HEY VAG FANBOIS - COME SEE ALL THE GOLF RS IN A HEADS-UP DRAG RACE!
Drag racing is the best way to show off the performance of a car. If you slap two cars side by side and have them drive as fast as possible in a straight line, you’ll be able to tell which is the most powerful and the fastest, or which has the best traction. Matchups paired on power or selling price are amongst the most common and popular on automotive YouTube, but it’s races like this that we really, really love here at SXdrv. These are unofficially called Generational Drag Races, races that pit every year model of a certain performance car up against each other. We’re fans because of how well it can show the improvements made between models and how it affects performance. It also lets people know if they should get into more debt to have the latest model if the model they already have can still hold its own. In the latest matchup from Mat Watson and the Carwow crew, we find the coolest subject matter for a VAG fanboi - the R lineup from Volkswagen Classic. The R model Golfs are known to be the best of the best of them, besides the special edition models, and they came to life in the early 2000s with the Mk4 Golf R32, followed by the 2005 Mk5 R32 that featured the same normally-aspirated 6-cylinder powerplant as the Mk4. In 2010 things changed up a level with the Mk6 version that was simply called the Golf 6R and was the first to feature a turbocharged 2.0 powerplant, but it retained the signature all-wheel drive system. The 7R and the 8R were an evolution of this setup with more power being added for every new model. This generational drag race makes us happy, and the results are pretty much what we expected. Share your thoughts…
Mk4 Golf R32 (2002)
Engine: 3.2L VR6, naturally aspirated
Power: 177 kW @ 6,250 rpm
Torque: 320 Nm @ 2,800 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual or 6-speed DSG
Drivetrain: 4MOTION AWD (Haldex)
Performance: 0-100 km/h in around 6.4 seconds
Top Speed: 247 km/h
The original Golf R32 debuted in 2002, making waves with its naturally aspirated 3.2-litre VR6 engine and AWD setup. It was VW’s first car to use a dual-clutch DSG transmission.
Mk5 Golf R32 (2005-2009)
Engine: 3.2L VR6, naturally aspirated
Power: 184 kW @ 6,300 rpm
Torque: 320 Nm @ 2,500-3,000 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual or 6-speed DSG
Drivetrain: 4MOTION AWD (Haldex)
Performance: 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds
Top Speed: 250 km/h (limited)
The Mk5 R32 continued with the VR6 engine but with slight power increases. The Haldex AWD system was still a key feature. The Mk5 was slightly quicker due to weight reductions and other refinements.
Mk6 Golf R (2010-2013)
Engine: 2.0L TFSI turbocharged inline-4
Power: 199 kW @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 350 Nm @ 2,500-5,000 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual or 6-speed DSG
Drivetrain: 4MOTION AWD (Haldex)
Performance: 0-100 km/h in 5.7 seconds
Top Speed: 250 km/h (limited)
The Mk6 Golf R was a major shift, swapping the VR6 engine for a lighter, more fuel-efficient 2.0L turbocharged inline-4. Power and torque increased, making this model significantly faster. The AWD system was retained, making it a favourite among enthusiasts for its handling.
Mk7 Golf R (2014-2020)
Engine: 2.0L TSI turbocharged inline-4
Power: 221 kW @ 5,500-6,200 rpm - increased to 228 kW for 2017 facelift
Torque: 380 Nm @ 1,800-5,500 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual or 7-speed DSG (after facelift)
Drivetrain: 4MOTION AWD (Haldex)
Performance: 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds (DSG)
Top Speed: 250 km/h (limited)
The Mk7 R brought more sophistication with an even more powerful version of the 2.0L turbocharged engine. The DSG option was upgraded to a 7-speed version in later models, with performance and handling benefiting from new technology and refined AWD tuning.
Mk8 Golf R (2021-Present)
Engine: 2.0L EA888 evo4 TSI turbocharged inline-4
Power: 235 kW @ 5,500-6,500 rpm
Torque: 420 Nm @ 2,100-5,350 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual (North America) or 7-speed DSG
Drivetrain: 4MOTION AWD with torque vectoring rear differential
Performance: 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds (DSG)
Top Speed: 250 km/h (limited), or 270 km/h with Performance Pack
The Mk8 Golf R is the latest and most advanced model, featuring the updated 2.0L EA888 engine, delivering 320 hp. It retains the 4MOTION system, but now with a torque vectoring differential for better handling, especially in tight corners. It also comes with an available Drift Mode, emphasizing its playful side.
Take a look at the YouTube video from the Carwow crew that assembles all the Golfs we'd wanna have in our own personal collection, starting with the OG R32 in the timeless Mk4 shape. The 4 & 5 are very similar, as are the 6 & 7, with the 8 being a further evolution, but here's how they all look when they fight each other: VW Golf R Generations DRAG RACE | carwow
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