Celebrates the Golf's 40th anniversary

Volkswagen has unveiled the Golf Edition at AMI Leipzig.

Previewed by the Golf Edition concept, the production model features xenon headlights, tinted windows and 17-inch Singapore-style alloy wheels.

Bigger changes occur in the cabin has the model has been equipped with leather / Alcantara seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and illuminated door sill plates. Other notable highlights include a black roof liner, wood trim and a Composition Media infotainment system. The model also boasts Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection and the Light & Sight package which includes automatic headlights and rain sensing windshield wipers.

The VW Golf R estate prototype we featured more than a month ago seems to not necessarily have shown the final production form of the car. That silver car had other wheels and a different looking exhaust, while this new black one comes with a quad-pipe setup at the back.

The uploader of the video posted below, YouTube user TouriClips, suggests the mods may be a sign of it receiving a more powerful engine, which it’d need to show off on the outside too, to justify the predictable premium it would carry over the basic R.

Whichever the case, we see nothing wrong with a blacked out VW estate with all-wheel drive, a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with over 300 hp and huge wheels that look like they have a thin coating of rubber where the tires should be…

We knew for a while that the mad, 400PS (395HP) Golf R 400 concept from last April's Beijing Auto Show, would at some point spawn a production version.

How come? Because VW R&D boss Heinz-Jakob Neusser had said so, that’s why. It’s not unusual for car companies to change their minds, though, especially when it comes to wild concepts, and axe them due to one reason or another.

The Golf R 400, according to a CAR magazine report, has definitely been green-lighted by the powers-that-be in Wolfsburg and the production version will be unveiled at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, with sales beginning before the end of the year.

Unlike previous reports, though, the British publication claims its sources insist that the R 400 will be a regular variant in the Golf line-up and not a limited series model.

Thus, despite the fact that the 2.0-liter turbocharged EA888 four-cylinder is pumping out a mind-blowing, for a hot hatch, 400PS, the uber Golf will roll down the same production line as its lessen brethren. It goes without saying that major components such as the suspension or the brakes will be beefed up in order to handle the power.

VW hasn’t officially confirmed the launch of the R 400, much less its specifications. However, like the concept it will be transmitting its power to all four wheels through a six-speed dual clutch DSG gearbox for a supercar rivaling 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 280 km/h (174 mph).

I don’t know whether this will help you get over the disappointment of VW not bringing the Golf R Variant to the United States, but the automaker has just announced pricing for the Golf R hatchback.

The first batch of 500 Golf R models can be pre-ordered, with prices starting from $36,595 (plus $820 destination). With 292hp from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the VW Golf R is the fastest and most powerful Golf ever to be sold in the United States.

Mated to a standard six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission, the engine allows the Golf R to sprint from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 4.9 seconds, with top speed rated at 155 mph (250 km/h).

Compared to the previous model, the new VW Golf R has 36 horsepower and 37 pound-feet (50 Nm) of torque more. However, it is considerably more fuel-efficient, with an EPA estimated highway fuel economy rating of 30 mpg (7.8 l/100 km) with the six-speed DSG transmission, up from 27 mpg (8.7 l/100 km) for the previous, manual-transmission model.

The Golf R has a permanent four-wheel drive system, the latest version of the 4Motion system with a fifth-generation Haldex coupling. The car also features a new sport suspension, progressive variable-ratio steering, and a stability control system (“ESC Sport”) which can be deactivated for track driving. Other highlights include the optional DCC adaptive damping system.

Standard equipment includes Bi-Xenon headlights with newly designed LED daytime running lights and four chrome exhaust tips. Inside, the Golf R features sport seats with leather seating surfaces, a leather-wrapped three-spoke sport steering wheel, ambient lighting, R-specific instrumentation, 5.8-inch touchscreen radio with SiriusXM Satellite radio, ambient lighting, Media Device Interface (MDI) with iPhone connectivity and Climatronic dual-zone automatic air conditioning, among other things.

The VW Golf R will arrive in U.S. dealerships in the first quarter of 2015 in four-door form only and initially will be available only with the DSG transmission.

If you want to be the first person on your block with Volkswagen's latest Golf R parked in your garage, you need to clear some time from your schedule on January 8. On that day, VW is opening the pre-order books for the first 500 Stateside examples of the new hot hatch, and they come with some neat accessories, too.

Don't worry about specing just the right Golf R because all 500 early models are identical. In addition to the obvious 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 292 horsepower 280 pound-feet of torque and 4Motion all-wheel drive, the six-speed dual-clutch gearbox is the only option here. Every one of these hot hatches comes in Lapiz Blue Metallic paint with 19-inch wheels covered in summer performance tires. Based around the DCC and Nav trim, each of them also has VW's adaptive damper system, bi-xenon headlights with LED running lights, a Fender audio system, parking sensors and navigation.

Beyond just being the first ones to own VW's latest hot hatch in the US, the deal for these 500 folks also includes a Volkswagen R watch, carbon fiber and stainless steel keychain and a certificate. All three items are serialized to match the VIN of the buyer's Golf R.

The total price for each one of these 500 Golf R's is $39,090, plus $820 destination and delivery. But potential buyers don't have to come up with all of that on January 8. They just need to visit VW's Golf R site and pay a $500 reservation fee to get in line, which goes toward the purchase of the car. The money is refundable for anyone who backs out, and any additional orders are put on a waiting list in case of any cancelations.

Packs a 12.8-inch central touchscreen display

Volkswagen has taken the wraps off the Golf R Touch concept at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

Developed to preview the interior cabin of future models, the concept features an evolution of the company’s infotainment systems with support for gesture control and a significantly larger touchscreen display. The new system was designed to reduce distractions despite packing a considerable number of functions and most of them are controllable through touchscreens and sensor switches.

The Golf R Touch concept has a high-resolution 12.8-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system, along with an 8-inch touch Control Center located beneath from where the driver controls the climate, media and vehicle functions while the conventional dials have been replaced by a 12.3-inch Active Information Display featuring digitized instruments.

Volkswagen says the central touchscreen and Active Info Display have customizable layouts which are just as easy to modify as on a tablet. The on-board gesture control unit makes use of a 3D camera installed within the roof lining and whenever the driver touches the roof, the digital controls for the sunroof will show up on the big 12.8-inch screen. Moving the hand from front to rear will open the sunroof while a reverse movement will close it.

It’s the same story with the seats as by making a similar gesture these can be adjusted. For example, when running a hand along the seat’s side, the central display will show the seat adjustment controls which grants the driver and front passenger with the possibility of modifying seat position through the screen.

As a final touch, Volkswagen says the on-board ambient lighting supports a whopping 16.7 million color combinations. Needless to say, sooner or later all of these technologies will be implemented in production cars.

Supports Mirror Link, Android Auto and CarPlay

Aside from the Golf R Touch concept, Volkswagen has also revealed at CES the Connected Golf concept which emphasizes the networking possibilities.

It comes with the latest generation MIB II infotainment system providing support for a wide array of apps and also works with lots of smartphones and tablets. As expected, it benefits from online functionality and features several clusters in which the features and applications are implemented. The system can work with Google's Android Auto and Apple's Car Play and also has MirrorLink support which allows the owner to mirror the smartphone's or tablet's display on the infotainment's screen.

Volkswagen is also displaying at CES their Trained Parking system which uses a camera to scan a frequently driven path to a parking space and it can execute that path semi-automatically. VW says in the future this system will evolve and grant remote parking through the use of a smartphone from which the owner will control the car.

Lastly, an Intelligent Charge system which previews inductive charging is also presented at CES and Volkswagen mentions future cars will have special lights displaying whether the battery is still being charged or if it has reached a full charge level.

Volkswagen fans had to be pretty quick if they wanted to ensure their pre-order for one of the first 500 units of the 2015 Golf R to enter the US. The German brand opened the books online at at 12:01 AM EST, and according to company spokesperson Leigh Anne Sessions speaking to Autoblog, by around 10:30 AM EST all of them were snapped up.

VW's pre-order page currently shows these vehicles as no longer available, and the company confirms the news on Twitter, as well. There's still a chance to get an early Golf R by signing up for the waiting list and hoping one of the 500 orders falls through. VW Customer Care will contact people if there's an opening.

This entire allotment of the Golf R comes in Lapiz Blue Metallic paint with VW's adaptive damper system, navigation, a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox and more. To further sweeten the pot, the company is also giving these folks a watch, key chain and certificate with their vehicle's VIN. The 500 models were priced at $39,090, plus $820 destination and delivery, but only $500 was required to reserve one online. The amount was refundable if a person backed out.

If made, will be very similar to the concept

Volkswagen has announced they are close to green-light a production version of the Golf R400 concept.

It was almost a year ago when Volkswagen impressed with its Golf VII R-based R400 concept at Auto China in Beijing and immediately rumors emerged about a potential series production. Now, the company's technical chief Heinz-Jakob Neusser says the vehicle is currently undergoing "conceptual work and we're in front of a decision to produce it."

He went on to specify "we have a good prospect to do it" and if made, the production car is going to be similar to last year's concept. In other words, expect to see a beefy three-door Golf weighing somewhere in the region of 1,420 kg (3,130 lbs) like the concept which had a 4-cylinder, 2.0-liter turbo engine sourced from the Golf R but upgraded to deliver a massive 400 HP (294 kW) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft), thus making it 100 HP & 70 Nm more powerful.

Developed by Volkswagen's R division, the concept had a 4MOTION all-wheel drive system receiving power from a six-speed DSG transmission which granted the Golf R400 concept with a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint in 3.9 seconds (1s quicker than Golf R). While the donor car tops out at an electronically-capped 155 mph (250 km/h), the concept will do a limited 174 mph (280 km/h).