2019 Volkswagen GTI Vs Golf R
To R or not to R? 鈥淲ait a minute,鈥?I know some of you are saying to yourselves, 鈥淚sn鈥檛 the R priced way higher than the GTI? Because of, like, AWD and stuff? Oh, and that huge horsepower bump! Is anyone really cross-shopping these two models? 40k sticker. For 2018, however, the GTI has gained access to almost all of the R鈥檚 most compelling equipment with the sole exception of AWD. That means there鈥檚 a lot of room to grow its capabilities, even before you even hit up the aftermarket for tuner parts that can easily see the GTI erasing the R鈥檚 power advantage. ALSO SEE: Poll: Ford Focus RS or Honda Civic Type R? 29,495 in Canada) to the point where you鈥檙e uncomfortably close to the R鈥檚 ask. But what if the GTI was already compelling enough when driven in anger, obviating the need to match the output of its in-house rival?
Like all things in life, this particular back-to-back test was imperfect, especially considering that I had to cross an ocean and invade the Teutonic homeland to make it happen. In one corner sat a three-door version of the Golf GTI, a body style offered in Europe and Canada, but not the U.S. The Golf R Variant, a.k.a. 鈥渇orbidden fruit,鈥?the wagon version of the R so sweet that had it hung from a tree in the garden of Eden there would have been no need for a persuasive serpent to cast all of humanity out of paradise. Still, we鈥檙e talking a matter of degrees here 鈥?the 3-door GTI is somewhat lighter than its four-door sibling, while the Variant tips the scales a couple hundred pounds heavier. Other than that, driving dynamics remain largely unaffected, something my extensive seat time in the domestic versions of each car easily confirmed. 鈥?Since Volkswagen has decided North Americans can鈥檛 have nice things, however, I鈥檒l have to provide a more nuanced analysis.
Also new for the base 2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI is the 10 extra horsepower from its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that you used to have to step up to the SE (U.S.-only) or Autobahn trim to snag. This puts total power production at 220 hp and 258 lb-ft across the board, matched with the choice of either a six-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch automated manual gearbox. VW has transplanted the larger vented disc brakes found on the Golf R to the GTI, too, adding some 鈥渨hoa鈥?to balance its go in the SE trim and higher, which also benefits from an electronic limited-slip front differential. Spend all the money in your pocket on the Autobahn (called the Performance trim in Canada) and you鈥檙e looking at the inclusion of the Golf R鈥檚 DCC adaptive suspension system (as well as navigation) on the features list. Big R, Little R? Properly spec鈥檇, is the Golf GTI a baby R? Swapping over to the GTI from the R was far from the letdown I was half-expecting it to be, particularly once we left the highway behind and engaged with the more convoluted paths carved into Austria鈥檚 gorgeous countryside. 15,000 more fun in the Golf R as compared to the GTI? No, I did not 鈥?but then again, I was driving a top-tier version of the front-wheel drive hatch. 10,000 out of pocket that paid for adaptive suspension, the beautiful gauge cluster, the big brakes, and limited-slip diff slices the delta between the two cars (assuming 2018 pricing remains nearly flat) by two-thirds. Yes. If you鈥檙e going to drop major coin on a Golf, you might as well drive home in Volkswagen鈥檚 high-performance halo car and call it a day.
Thanks to its innovative lightweight design, the new Passat is up to 85 kg lighter than the previous model. 2. The engines are new to the model range; they have been made up to 17 percent more fuel efficient. Singapore, 29 July 2015 - The launch of the eighth generation Passat marks the debut of the latest version of a global bestseller. When all derivatives are included, nearly 23 million units have been built. In 2014 alone, around one million people chose to buy a model from this series. The Passat from Volkswagen is the Group鈥檚 most successful model. The new Passat鈥檚 design combines stylish clarity with a high degree of power. A design that is not simply fashionable but is contemporary. A design that is not whimsical but is expressive. A design in which every line has a purpose. A design that will leave a mark on its era.
The new Passat was created based on the modular transverse matrix - thanks to this platform, its proportions were made to be significantly more dynamic (including lower body, longer wheelbase and larger wheels) and its overall package was improved. While preserving all of its functional virtues, the Passat has gained noticeably in presence, exclusivity and dynamism. Even at night the Passat has an unmistakable look due to its newly developed LED headlights and standard LED rear lights. In the new Passat, Volkswagen has created a sedan that crosses over into a higher class. As the most successful European business car, the Passat represents a new type of business class - a transition car between the mid- and premium classes and between the B and C segments. Analogous to the expressive exterior is an interior that has been developed with the aesthetics, clarity and high value to match the sophisticated overall concept of the eighth-generation Passat.
