Blue lines ahead

The Golf R sports an aggressive front bumper featuring large air intakes with a newly designed radiator grille and signature blue R accents connecting updated LED headlights. Matte chrome mirror caps, a signature R design element, also make their return.

Bumper to bumper

The rocker panel extensions compliment the bespoke R rear bumper with quad exhaust outlets, and topped off with a two-piece rear spoiler for greater downforce. Those in the know, will know.

New wheels

Named after one of the world’s great racing circuits in Portgual, the “Estoril” 19” wheels on the new Golf R come wrapped in high-performance summer tires.

Increased performance needs increased stopping power

The new braking system in the Golf R stands out with blue calipers clamping down on 357 mm front rotors, 27 mm larger than before and now cross-drilled for better fade resistance. A new lightweight aluminum hub reduces unsprung mass by 600 g per front corner of the vehicle.

To help ensure driver confidence under braking, Golf R features a larger brake master cylinder for crisp and linear response to even small pedal inputs.

The welcome light

When you approach your Golf R with your key fob, you’ll be guided to the driver’s seat with light projections from the headlights, taillights, door handles, and side mirrors.

Quad exhaust system

The rear bumper in the Golf R incorporates a newly designed gloss black diffuser. It’s framed at the sides by elegant, chrome-plated exhaust system.

Lower, longer, sportier

The reinvented Golf R has optimized its aerodynamic profile to improve agility, steering response, and stability at high speeds by reducing both front and especially rear uplift through the downforce created by the new two-piece rear spoiler.

More horsepower and torque

The new Golf R is propelled by the latest “evo4” generation of Volkswagen’s proven EA888 2.0L turbocharged “TSI” 4-cylinder engine producing 315 horsepower and up to 295 lb-ft of torque in models equipped with the 7-speed DSG gearbox (280 lb-ft in manual models).

Sending power to all four wheels through the 4MOTION® All-Wheel Drive system, Golf R sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds (DSG models).*

^{*Please drive safely and obey all local traffic laws, including speed limits.}  

Two or three pedals

Whether you prefer to row your own gears or enjoy lightning-quick automatic shifts, the Golf R is here to excite you. If you prefer the fine control and fun of a manual transmission, a slick 6-speed is standard equipment. For those who demand the fastest shifts possible, the 7-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission can deliver seamless automatic gear changes or be controlled manually via large, Golf R-specific steering wheel-mounted shift paddles.

Standard 4MOTION AWD

The Golf R comes equipped with 4MOTION® All-Wheel Drive for sure-footed traction even in challenging conditions. Now featuring a new torque vectoring rear differential, Golf R can distribute the torque variably between the rear wheels, even sending up to 100% of available power to the wheel on the outside of the bend. This in turn helps pivot the car toward the corner apex, reducing understeer and giving Golf R noticeably more agile handling response.

Standard for Canada

The standard R-Performance package, which includes the two-piece spoiler and 19” Estoril alloy wheels. The added driving profiles “Drift” and “Special (Nürburgring)” are goosebump-inducing at the touch of a button.

Opposite lock, here we come

The new R torque vectoring rear differential is the key enabler of the new, track-only “Drift” mode. In Drift mode, the Golf R changes its stability control parameters to ESC Sport, and the torque vectoring system kicks off the drift by sending all available rear torque to the outside wheel.

Tuned for “The Green Hell”

A key part of the Golf R’s development included testing on Germany’s legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife racing circuit, sometimes referred to as “The Green Hell.” Twisting through the Eifel mountains, this punishing circuit pushes cars to their limits. It’s this circuit that inspired Golf R’s new “Special” driving profile.

Once engaged, all aspects of Golf R’s performance envelope is optimized for the unique rigors of the Nordschleife. While the powertrain and other elements are put in their most aggressive settings, the Dynamic Chassis Control dampers adopt a soft response, ideal for a bumpy racing circuit or your favourite Canadian back road.

Sporty on the inside

The interior of the new Golf R welcomes you with a level of sporty comfort that you can both see and feel. The driver and front passenger sit in premium sport seats with built-in head restraints and R-style design. For the first time, the configurable Digital Cockpit Pro instrument cluster brings together all sporty displays and controls into one special R-view tailored specifically to the Golf R. The ergonomically-contoured, multi-function steering wheel features perforated inserts, a flat bottom, larger shift paddles, and R button that puts the Race profile a touch of a button away.*

^{*Please drive safely and obey all local traffic laws, including speed limits.}   

Innovation at your fingertips

The Digital Cockpit Pro allows you to customize the look and feel of your Golf R more intuitively and in greater detail. Not only do you get the benefits of the traditional Volkswagen Digital Cockpit, but you can display a full-screen map in the digital cluster and simultaneously on the 10” centre display. The unique R display mode changes the layout of the instruments and puts a horizontal rev counter at the top of the clutster where it’s always easy to see.

Sports steering wheel

Choose your path with R’s classic sport steering wheel, now heated as standard. A novel new touch control interface incorporates haptic feedback, allowing the driver to easily access various navigation, audio, and driver assistance aids. Ergonomically-contoured, the wheel features perforated inserts, a flat bottom, an R blue clasp at the 6 o’clock position, and larger shift paddles for DSG-equipped models.

R-sport seats

Discover a world full of power and comfort in the Golf R. The driver and front passenger sit on sport seats with integrated headrests. The Nappa leather seating surfaces feature carbon-look elements with blue accents on the side sections, as well as a blue R logo in the backrest.

Tech at a glance

The standard Head-Up Display (HUD) in the R puts all the most important information right in front of you to keep your eyes fixed on the road ahead. When enabled, part of the windshield becomes a projection surface to display speed, navigation instructions, and information from various driver assistance systems.

Premium audio

The harman / kardon® audio system available in the Golf R provides the perfect musical backdrop to any journey. Get the right balance with 8 speakers, a subwoofer, a centre speaker, and a 12-channel amplifier.

Set the scene

The Golf R has 30-colour ambient lighting for the dash panel and doors that is synchronized with the display. So, you can change the colour to fit your driving mood.

Your commute, simplified

Travel Assist** is an advanced driver assistance system combining Lane Keeping Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control designed to help keep your vehicle positioned in its lane and at a constant distance from the vehicle ahead of you. It uses a pre-set following distance to automatically make adjustments based on the surrounding traffic, but you’ll need to keep your hands on the steering wheel for the feature to operate.

^{**Driver assistance feature.  Drivers must continue to perform manual checks and pay full attention to the road and safe driving at all times.  See owner’s manual for important information and feature limitations.}  

Light by your side

The Side Assist** feature is designed to use LED lights on the side mirror housing to tell you if other vehicles are detected in your blind spot or approaching fast from behind.

^{**Driver assistance feature.  Drivers must continue to perform manual checks and pay full attention to the road and safe driving at all times.  See owner’s manual for important information and feature limitations.}  

Stay in your lane

Lane Assist** can help you on long journeys when the open road seems endless. Starting at 60 km/h, it is designed to detect if your vehicle is drifting out of its lane and with corrective steering, can help lead you back to where you’re supposed to be.

^{**Driver assistance feature.  Drivers must continue to perform manual checks and pay full attention to the road and safe driving at all times.  See owner’s manual for important information and feature limitations.}  

A little farther back

The Park Distance Control** (front and rear) sensors are designed to help you get into and out of tight spots with audible beeps if it detects there isn’t enough space. It can also brake automatically under certain conditions if it senses a potential collision.***

^{**Driver assistance feature.  Drivers must continue to perform manual checks and pay full attention to the road and safe driving at all times.  See owner’s manual for important information and feature limitations.}  

^{***Never rely on this feature to brake for you}

Stop it

If the vehicle senses an impending collision with another vehicle, bicycle, or pedestrian under certain conditions, available Front Assist** is designed to warn you with an audible tone. It is designed to also apply the brakes under certain conditions.***

^{**Driver assistance feature.  Drivers must continue to perform manual checks and pay full attention to the road and safe driving at all times.  See owner’s manual for important information and feature limitations. Capabilities could vary by model.} 

^{***Never rely on this feature to brake for you.}

It parks itself (almost)

Not only is Park Assist** designed to tell you when you’re passing a large enough parking space, it can also steer your vehicle into it. Just operate the clutch, accelerator, and brake and Park Assist is designed to do the rest.

^{**Driver assistance feature.  Drivers must continue to perform manual checks and pay full attention to the road and safe driving at all times.  See owner’s manual for important information and feature limitations.}  

Road signs everywhere

The Dynamic Road Sign Display** is designed to inform you of posted communications detected like traffic signs, speed limits, overtaking restrictions, and warning signs to help keep you focused on the road.

^{**Driver assistance feature.  Drivers must continue to perform manual checks and pay full attention to the road and safe driving at all times.  See owner’s manual for important information and feature limitations.}