Is Volkswagen About To Make The Golf R Go Way Harder?

After nearly 50 years of service in everything from Audi Quattros to the TT RS, Audi's inline-five engine may bow out in the most fitting way possible: powering one of the last great hot hatches of the gasoline era. According to a report from Autocar, the 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five from the Audi RS3 will power a special edition Golf R scheduled to debut in 2027—the 25th anniversary of VW’s R performance sub-brand.

Rumors of a five-cylinder Golf R have circulated for years, but Ingolstadt reportedly nixed the idea every time. But that same engine was already given to the Cupra Formentor VZ5—breaking the taboo of sharing Audi's exotic turbo powertrain between VW Group brands— where it delivers nearly 400 horsepower.

Insiders are suggesting the I5 will show up in a similar state of tune for VW’s range-topping hatchback. Engineers have hinted that the engine still has more to give, though the gearbox might not really tolerate much more power and remain reliable. Notably, the Mk5 and Mk6 Golf have already used a naturally aspirated version of the EA855 engine in North America, but have been subsequently replaced by the newer-gen four-cylinder EA888.

Spy photos of a more aggressive-looking Golf R, along with Nürburgring test runs by an RS3 prototype, have fueled speculation and all but confirmed the development work is well underway.

Despite the bigger powertrain, the report claims weight gain will be just 55 pounds—almost exclusively ladled over the nose. Along with the extra cylinder, the car is rumored to gain upgraded brakes, a reinforced chassis, and possibly the torque-vectoring rear differential from the RS3 to sharpen handling and reduce the effects of terminal understeer.

If true, the result would be the most powerful Golf ever built from the factory, pushing output to 400 hp or close enough, and paired exclusively with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox— the manual option is already dead and gone, stop dreaming.

Pricing could make it a rare bird. The Golf R333 — powered by the familiar 2.0-liter EA888 — started at over €76,000 in Germany, and a limited-run five-cylinder version probably isn't going to be any more affordable. Will U.S. buyers prefer the hatchback body style over the RS3's sedan silhouette? If it does stray into the U.S. market, expect it to soundly eclipse the 'regular' Golf R's $48,000 MSRP.

With the Mk9 Golf confirmed as a purely electric model, this five-cylinder Golf R could be part of the final sendoff for both the nameplate and VW Group’s legendary inline-five. Of course, Audi has committed to keeping the EA855 engine alive as long as possible amid suggestions that Europe's emission regulations would kill it off—but then again, the regulatory framework around Europe's emission laws may be on the brink of changing.

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