Amid the constant flow of announcements, releases, and updates that an automotive brand issues throughout the week, a few temporarily drift to the bottom of our bookmarked list. We would be remiss to not report an important update from the 2014 Beijing Motor Show regarding the Volkswagen Golf R. The German automaker will now offer a version known as the “400.” There’s an intriguing reason for this name assignment; one that should excite you – as it did us.
Volkswagen recently confirmed the production of the Golf R 400, which is based on the 2015 Golf R hatchback. During the interview with Car and Driver that lead to this revelation, Volkswagen Research and Development chief Heinz-Jakob Neusser did not provide any insight about availability in the U.S. market. Another Volkswagen executive also affirmed that the architecture of the engine largely remains the same. “We haven’t reverted to cast iron and made it into an EA113 again. The EA888 can handle it,” this second executive explained.
Fitted with the same EA888, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder with direct injection, the 400’s engine received slight modifications that yielded 395 horsepower (400 in metric figures) and 332 lb.-ft. of torque. The fact that the changes were somewhat inconsequential indicates that the production version will maintain the same power as demonstrated in the concept.
The new model is an effort by Volkswagen to highlight the performance capabilities of its vehicles. With nearly 400 horsepower in a lighter frame, such as the Golf R, the “400” offers incredible power. These developments also indicate the direction of the company’s engineering, and the executives at Volkswagen hinted at parlaying this style of engine into the Audi lineup, suggesting that such revisions would not be intended for a single vehicle – or even brand.
Until the possible release of the Golf R 400, keep the entire line of quality models in mind, including the Golf TDI you can find at Leith Volkswagen in Cary.
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