Volkswagen Mk6 Golf R

It looks like Golf Mk6 hottest version - slated to boot out the Mk5 Golf R32 - has swapped the latter’s 3.2-liter V6 (250hp) for VW Scirocco R's 2.0-liter (EA113) direct injection-turbocharged 4-pot. Beefed up and boosted to pump out 270hp and 320Nm worth of torque, and rightfully (but more costly) powering all four wheels via an all-wheel drive system nicked from the new Audis S3.

A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, while the 6-speed twin-clutch DSG transmission will be optional. 0 to 100km/h sprint is dispatched in 5.7 seconds for the stick shift, while the DSG ‘box will further shave sprint timings down to 5.5 seconds! To put things in perspective, that’s even quicker than the latest Porsche Cayman 2.9 with PDK (5.8 seconds). Top speed however, is electronically limited to 250 km/h for both versions. In contrast, the ‘regular’ Mk6 Golf GTI (EA888 with 209hp) with a DSG gearbox zips to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds and Vmax at 239 km/h.

The wicked Mk6 Golf R will be available as both three and five door hatchbacks. It is expected to go on sale in Europe by the end of this year, while its U.S. market debut is projected by early 2010. No news from Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM) on this most exciting Golf version to come in Mk6 form but a probable guesstimate will be H2 2010? On a related note, the Mk 6 GTI is due to be officially unveiled and sold in Malaysia at RM209k (one thousand ringgit per hp?) by Nov/Dec 2009.