2017 Volkswagen Golf R cracks 100km/h in 4.8 seconds

VOLKSWAGEN has extended its so-called Golf 7.5 update to include the GTI and R power pair, bringing more muscle and kit for its high-performance twins when they arrive on Australian turf in about mid-August.

With the mid-life update, the GTI gets a tune up to 169kW which was previously the preserve of the more exclusive and expensive Performance variant, while the R has a boosted power output of 213kW, up from 206kW.

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An upgrade of just 7kW apiece may not sound significant but the added performance has enabled the R to break the milestone zero to 100km/h acceleration barrier of 5.0 seconds, completing the dash in a zippy 4.8s when fitted with the dual-clutch DSG transmission, which has also been revised.

VW has not provided a revised acceleration figure for the pokier GTI but expect a figure similar to the Performance standard of 6.4s.

Both variants of the venerable Golf will continue to be offered with a choice of six-speed manual gearbox or dual-clutch auto, which offers seven speeds in the R or six when bolted to the GTI’s 2.0-litre turbo.

As before, the Golf R’s impressive acceleration is partly credited to its 4Motion transmission, which sends the extra power to all four wheels, while the GTI continues on in front drive form. The clever GTI Performance differential is not included with the power up.

Like the rest of the Golf range, the GTI and R will be treated to a lightly overhauled front and rear end design, complemented by new alloy wheel designs as well as an enhancement of interior tech.

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2017 Golf Rs will roll on a new 19-inch Spielberg rim, while the GTI’s 18-inch wheels are unglamorously named in honour of the UK’s Milton Keynes.

For the R, Volkswagen has ripped out the 6.5-inch information and entertainment screen in favour of an almost cinematic 9.2-inch version, which incorporates the latest Discover Pro navigation and App-Connect.

Operation of the updated system is enhanced with the introduction of new gesture control, supplementing the existing voice commands and steering wheel buttons.

The GTI also bins its 6.5-inch screen and upsizes to a new Discover Media 8.0-inch version with App-Connect.

Pricing is yet to be confirmed for Australia, but the power players are unlikely to deviate greatly from the current pricing which stands at $41,340 before on-road costs for the GTI and $52,990 for the R.