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"As the most powerful small car ever offered by Volkswagen, the 2012 VW Golf R has a dual purpose in appealing to previous owners of the previous Golf R32 and to bring new visibility to the R line of performance vehicles.   While the R32, which was offered for three models years beginning back in 2004, was powered by a 3.2-liter VR-6 making 250 bhp, the new Golf R uses a pumped up version of the GTI&amp;#039;s turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4. Tweaks to this powerplant, including direct injection, raise output from 200 to 256 bhp and torque from 207 to 243 lb ft. As a result, the Golf R is more powerful than the VR-6 R32 with better weight balance\u2014the Golf R has 60 percent of its weight on the front axle, 40 percent on the rear and a curb weight of 3300 lb.   VW says the Golf R is capable of 0-62 mph acceleration of just 5.9 sec. Like the original R32, this newest model also offers all-wheel drive as standard equipment and comes with a 6-speed manual only.    The Golf R has a more aggressive look than the standard models thanks to larger blacked-out inlets in the lower front fascia, a gloss black grille, LED daytime running lights, bi-xenon headlamps, and a half-inch lower ride height. The Golf R rides on 18-in. Talladega 5-spoke alloy wheels, and it&amp;#039;s also fitted with upgraded brakes with black calipers, flared door sills and a blacked-out rear diffuser with prominent twin exhausts.   Inside, the car features a leather-trimmed sport steering wheel with a racing-inspired flat bottom, aggressively bolstered sport seats, and an option package that includes a sunroof, automatic climate controls, keyless ignition and on-board navigation.   Lighter Nose, Crisper Turn-in   By opting for the GTI&amp;#039;s turbo four, VW has made the Golf R more nimble than the nose-heavy R32. However, that advantage is somewhat mitigated by the difference in power delivery, which was more immediate in the normally aspirated R32. The turbo takes a bit more time to spool up into its sweet spot.   In a drive of the VW Golf R, a Euro-spec version with the twin clutch DSG system, I found it much more rewarding to manually select lower gears in the twisty bits to keep the revs up and the car more responsive. When I&amp;#039;d let the gearbox automatically upshift to a higher gear, I felt a distinct pause in the engine&amp;#039;s ability respond to my right foot. The 6-speed manual, while not be as quick as the DSG against the clock, should prove to be a more rewarding to drive by allowing the driver to hang onto a specific gear when pushing the car hard.    In addition to the better balance, the Golf R also makes great use of the Haldex center differential, which seems almost telepathic in the way it engages the rear wheels, giving the car a neutral attitude in cornering. The steering is also quick, with good feedback\u2014the car felt much like another all-wheel-drive pocket rocket of days gone by, the Lancia Delta Integrale. The Golf R is a great vehicle for point-and-shoot driving.   By offering the Golf R in a choice of 3- or 5-door body styles, Volkswagen hopes that\u2014despite coming with just a 6-speed manual\u2014this sporty new model will appeal to a wider audience. Pricing has yet to be announced, but VW says it will be about the same as the previous R model, starting around $31,000. About 5000 are expected to be built with deliveries beginning this fall. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/first-drives/reviews/a17105/2012-volkswagen-golf-r/>