75-Year-Old Man Doubled The Power Of His VW Golf R
Looks can be deceiving as what may seem like a fairly standard current-generation Volkswagen Golf R in pre-facelift guise, this is actually a little all-wheel-drive monster with a lot more power than the stock output. Having owned a BMW M135i, our hero decided to try something else and bought Wolfsburg鈥檚 300-horsepower hot hatch, which some would say was a downgrade considering it has two fewer cylinders than the Bimmer. But this is far from being an ordinary Golf R as the four-cylinder 2.0-liter engine now produces close to 600 horsepower after being initially dialed to roughly 450 hp. Doubling the amount of power was possible by (barely) cramming into the engine bay a massive turbocharger from Turbonetics. It鈥檚 actually a newly developed type of turbo and it still at prototype stage, with the amped-up VW featuring the second turbo of this size the tuner has ever manufactured. Is the turbo any good? Well, let鈥檚 just say that 鈥渋t does the business,鈥?according to the car鈥檚 owner. The 2.0 TSI fitted with the new turbocharger can actually produce even more power, but they鈥檝e decided to keep it at nearly 600 hp to maintain the four-pot鈥檚 reliability in the long run. Other tweaks included a RacingLine airbox, an upgraded intercooler, a custom fuel pump, and a Milltek exhaust to make the TSI sing its tune a bit better. Overall, the changes the Golf R had to go through to basically double its power weren鈥檛 that significant, other than the massive turbo, of course.
In 2002, the Golf became Volkswagen鈥檚 bestseller of all time and is currently still the brand鈥檚 best-selling model in Europe. It is set to enter its eighth generation in 2019, which should bring improvements on all fronts without touching the vehicle鈥檚 DNA. Here鈥檚 everything we know about the new 2020 Golf plus several exclusive renderings of the car that preview the design changes. Volkswagen first started talking about the new Golf during last year鈥檚 Golf 8 Supplier Summit when it released a vague teaser sketch. Another teaser image was published in December 2018 giving us a better preview of the car鈥檚 overall profile. What does it look like? The first teaser images confirm Volkswagen will play it safe when it comes to the design of the new Golf. It will retain its traditional hatchback shape which will be combined with shorter overhangs and sharper lines for a sportier appearance. LED lights at the back with integrated sweeping turn signals and LED headlights up front should make it look a touch more premium than the current model. Optionally available, just like on the refreshed Passat for Europe, should be matrix LED headlights.
The changes will be way more drastic inside the cabin where we expect the conservative layout of the dashboard to be replaced by a high-tech two-screen arrangement inspired by the latest Volkswagen Touareg. The displays will be a bit smaller than on the SUV but the proportions will be similar. VW鈥檚 third-generation infotainment system should be onboard together with the latest evolution of the automaker鈥檚 digital instrument cluster. What鈥檚 under the hood? The Golf 8 will be lighter than the outgoing model and will get a 1.5-liter TSI with cylinder deactivation tech. A smaller 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo unit should act as an entry-level option in most of the European markets, while customers on the Old Continent will also be able to buy a diesel-powered Golf. This one will have either a 1.6-liter or a 2.0-liter TDI diesel, which, when equipped with an automatic transmission, is expected to be among the best-selling configurations. Most reports claim the next-generation of everyone鈥檚 favorite Golf GTI will carry on with a 2.0-liter turbo engine with an output of about 252 horsepower (188 kilowatts), available with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Just above it, Volkswagen will introduce a new Golf GTI TCR with 286 hp (213 kW). As a final note, the 1.5-liter TSI and 2.0-liter TDI powertrains will benefit from a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. When we will see it? Volkswagen has already confirmed production of the new Golf will begin in June this year with different sources claiming the online premiere of the car should happen later during the summer. We鈥檒l probably see it in person for the first time at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show.
The new Volkswagen Golf 8 is on its way! The Golf is an important model for Volkswagen and since its inception in 1974, it has won the hearts of more than 35 million customers across its 7 (and a half!) generations in as many as 155 countries worldwide. Nonetheless, recent spy shots (pictured above) have shown the new Golf 8 virtually undisguised, hinting at what the final production model may look like. The Golf 8's design will be in line with Volkswagen's latest design language with a sharper, more sophisticated look. The interior of the Golf is expected to be extensively overhauled and will likely incorporate digital displays (on higher spec derivatives) to replace most of the switchgear. If you consider that the new Touareg is the most advanced car in Volkswagen's stable, logic dictates that much of the technology and dashboard design will trickle down into the new Golf.
Turbocharged petrol engines and a new diesel engine is on the cards. Mild hybrid technology is expected to be offered on the Golf for the first time. While exact engines and their respective outputs have yet to be confirmed, it's anticipated that 1.0-litre (in various states of tune) and 1.5-litre turbopetrol engines will be offered. On the diesel front, a 1.5-litre and a new, more efficient 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine are likely. Outputs for the new diesel unit will range between 100 kW and 150 kW. Furthermore, a 48V mild hybrid system has been confirmed for the Golf and will include cylinder deactivation and a coasting function to further enhance efficiency. As for the range-topping Golf R derivative, a 300 kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol is being touted, but a 3.0-litre VR6 engine with up to 370 kW is not out of the question either. The electrified e-Golf has proven popular in Europe and a new version is therefore likely, but it remains to be seen if it will make it to South Africa.
