New Mk8.5 Volkswagen Golf R – the final encore

Ever since the Mk7 brought stunning performance and all-weather ability to the masses, the Golf R has been a key player in the hot hatch field. The current Mk8 version isn't quite as dazzling as its predecessor, but Volkswagen aims to correct that with an updated Mk8.5 Golf R this year. 

The combustion-engined Golf will be replaced by an all-electric Mk9 later in the decade, making this new model the final petrol-powered Golf R. While it hasn’t been officially unveiled, this teaser image – and what we know already about the Mk8.5 Golf – gives us a good idea of what to expect. 

Visually, the new Golf R will gain a light styling refresh rather than a major overhaul. New LED front and rear lights, an illuminated Volkswagen badge and a redesigned front bumper will be the key changes, along with new wheel designs and paint colours.

The basic cabin architecture will be familiar too – albeit with the Mk8.5’s ergonomic improvements and upgraded tech. The Golf’s haptic steering wheel controls have been replaced by physical buttons across the range, and all models get Volkswagen’s new MIB4 tech suite with new graphics and menu layouts. Like the GTI, the R is expected to come with a larger 12.9-inch touchscreen as standard and touch sliders (now illuminated) for volume and temperature controls. 

Volkswagen has a number of tools at its disposal to make the Mk8.5 R faster and sharper than before, too. The ubiquitous EA888 2-litre turbocharged engine will feature once again, but potentially in a higher state of tune – the Golf R 20 Years edition demonstrates that the engine has headroom, generating 328bhp as opposed to the base car’s 316bhp. As before, a seven-speed DSG will be the only transmission available. 

To harness that extra power, the new R could receive detail changes to its chassis, including the fitment of Volkswagen’s DCC Pro adaptive dampers. With dual-valve internals, the DCC Pro units enable separate adjustment of compression and rebound, allowing for more precise tuning on the fly. The Golf R's four-wheel drive system and torque vectoring rear differential could also gain calibration tweaks as part of the update. 

The Mk8.5 will make its official debut this summer, carrying a premium over the current model's £44,550 asking price.