New VW Golf R Mk 8.5 Teased Ahead of Mid-2024 Debut

Volkswagen has officially published the first few images of the upcoming Golf R Mk 8.5

Volkswagen has recently updated the eighth-gen Golf model, featuring a slightly tweaked design and the return of the beloved physical control buttons in the cabin. While both the standard and GTI variants were shown last week, the German marque deliberately left out the top-spec R model, as they were revealed for the first time ahead of their mid-2024 debut.

Facelifted Golf R teased with a blue camouflage wrap ahead of its debut in mid-2024

Covered in a distinctive blue camouflage wrap, the covered-up Golf R Mk 8.5 is shown to feature a new headlight unit plus a slightly tweaked front bumper design with a centrally mounted radar sensor that was absent on its pre-facelift twin. Besides that, nothing much can be derived from this camo-wrapped hot hatch, but keen eyes will notice that it rides on the same black-hued 19-inch Estoril wheels used on the current model.

Facelifted Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk 8.5

Volkswagen has remained tight-lipped regarding the upgrade bestowed on the facelifted Golf R. With the Golf GTI Mk 8.5’s 2.0-litre 4-cyl TGDI engine getting a power boost to now output 261 HP, we can expect the R model to get a similar power upgrade to its current 315 HP output.

Limited-edition VW Golf R 333 launched in Europe last year

Mind you, Volkswagen has previously released a limited-edition Golf R 333 in the European market, where this special model gets a power boost to now deliver 328 HP or 333 PS, as its moniker suggests.

Pre-facelift VW Golf R Mk 8

Aside from the peppier powertrain setup, we can also expect the updated Golf R to drop its stick-shift option, with its FWD twin now coming exclusively with the DSG automatic option from 2024 onwards. This comes as no surprise, as the Golf R has been offered only with the DSG in the European market, with the stick-shift option only offered in selected markets like North America.

As revealed by Volkswagen R boss Reinhold Ivenz, the updated Volkswagen Golf R Mk 8.5 is slated to make its global debut later this summer, where this could be the true final ICE-powered Golf to grace the automotive world.