VW's Plans For A 2.5 Five-Cylinder Golf R Were Dashed By Audi
It’s a case of evolution rather than revolution for the next VW Golf R. It’ll use a tweaked version of the EA888 inline-four turbo engine that powered its predecessor, with an output in the region of 330bhp. Recent spy shots show that it won’t even look that distinct from the old one.
However, it could have been a very different beast. Citing an insider source, Dutch publication Autovise reports that VW originally wanted to stick the 395bhp 2.5-litre inline-five engine of Audi under the bonnet. Its sister brand, however, wasn’t what you’d call keen.
Audi refused to allow it, and quite strongly, from the sounds of it. The reason being the Golf R is, the source said, already a competitor to the products of Audi Sport - giving it the same engine as the RS3 would create too strong a rival within VW Group’s ranks. As it stands, the next R has the potential to steal away customers of the incoming S3, but that’s been the case with the last few generations of each car anyway.
Audi is more than happy for the engine to go elsewhere, with Donkervoort and KTM both using the 2.5-litre unit in low-volume sports cars and racing cars. “That doesn’t bite us. It is also good for the Audi image,” Autovise’s man on the inside noted (translated).
The inline-four-powered Golf R should be revealed later in 2020, completing the fast Golf line-up - already, we’ve had the GTD, GTE and GTI. Which of the four would it be for you?
Source: Autovise va Motor1
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
It would’ve been a good thing to have a Golf R 5cyl powered. It would have put a direct competitor with a RS3. The RS3 has a limited interior and poor rear seat and boot capacity. A Golf R 5 cyl would have erase these incapacities.
I’m not surprised that Audi didn’t want to see that, a Golf R would have been the best option.
The thing is a golf doesnt have that much of a bigger boot than the audi if you want a big boot and 5 cylinder you can have a Skoda Octavia 5 cylinder swapped its quite expensive though with 20 grand
Are you suggesting that Audi, which is owned by VW, would refuse to give 5 cylinder engine to VW? This doesn’t make any sense.
There’s a lot more parity between Audi and the VW brand than you think, so yes, this is entirely possible. Considering its placement in the market, any force used to get the 2.5l 5 pot into the Golf, or any other Audi tech into VW or other lower segment brands would be foolhardy, and cause self inflicted injuries.
It’s sad…
So sad…
It’s a sad, sad situation…
Well while its sad, you can see why Audi did it, a 5 Cylinder Golf R would eat away at S3 sales, almost completely, why would you want an S3 if you could get a Golf R which will sound better and be faster for cheaper
Brand image
Car companies don’t learn from history.
Here is solid proof that VW Group have some infighting going on, very much in the same vain as General Motors circa the mid 2000s.
Given the absolute shocking state of the economy right now, I wonder which brand VW will kill off first - my money is on Skoda and/or Cupra.
Skoda ? Have you ever been to central Europe ? They are everywhere, sell better than oven-fresh bread. Basically all of eastern Europe and the lower class of western Europe is driving Skoda’s, it would make no sense to kill Skoda. Cupra, yes, maybe even get rid of seat. But Skoda is an important part of VW’s lineup
Audi also has a history of rejecting VW powerplants, because they didn’t meet expectations for either reliability, performance or fuel economy. The W8, and V10TDi never featured in Audi products, with Audi favouring their own V8 and V10 FSi and the V8 and V12 TDi. Well, the V10 FSi is Lamborghini’s, but Lambo is under the Audi brand, not directly under VW. Similarly, their use of the V10 did nothing to cannibalise Gallardo Sales.
Audi be like ‘bUt ThIs PoWeRtRaIn iS oUr IdEnTiTy’ but they only have it in the RS3’s and RSQ3’s, with the TTRS to be discontinued, despite their niche-filling range being umpteen-million cars strong. If you actually cared about it that much you’d put it in something else other than an entry-level crossover.
It is time to stop advertising cars that doesn’t exist for vw.