Power Packed VW Golf R32 Arrives Down Under From $55k

By Motoring Channel Staff - 26/July/2006

Melbourne, Australia - Launched last week in Australia, the new Golf R32 wedges a powerful direct-injection (FSI) 3.2-litre V6 engine into the small engine bay of the Volkswagen Golf to provide a vehicle that is sure to whet the appetites of enthusiasts. The new car from Volkswagen is also competitively priced with the range starting at $54,990 for the 3-door, 6-speed manual model, which is a good $10,000 cheaper than the Mk. IV version which first saw the light of day in Germany in late 2002.

As the Subaru WRX STI is to the standard WRX, the same can be said for the Golf R32, which is the performance superior to the highly acclaimed Golf GTI. The new V6-powered vehicle is expected to entice buyers away from the Mitsubishi Evolution IX and Subaru WRX STI who want a 4WD high performance car but without forgoing the luxury appointments that make everyday driving a much less torrid affair.

It's not as quick as the current Evolution IX or MY06 WRX STI, taking 6.2 seconds to reach 100km/h from standstill, but the Golf R32 makes up for the 0.4 second deficit by offering drivers a much more opulent interior than the Japanese speed machines, featuring what Volkswagen calls "Engine Spin" trim. This theme includes liberal use of the 'R' logo that precedes the R32's name, emblazoned across the leather interior, comprising leather sports seats, gearstick and the perforated leathersports steering wheel for an improved high level of tactility.

For the true performance car connoisseur, there's even the cost option of adding newly designed sports bucket seats - even deeper and more supportive than the standard seats - which have been specially developed by Volkswagen in collaboration with Recaro, who are known as one of the best sports seat makers in the world.

Volkswagen explains that the cockpit pays tribute to the powerful temperament of the 184kW Golf with a graphic adapted for the speedometer that goes up to 300km/h, yet the car is limited to a 250km/h top speed.

Unlike the Mitsubishi Evolution IX and Subaru WRX STI performance vehicles, the Golf R32's standard features list reads like a high class luxury car, including things like bi-xenon headlights, the climatronic automatic air-conditioning system, automatic dimming rear-view mirror with integrated rain sensor, an anti-theft alarm system with interior monitoring and tow-away protection plus a brain meltingRCD 500 Plus radio system with 10 speakers.

Smaller touches like the blue tinted (and heat-insulated) glass windows help to reduce the heat build up in the interior during sunny weather and seeing as this is a German vehicle, safety plays an important role also. Together with the front and side airbags, Volkswagen's powerful new Golf R32 has a head airbag system for the front and rear passengers, and driving aids such as ESP and ABS significantly bolster its safety credentials and give it a much more impressive standard features list than its Japanese rivals.

As mentioned, Australian pricing for the Golf R32 begins at $54,990 for the 3-door 6-speed manual model, and 5-door manual model asks $56,490. For the slightly quicker double-clutch DSG (direct shift gearbox), add $2,300, though as Volkswagen informed us only the DSG models are available in dealerships at present, and Australian deliveries of the cost effective 6-speed manual models will follow shortly.

Talking performance figures, the Golf R32 may not be as quick as the Evo and STI models, but then it doesn't rely on turbocharging, instead it increases engine capacity and cylinder count from the turbo 2.0-litre 4-cylinder layouts of the Asian models to a naturally aspirated 3.2-litre V6.

Volkswagen's relatively new 3.2-litre V6 does the pushing/pulling, which is also used in some Audi models, and this grande Golf makes 184kW of power @ 6300rpm and 320Nm of torque @ 2500rpm; the last figure is slightly lower than the previous engine's torque peak @ 2800rpm, while peak power arrives 50rpm higher in the rev range.

This 184kW of power, which translates to a clean 250 horsepower, gives the 4WD Golf rapid acceleration, able to go from 0-100km/h in just 6.2 seconds with the DSG, and 6.5 seconds with the 6-speed manual gearbox.The 24 -valve, 6-cylinder engine displaces 3,189 cubic centimetres (cc) and while peak torque begins at 2500rpm, it is sustained until 3000rpm, giving the car a voluminous powerband. Volkswagen will offer the high technology DSG as a $2,300 option, which can cover the 1,000 metre dash in 26.7 seconds from standstill.

Volkswagen explains that 6-cylinder engine has a narrow vee angle of 15 degrees between the cylinder banks and that each of the four overhead camshafts - two per cylinder bank - use continuous timing adjustment, with the adjustment angle being 52 degrees on the inlet side and 22 degrees on the outlet side.

The car's power is transmitted to all four wheels by way of Volkswagen's 4MOTION all-wheel drive system, which negates traction problems in the wet and the company insists that there is no hint of torque steer that can often hamper front-wheel drive hot hatches. Volkswagen says that, technically speaking, the most important 4MOTION element is the latest generation of the wet (oil bath) plate clutch, because compared with a purely mechanical Torsen differential, the Haldex coupling has the decisive advantage that it can be controlled electronically. Some drivers prefer the purely mechanical Torsen setup seen in vehicles like the Audi S4, the Editor being one of them, while others are keen on electronically controlled systems like the one employed on the newGolf R32.

One of the benefits of the electronic diff is that it can work more harmoniously with the electronic driving aids, like the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), the Traction Control System (TCS), the Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) and the Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP), all of which are standard with the Golf R32.

While the R32 is a much more luxurious vehicle to ride in than the WRX STI and Evo IX, it's more likely rivals include models from German and Italian brands BMW and Alfa Romeo, both of which also power their performance hatches with 6-cylinder engines rather than the turbocharged 4-cylinder engines. The table below shows the three luxury hot hatch contenders as quite different vehicles, covering AWD, FWD and RWD configurations.

Comparing the data, the new R32 Golf is just as fit as it's luxury rivals, and the Alfa Romeo is almost identical in most respects, though its front-wheel drive layout means it probably wouldn't keep up with the Golf R32 on damp or wet roads. The BMW's engine, meanwhile, is smaller than both the Alfa and VW's by some 200cc, yet it revs a lot higher, allowing for the highest power output of the lot, but most interesting of all is the pricing: Volkswagen's R32 is a good $5,000 less than the 147 GTA and an even better $8,000 cheaper than the high revving BMW.

Volkswagen's eye-catching R32 is speed limited to 250km/h and its chassis has been upgraded to cope with the boost in torque and power over the 2.0-litre turbo Golf GTI model. In addition to larger 225/40 tyres (bearing the Y-pattern tread for high-speeds, up to 300km/h) that help to provide high levels of grip for the small hatch, the suspension has been tweaked to provide for better cornering response, and has been lowered by 20mm.

Further adding to the car's AWD stability, larger disc brakes have been added, which should please those who plan on getting one of these German AWD hatchbacks with a mind towards track use. The blue brake callipers clamp 345mm discs at the front and 310mm discs at the rear.

The car also gets a whole new look that's even more aggressive than the Golf GTI's and is definitely a lot smoother than the outgoing model, which lacked any sharp edges but had overall boxy proportions. The new model, in contrast, is a sleeker proposition and though it may lose a touch of the butch character the Mk.IV model had, it brings the design forward with style.

Looking at the R32's front end it gets a number of features unique to this particular model, including the omnipresent R32 badging and what VW calls an "aluminium-effect shield-shaped radiator grille" also known as chrome highlights.

The front apron/bumper section is an all new unit, incorporating a trio of large aim dams to feed the V6 engine and each air dam has black strakes across it, and these gaping air inlets (as well as being practical) add a sense of menace to what is usually a fairly cheery looking German small car.

Matching the lines of the front apron are newly sculpted side skirts, which again align consistently with the rear apron, giving the car a uniform look and a solid sense of continuity. Appealing multispoke 18-inch alloy wheels (called 'Zolder') fill out the wheel arches with little room to spare and at the rear lives a roof spoiler similar in design to the GTI's item. The polished stainless steel twin exhaust pipes have returned, hinting at the R32's performance potential, while a subtle black-painted diffuser-looking feature rounds off the new R32 with good taste.

Australian pricing for the Golf R32 begins at $54,990 for the 3-door 6-speed manual model, and 5-door manual model asks $56,490. For the slightly quicker double-clutch DSG (direct shift gearbox), add $2,300. The Volkswagen Golf R32 is now on the market nationally.