Charles Langston:2025 VW Golf R first look: The world's fastest Volkswagen?

A person can Charles Langstonhave a lot of fun answering the prompt of: "What is the world's fastest Volkswagen?" You can be clever and argue it's the brand-new Bugatti Tourbillon V-16 hypercar, or the Porsche 911, or many other high-performance models from the brands under the Volkswagen Group umbrella — but Volkswagen is one of those brands, too, and there's an updated 2025 Volkswagen Golf R that promises to be the new fastest car it'll sell (well, in a tie). Here's what to expect from the updated hot hatchback coming stateside early next year.

The 2025 Volkswagen Golf R gains power

The updated Golf improves on the outgoing model year with 13 more horsepower, for a new total of 328 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque through all four wheels, making it the most powerful VW Golf ever. Power comes from a retuned 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine. Claimed 0-60 mph time has improved to 4.6 seconds for the hatch. With the available Performance Pack, the 2025 Golf R can hit a top speed of 167 mph, which matches the available top speed of the European Arteon R Shooting Brake model, which now both share the title of "World's Fastest Volkswagen." Optional wheels include the so-called 19-inch Warmenau forged alloys, which are named after the town of Warmenau on the outskirts of Wolfsburg, Germany, where the vehicle was developed; they reduce wheel weight by 20 percent.

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2025 VW Golf R design updates

The new Golf R trim features the same upgrades as the recently-updated standard 2024 Golf model, including IQ.Light LED matrix headlights and taillights, illuminated VW badges, new front air curtains and bumper design, a matte chrome exterior mirror finish, standard 18-inch Jerez-style wheels, as well as a quad-exhaust setup. Inside, there's the new big 12.9-inch touchscreen with an available HUD as well, and updated Digital Cockpit Pro track analysis feature including a new G-meter and lap timer (Digital Cockpit Pro is only with the Performance Pack). Additionally, the Golf R hatchback can be ordered with "a richer sounding R Performance Akrapovič titanium exhaust system" as an upgrade; both available exhausts have controllable flaps for some nuance.

2025 VW Golf R Black Edition is confirmed

The so-called "Black Edition" of the 2025 Golf R will get a black-painted version of the otherwise available 19-inch Estoril wheel design wearing 235/35 tires, with black brake calipers behind that, black exhaust tips and darkened Volkswagen badges and R logos. A VW spokesperson confirmed to MotorTrend that it would come stateside for the 2025 model year as an option.

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What to expect for the U.S. 2025 Golf R Hatchback

In Germany, a Performance Pack is available as an upgrade, so we expect the same packaging on the updated 2025 model in the U.S. It should be noted that 2024 was said to be the last year that a manual transmission would be available for the Golf R in the U.S., so we only expect a return of the seven-speed automatic dual-clutch DSG transmission. All new models in Europe, and all current U.S. models, are equipped with DCC adaptive chassis damping control standard, so we expect it for the 2025 model year in the U.S. again. The Golf R suspension should be about 0.8 inch lower than the standard Golf, and the expected available Performance Package should get a bigger rear roof spoiler. The Performance Pack likely will not include the improvement in top speed stateside, sadly.

The 2025 VW Golf R Wagon the U.S. doesn't get

The so-called "Variant" wagon version of the new Golf R gets the same power boost and total output as the hatch, but its 0-60 mph time is slightly slower at 4.8 seconds. It's also available with the Performance Pack in Europe. The Golf R Variant also gets distinct silver-anodised roof rails; all Golf R models will get "R" hubcap centers for the first time. It won't be available in America.

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