted with force limiters which prevent excessive pressure being applied to the chest in the event of an accident; while newly-designed inertia-reel seat belts ensure excellent passenger comfort.
The front restraint system of the Golf consists of a driver's airbag with a volume of 60 litres and a front passenger's airbag of 120 litres. A further feature is the steering column, which has a highly engineered clamp for longitudinal and vertical adjustment. This clamp helps prevent the steering wheel from moving upward in the event of a crash. The underside of the steering column is also covered with an energy-absorbing trim to reduce knee and thigh forces, while a rigid footwell with forward-retracting brake and clutch pedals reduce loads on the feet. The side airbags on the Golf are integrated in the front seat backrests. They protect the chest, abdomen and pelvis and suit the car's rigid side structure, while an innovative sensor concept means even faster triggering times. Integrating the side airbags in the backrests ensures optimum positioning of the driver and front passenger with respect to the airbags.
The Golf has especially large curtain airbags, which cover the side window areas from the A- to the C-pillar and from the headlining down to over the doorsill. The result of this feature is that maximum protection is afforded to all outer seat positions regardless of passenger body size. The fact that these airbags cover such a large area prevents the head from swinging out, extremities from being thrown out and objects from penetrating the interior even in the event of the car rolling over. An Isofix child seat has been developed for very small passengers in the Golf, with a target age group between eight months and four years (or 9 to 18 kgs). It fits into the Isofix fixtures, which are standard in the two outer rear seats. This type of fixture ensures that the seat is secured in place to optimum effect. These scores also apply to the GTI model, giving drivers and passengers the confidence that they are driving one of the most fun, yet safest cars on the road.
