Rendered Speculation: Volkswagen R20T details emerge ahead of Geneva
Volkswagen's top-flight Rabbit/Golf, the R32 has always had its fair share of diehard advocates, but the high-power hatch has largely failed to crack the stranglehold that Mitsubishi's Evo and Subaru's WRX STI have on the affordable all-wheel drive performance segment. That may be about to change.Internally dubbed "R-Series Turbo,' the folks at AutoExpress are now suggesting that VW's pending performance model will be called R20 or R20T, alphanumeric nomenclatures that would appear to give away the hot hatch's engine displacement.
Prevailing rumors indicate that a version of the company's 2.0-liter turbo will replace the current R32's 3.2-liter V6. Despite the fall in displacement, the new drivetrain is tipped to make around 270 brake horsepower – more than 20 ponies above the current car, all while resulting in a lighter package to boot. AE suggests that the same engine (which will also find its way into a like-monikered version of the Scirocco) should be good for a 0-60 miles-per-hour time in around five seconds dead, and an artificially limited top end of 155 miles-per-hour. The UK publication further expects the car to be available with the buyer's choice of a six-speed manual or a DSG dual-clutch gearbox,.
The big question will be if the R20T puts down its power through just the front wheels, or all four. The current R32 makes good use of its all-wheel drive setup, but the entire range of Rabbits/Golfs have been chided for their hefty curb weight, and the highly-contented R32 has been no different. Dropping the AWD mechanicals would save weight, cost, and complexity, but also harm driveability and comparisons to the aformentioned Japanese competition.
Aesthetic upgrades look to be similar to the current R32, meaning a set of larger wheels and tires, an aero kit with flared arches, a rortier exhaust, and quite possibly some LED running lights cribbed from Audi's design sheet.
Will the R20T come to the States? We hope to learn more at next month's Geneva Motor Show, so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out the uncropped renderings at the link below as well as the high-res gallery of the current R32 below. Thanks for the tip, Richard!
Gallery: Review: 2008 VW R32
[Source: AutoExpress]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
alfaBAT9 3:03PM (2/09/2009)
Those rims are from the V10 R8 aren't they?
Reply
zamafir 3:11PM (2/09/2009)
Yup, they won't be making production (this is a pchop/rendering after all), nor will any other >$500 OEM wheel.
thomas 4:21PM (2/09/2009)
HEH first thing i noticed too. "AUDI RIMS with a VW behind them"
ugg.tryptophan 4:48PM (2/10/2009)
yes, and on this car they are a no-no
Walter Tymczyna 3:03PM (2/09/2009)
I drive an 08 R32 and I love it.
Reply
James 3:06PM (2/09/2009)
Will the R20T come to the States?
Build it!
Send it!
Sell it!
Reply
Quattroporte 3:30PM (2/09/2009)
"Will the R20T come to the States?"
Didn't you hear? In the minds of VAG, Americans aren't ready for such a car. It's odd, they initially give us the Phaeton (which I admittedly do like), but they withhold the Scirocco and other fun small cars.
zamafir 3:55PM (2/09/2009)
Odd logic given the R32 was sold here. We're not getting the Scirocco yet because it would murder GTI sales. The R20T will come in limited numbers like the R32.
Farris 3:08PM (2/09/2009)
If they were to build it well enough and strong enough, couldn't they enter it in WRC alongside the STi and Evo?
I mean, it matches some of the specs, right?
2 liter
4 cylinder
Turbo
AWD
Reply
naggs 3:34PM (2/09/2009)
both subaru and mitsu pulled out of WRC
... so it would be out there against the french crap and skoda!
Farris 3:40PM (2/09/2009)
I completely forgot about that! So... they could theoretically say "The only vehicle for sale in the States that is a homologation special," right?
sjd 4:28PM (2/09/2009)
Ummm...Skoda and Mitsu havn't been in the WRC for sometime and the "french crap" is the winning Citroen team. Ford is the other team still in it.
zamafir 3:10PM (2/09/2009)
"The big question will be if the R20T puts down its power through just the front wheels, or all four. The current R32 makes good use of its all-wheel drive setup, but the entire range of Rabbits/Golfs have been chided for their hefty curb weight, and the highly-contented R32 has been no different. Dropping the AWD mechanicals would save weight, cost, and complexity, but also harm driveability and comparisons to the aformentioned Japanese competition."
It's not a question at all. Go talk to the engineers involved, it's 4motion. The R20T will be a few hundred pounds lighter than the R32, due in large part to the weight savings moving to the 2.0T from the 3.2L, allowing the car to retain it's awd while cutting the pounds.
Reply
RG 3:11PM (2/09/2009)
They think 270-hp is gonna cut it against the EVO and STi?
Newsflash for VW, the "base" WRX now has 265 hp and AWD.
If VW wants to make an impact in the Evo and Sti end of the pool, its horsepower rating is going to have to start with the number '3.'
Even then it has to be competitive price and weight-wise.
Reply
MikeW 5:59PM (2/09/2009)
The GTi holds its own.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sports/112_0903_sport_compact_car_comparison/2009_volkswagen_gti.html
But, a GTI-R with Haldex and more power should do the 1/4 in about 1 less second, finishing 5mph faster.
black 8:53PM (2/09/2009)
Have you seen the prices of STI and EVO lately? The STI starts at $34,995 and the EVO at $32,990. ( Add ~$5000 if you want the dual clutch). Assuming that VW doesn't raise prices, they would actually be at an advantage.
Also while you clamor about how 270 isn't enough, don't forget the EVO only has 291 hp. I still think VW should up the ante on the 2.0T however.
nagmashot 12:18AM (2/10/2009)
VW isn´t fighting Evo or WRX... the R20 will be sold mainly in Europe and here both the WRX STI and Evo are extrem expansive toys the reason why no one buy them...
EVO X cost 46,000Euro ($60,000)
WRX STI cost 44,000Euro ($57,000)
VW R32 cost 36,000Euro ($46,700)
Audi S3 cost 36,950Euro ($48,000)
the R20T will be most likely the S3 engine suspension gearbox in the new Golf chassie ...sold for a lower price. The R20T will be most likely over $10,000 cheaper in Europe than the WRX STI... VW don´t need to care about Mitsubishi or Subaru...
iltoyli 3:24PM (2/09/2009)
Okay... per Auto Express... the 2 door hatch would run 25K British Pounds... or $37K USD... that's a lot of dough for a 2 door hatch! Though I'm sure the ride is great, and handles amazing... that's just too much for a 2 door Econo Box.
Reply
Craig 3:28PM (2/09/2009)
The exchange never goes that simple. Price an Evo x, WRX, Corvette, BMW whatever in GB and its always more expensive.
Ian 3:31PM (2/09/2009)
You can't do a straight conversion. Cars cost more in Europe than they do here. They said the same thing about the R32 costing $40K when straight converted but it was more like $32K. This car will sell for $28K FWD or $30K AWD.