2023 Volkswagen Golf R 20 Years priced from $77,490

The fastest version of the Volkswagen Golf R yet has been priced from $77,490, bringing performance upgrades and extra features for an $10,500 premium over the regular version of the hot-hatch.

VW's Golf R 20 Years goes on sale on 13 July, limited to 50 units. The special edition was confirmed for Australia in May 2022 and was due to arrive in late 2022 before supply issues interfered.

The 2023 timing is neater, however, as the R32 that began the Golf R lineage reached Australia a year later than Europe - 2003.

In addition to small hikes in outputs for the R's 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, the 20 Years becomes the first Golf R to adopt an Akrapovic sports exhaust system.

Power increases by 10kW to 245kW and by 20Nm to 420Nm - now matching the torque of the Golf R wagon.

A more aggressive upshift action has also been introduced for the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox when using the right paddle lever in S or S+ modes.

VW says the Golf R 20 Years can reach 100km/h from standstill in 4.6 seconds.

There has been an expectation that the regular Golf R would receive the upgraded drivetrain, though Wheels believes this is most likely to happen with the Golf Mk8 facelift anticipated for 2024.

The Golf R 20 Years also gains a panoramic sunroof and a Harman Kardon audio system. VW Australia says these features in addition to the $6K Akrapovic exhaust and performance upgrades account for the higher cost over the $66,990 Golf R hatch.

The premium will shrink from 1 July when the regular Golf R increases to $68,990 before on-road costs.

The 20 Years limited edition will be sold online only from 13 July, with orders delivered via VW dealerships. Two colours are available: Lapiz Blue metallic (for 32 of the units); Pure White (other 18 units).

May 2022: Golf R 20 Years confirmed for Australia

The Volkswagen Golf R is turning 20, and Wolfsburg reckons that's worth celebrating with a limited-run variant of its hot hatch.

Starting in 2002 with the Mk4 Golf R32, the 'R' badge has been stuck on Volkswagen's hottest Golfs ever since, running through five generations of the hatchback up to, and including, the latest Mk8.

Two decades down the line, Volkswagen has launched a special edition variant of the Golf R to celebrate. Simply called the 'Golf R 20 Years', it's based on the current-generation five-door, retaining its EA888 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged engine, but with an extra kick – now producing 10kW more power to increase its outputs to 245kW and 420Nm.

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As with all Golf Rs, an all-wheel drive system will distribute the power to the four wheels, delivered through a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The increase in power nips one-tenth of a second off the Golf R Performance pack's 4.7-second 0-100km/h sprint time, although its top speed of 270km/h is likely to be unchanged and governed by an electronic limiter.

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While 20 Years examples finished in lapiz blue retain the 'Estoril' black 19-inch wheel design, those ordered in pure white score gloss blue rim faces, as well as blue mirror caps.

B-pillars now gain '20' badges, which complement the '20 R' puddle light projection shown off when opening the front doors.

Although European buyers get the usually-optional Akrapovic exhaust as standard, it's unclear as to whether the louder back-box will be available to Australian customers given it's not a part of Volkswagen's local parts catalogue.

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Inside, the cabin changes are minimal, with larger, and easier to reach, shifter paddles behind the steering wheel – paired with a host of carbon fibre trimmings in the dash and door cards.

For those with a dislike of their neighbours, an ‘Emotion Start’ setting lets the Golf R 20 Years rev up to 2500rpm on start-up – a party trick which has been developed alongside a more aggressive software map for the car's gearbox, providing a more noticeable feel when going up through the gears.

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Volkswagen Australia has confirmed to MOTOR the 20 Years edition will come to the local market in the third quarter of this year (July to September inclusive), albeit in slightly different spec to those seen overseas.

No price has been provided yet, but expect it to go on sale above the $65,990 (before on-roads) cost commanded by its standard R sibling.