Report: VW Golf R Set To Gain 5-cyl Heart

Pekan-built 2025 VW Golf R CKD pictured. It seems VW wants to up the ante with a 5-cyl swap for this super-hatch.

According to a recent report by Autocar UK, it appears Volkswagen is set to develop a special new version of its Golf R super-hatch. This special is also reportedly set to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Golf model’s R badge too.

Critically, the report alludes that this special will ditch its signature ‘EA888’ 2.0-litre 4-cyl TSI turbo heart in favour of the larger and peppier ‘EA855’ 2.5-litre 5-cyl TSI turbo petrol mill – the very same heart that powers the Golf R’s Audi RS3 ‘cousin’, in fact.

Arriving sometime in 2027, this special version of the Golf R will also stand as a swansong for the combustion (ICE)-powered Golf hatch as it transitions into an all-electric successor then. Surely, this also promises to be the quickest hot Golf yet.

EA888 2.0-litre 4-cyl TSI turbo petrol in the Pekan-made Golf R currently puts out 316 HP and 400 NM.

That’s because the 5-cyl mill proposed for this swap boasts headlining figures of 394 HP and 480 NM. In contrast, the European market version of the current eighth-gen (Mk 8) Golf R produces just 328 HP and 400 NM.

We’ll also point out that in the RS3, which also packs all-wheel-drive (AWD), it despatches 0-100 KM/H sprints in just 3.8 secs. To date, the closest any ‘hot’ Golf has comes to that is the limited-run R 333 special that boasts 401 HP and 500 NM – it does 0-100 KM/H in 4.6 secs.

Nevertheless, the final output from this five-banger in the proposed new special Golf R model could still be raised further, with the UK title’s report citing VW insiders mildly hinting that outputs can be boosted past the Golf R 333 mentioned.

Expect this proposed hotter Golf R with the swapped 5-cyl to receive tweaked styling, revised suspension, uprated brakes, as well as a titanium sports exhaust system too, amongst many.

Of course, to house this new mill, VW will have to perform suspension tweaks to support its added masses – up to 2.0 degrees of negative front camber with uprated top mounts plus beefed-up knuckles and added chassis bracing were touted.

VW is also expected to reduce weight through adoption of forged aluminium wheels and lighter bucket seats. Expected too are bigger – beefier – brakes, recalibrated 7-speed DCT box with revised ratios plus added launch control, as well as a torque-vectoring rear diff.

Lastly, this run-out special Golf R will also feature several visual enhancements. Expect redesigned and more aggressive front bumper and bonnet combo with enhanced intakes in the former and newly added ones in the latter for improved engine cooling.

Critically, this proposed new special variant will stand as a 'swansong' for the ICE-powered Golf hatch before it transitions to an all-electric successor.

Other changed expected here include a more aggressive roof-mounted rear spoiler and rear diffuser combo. Lastly, we can also expect a titanium sports exhaust system with active flaps added.

Ahead of its 2027 market entry, VW is also expected to reveal this special earlier towards the end of next year (2026). No indications if this will be a limited-run special too, but all signs seem to strongly point in that direction too.