Jazz
7th April 2009, 15:29
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/upload/18964/images/VWGolfR20Tspyphotos2.jpg
Looks like the battle of the super-hatches will be heating up with some new arrivals. From Germany we have firstly the new Golf R20, successor to the much-loved R32. As you can tell by the name, it will use a tuned 2.0 Turbo instead of the heavy 3.2 V6.
Some details from Evo UK: "A new top of the range, high-performance Volkswagen Golf Mk6 has been spotted at the Nurburgring. The R20 (neatly disguised by sedate TDI badging) is a replacement for the R32 of the Mk4 and 5 generation, which utilised a 3.2-litre engine. In the new car the 3.2-litre has been replaced by a 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing about 270bhp.
The new engine is the same one used in the Audi S3 so we can assume that 0-60mph will come in just under six seconds as it does in the Audi, although with an RS3 in the pipeline, the R20 may not be the VW group’s hottest hatch for long.
With the R20 being a more powerful, tuned version of the GTI, you’d expect that the tuned version of the Focus ST, the RS, would be a natural rival. The high-performance Ford Focus RS trumps the R20 for power with 300bhp and a top speed of 163mph. The front-driven RS makes it to 60mph in 5.9 seconds, which, at an educated guess, could be slower than the all-wheel-drive Golf and its superior off the line traction. The R20 has a tough run to compete with the RS’s reputation for performance and handling but on paper at least, it seems to be keeping up."
Also from the German corner we will be seeing an even more powerful contender, the Audi RS3.
http://www.carblog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/audi-rs3-rendering.jpg
Details courtesy of Autoexpress: "Power comes from the same 2.5-litre, five-cylinder turbo unit as in the TT-RS, delivers a staggering 335bhp and 450Nm of torque to all four tyres via the firm’s quattro 4WD transmission.
It would enable the Audi to complete the 0-62mph sprint in around five seconds and hit a top speed of 155mph – automatically cementing its place as one of the fastest cars in its class. However, so that it doesn’t tread on the toes of the TT-RS, the RS3's power could be limited to around 300bhp."
Both have been spotted being tested at the Nurburgring, although as yet no official release dates have been established.
Will be interesting to see these go up against the upcoming Renaultsport Megane and much-acclaimed Focus RS.
The super-hatch power war rages on...
Looks like the battle of the super-hatches will be heating up with some new arrivals. From Germany we have firstly the new Golf R20, successor to the much-loved R32. As you can tell by the name, it will use a tuned 2.0 Turbo instead of the heavy 3.2 V6.
Some details from Evo UK: "A new top of the range, high-performance Volkswagen Golf Mk6 has been spotted at the Nurburgring. The R20 (neatly disguised by sedate TDI badging) is a replacement for the R32 of the Mk4 and 5 generation, which utilised a 3.2-litre engine. In the new car the 3.2-litre has been replaced by a 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing about 270bhp.
The new engine is the same one used in the Audi S3 so we can assume that 0-60mph will come in just under six seconds as it does in the Audi, although with an RS3 in the pipeline, the R20 may not be the VW group’s hottest hatch for long.
With the R20 being a more powerful, tuned version of the GTI, you’d expect that the tuned version of the Focus ST, the RS, would be a natural rival. The high-performance Ford Focus RS trumps the R20 for power with 300bhp and a top speed of 163mph. The front-driven RS makes it to 60mph in 5.9 seconds, which, at an educated guess, could be slower than the all-wheel-drive Golf and its superior off the line traction. The R20 has a tough run to compete with the RS’s reputation for performance and handling but on paper at least, it seems to be keeping up."
Also from the German corner we will be seeing an even more powerful contender, the Audi RS3.
http://www.carblog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/audi-rs3-rendering.jpg
Details courtesy of Autoexpress: "Power comes from the same 2.5-litre, five-cylinder turbo unit as in the TT-RS, delivers a staggering 335bhp and 450Nm of torque to all four tyres via the firm’s quattro 4WD transmission.
It would enable the Audi to complete the 0-62mph sprint in around five seconds and hit a top speed of 155mph – automatically cementing its place as one of the fastest cars in its class. However, so that it doesn’t tread on the toes of the TT-RS, the RS3's power could be limited to around 300bhp."
Both have been spotted being tested at the Nurburgring, although as yet no official release dates have been established.
Will be interesting to see these go up against the upcoming Renaultsport Megane and much-acclaimed Focus RS.
The super-hatch power war rages on...