With 296hp coming out of its 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, the VW Golf R
is powerful enough for a (hot) hatchback. However, it appears that VW
wants to squeeze more performance from its all-wheel-drive hot-hatch and
the result of its efforts is rumored to debut at the 2014 Beijing Motor
Show in April.
If the report from AutoExpress
is accurate, the German carmaker will unveil a lighter, more powerful
Golf R Evo at the Chinese venue. Quoting an inside source, the report
said the car will be presented as a study, with a production model
likely to follow.
While the standard Golf R’s
four-pot engine produces 296 hp (300PS) and 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) of
torque, the Evo model should receive a small power increase. However,
increased performance will mainly be due to weight-saving measures.
The
Golf R Evo is said to ditch the rear seats and replace them with a
roll-cage, use lighter bucket seats in the front and lighter alloy
wheels, as well as a carbon fiber roof and body panels.
Since
the standard Golf R tips the scales at 1,476 kg (3,254 lbs), it’s not
hard to imagine it shedding 100 kg (220 lbs) of its curb weight, which
would make the Golf R Evo as light as the Golf GTI, despite being much more powerful.
The
same source said VW’s R GmbH performance division will roll out a more
extensive range of performance parts within the next two years,
including engine upgrades, bigger brakes and electronic assistance
systems.
By Dan Mihalascu 
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