Volkswagen Introduces Golf R 2024, New Design And Promises More Performance

Racing legend Hans-Joachim Stuck tested the toughness of Golf R 2024 in the ice race. (Doc. Volkswagen)

JAKARTA - Volkswagen has officially shown the first time their latest hot hatch variant will launch this summer, Golf R 2024, at the Zell am See ice race in Austria.

This model, which is the highest performance car from the Golf ranks, comes with a special livery '50 years of Golf' as well as being the last gasoline iteration before this performance brand turns entirely to electric cars by 2030.

Golf R terbaru beraksi di lintas es bersama dengan saudara yang telah diungkap sebelumnya, yaitu GTI, GTE, dan varian eHhybrid sebagai bagian dari perayaan untuk model Golf dari Volkswagen.

"The race on the ice field is a pleasure to see. Other racers will install a snow chain in conditions like this, but for us riders, this is the time for fun to really start," said Hans-Joachim Stuck, a two-time Le Mans winner, former Formula 1 racer and sports car and German touring car champion, in a company release on January 27.

Meanwhile, Reinhold Ivan, Head of Volkswagen R division, stated that Volkswagen R is Volkswagen's premium performance brand and has symbolized the resilience and dynamic performance for more than 20 years.

Here, at Ice Race, the past meets the future. We can't wait for Golf R, which is still hidden here, to celebrate his debut this summer," he said, quoted by Autocar, January 28.

It is known, 2023 is a record year for Volkswagen R with more than 35,000 vehicles sold. And in total since 2002, the R model has sold more than 300,000 units.

Although this latest does not experience drastic visual transformations such as standard Golf and GTI, this new golf R will bring changes to the interior. This includes a new infotainment system, physical button returns, and a variety of high-quality cabin materials to address criticism of the eighth generation golf line-up.

The new external markers that will distinguish the latest Golf R from the current R model are Volkswagen emblems given special lighting and new generation of LED forward lights matrices. No doubt, new color and trim options will also be offered, including the R-branded rims used by this prototype.

The four-cylindrical 2.0-liter engine that is the mainstay of the Golf R will be maintained, but is expected to gain power gains slightly above the 311 dk owned by the current model. Meanwhile, details of the 2024 Golf R price will be announced as it approaches launch.