2019 Volkswagen Golf R-Line, GTI And R Mk7.5 In Malaysia
We now have preliminary details of the new Volkswagen Golf Mk7.5 range, after it was first teased on Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia鈥檚 (VPCM) official website. On the Golf R-Line, a 1.4 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine will provide 150 PS and 250 Nm of torque, with drive going to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission. As befitting the model name, the Golf R-Line comes with the range-topping R鈥檚 sporty styling. This includes a full bodykit - new front and rear bumpers, honeycomb mesh lower intake and high-gloss black air intake screens. It isn鈥檛 confirmed if the R-Line package will see changes to the interior as well. In other markets, the R-Line interior package consists of sport seats, sport steering wheel with contrast stitching, Dark Diamond Flag inlays and black rooflining. Standard equipment on the Golf R-Line are adaptive LED headlights (replacing the previous bi-xenon units), LED DRLs, Air Care dual-zone Climatronic system, 12.3-inch Active Info Display, App Connect (smartphone connectivity) and Driver Profile Selection.
Moving to the high-performance Golf models, the Golf GTI will come with a more powerful 2.0 litre TSI unit that serves up 230 PS and 350 Nm. That is 10 PS more than the current GTI on sale, and all of it is directed frontwards through a six-speed DSG. Like the Golf R-Line, the GTI model will come with a 12.3-inch Active Info Display and App Connect, but there鈥檚 also an eight-inch Discover Media infotainment system. Other items include an Adaptive Chassis Control system, chrome exhaust tips and Vienna leather interior upholstery. As for the range-topping Golf R, it gets a 2.0 litre TSI engine that serves up 290 PS instead of 310 PS. This follows the same path set by the current Golf R on sale, where the engine is detuned for our market. With a seven-speed DSG, the Golf R will sprint from 0-100 km/h in just 5.1 seconds. On the equipment front, there鈥檚 a more advanced Discover Pro infotainment system (with gesture control function) to go along with a larger 9.2-inch touchscreen. Other bits of kit noted in our previous report include 19-inch wheels, paddle shifters, chrome exhaust tips, Park Distance Control, Vienna leather upholstery, Driver Profile Selection and adaptive LED headlights. All Golf models will feature seven airbags and the Proactive Occupant Protection System, the latter first making its debut in the latest Polo. Keep in mind that these details (and photos) may not be fully representative of local models that will go on sale here, and we鈥檒l have to wait for an official launch to verify them. In the meantime, what do you think of the new Golf Mk7.5 range?
Where the R8 stayed perfectly flat as g-forces tried to pull it out, the M3 felt as if it had body roll, and would definitely lean out in the corners. Compared with most other cars, the M3 would impress us with its cornering, but the R8 is just that good. Of course, the M3 also behaves like a rear-wheel-drive car, with the road holding electronics letting the back end step out just a bit on the corners. Once we got used to this controlled slip, we could use it to take the corners and get the car pointed in the right direction. Driving both of these cars was a perfect illustration of the differences between rear-wheel versus all-wheel-drive handling. Both cars offered 420 horsepower to get us going, with the R8 putting out 317 foot-pounds of torque versus the M3's 295 foot-pounds. With both cars, we felt a big push of acceleration in any gear when we hit the gas.
But where the BMW could run all day in third gear, the R8 required us to shift more. People whipped out cameras wherever we went in the R8. 100,000, the interior of the R8 feels more like an afterthought. Everything is basic black, with no fancy stitching or accents made from exotic materials. All instruments are focused on the driver, and the small sport steering wheel has a flattened bottom. The seats are fully power adjustable, and reasonably comfortable, but this cabin doesn't pamper the driver. The cabin of the R8 doesn't spoil you. The major cabin tech, including the navigation system, Bluetooth cell phone integration, and a six-disc changer, are all options in the R8, surprising in a car at this price level. Audi's MMI controller sits below the LCD, while the onscreen interface uses Audi's standard color scheme, with blue for navigation, amber for audio, and green for phone operations. There is also a voice command system.
