Officially launched, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) presents the long-awaited, 2024 Volkswagen Golf R.

Codenamed MK8, the eighth-generation performance-oriented hot hatch underpins Volkswagen’s MQB modular platform.

The latest iteration is now locally-assembled (CKD - Pahang), and the single variant (Golf R 2.0TSI) available is priced (OTR, w/o insurance) at MYR 317,434 (two years, unlimited-mileage warranty, five years roadside assistance).

Optional (MYR 334,012) is the Volkswagen Assurance Package (VAP - five years, unlimited-mileage warranty, five years/75,000 KM maintenance package, five years roadside assistance).

Three exterior colours (Pure White, Lapiz Blue, Deep Black).

Tipping the scale at 1,554 KG, the new Golf R is 4,290 MM long, 1,789 MM wide, 1,458 MM tall, and has a wheelbase spanning 2,630 MM.

A prowling-esque silhouette, its exterior radiates an angularly-solid and planted stance, outfitted with the R Performance Package.

The front-end sees a sculpted-bonnet, chiselled fenders, and an R-design bumper (upper grille - ‘R’ Blue line/LED light strip, corner/centre lower intakes).

Accentuating the layout are R-design side skirts (body-colour), Dark Chrome emblems (VW, R), High-Gloss Black trims (grille, intakes) and Matte-Aluminium side mirrors.

Angularly-contoured, it further exudes a sportily-broad stance with sharply-cut and robust proportions, outfitted with the R Performance Package.

The rear-end sees a mildly-dipped roofline, an R-design two-piece spoiler, muscular fenders and an R-design bumper (Akrapovic - Titanium quad-exhausts).

Accentuating the layout are R-design side skirts (body-colour), Dark Chrome emblems (VW, R), and High-Gloss Black trims (spoiler, diffuser, shark fin antenna).

Sharp and narrow, the fiercely-framed headlamps come with an LED light strip (upper grille). Installed are full LED units (IQ.Light - HD LED Matrix).

Features are LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), automatic On/Off, Dynamic Light Assist (automatic high-beam), Active Cornering Lights, all-weather/coming/leaving home lights and dynamic turn signals.

Angular, the dark-tinted wraparound tail lamps are boxy and narrowly-framed, with three-section dotted light graphics.

Installed are full LED units, paired to a set of fog lamps. Features are exit/entry lights and dynamic turn signals.

The side mirrors (Matte-Aluminium-capped) are electronic-powered (auto-fold, adjust), with dynamic turn signals, blind-spot indicators (Blind Spot Monitor - BSM), memory/heating functions, and an ‘R’ logo ground projection (passenger).

Mounted is a setup of ventilated/cross drilled (front) and ventilated (rear) disc brakes, featuring R-design callipers (Blue).

Drive is aided by an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Sportily-designed, fitted is a set of 19-Inch R-design ‘Estoril’ (five-twin-spoke) two-tone (Black-Diamond-cut) alloy rims, rubbered-up in 235/35 R19 (front, rear) Bridgestone Potenza S005 tyres.

The new Golf R has an angularly-tiered dashboard design (Volkswagen Digital Cockpit), linked to an angularly-high-slanted centre console. 

Courtesy of the R-design styling, it sees soft-touch panels in a Black colour scheme with Carbon Grey trims (centre dash section, centre door panels).

Centre-staged are the screens (instrument cluster, infotainment), and accentuations are in Dark Anodized Aluminium bezels (dash, centre console, steering wheel).

Filling-in the layout are R-design pedals (accelerator, brake) in Brushed Stainless Steel, and an ambient lighting (30 colours, 5 themes) system.

A Volkswagen Digital Cockpit Pro, installed is a 10-Inch high-resolution TFT instrument cluster display screen with a Heads-Up Display (HUD). 

The system (R-design) supports customisable displays, menus and information.

An R-design interior, it sees Nappa leather upholstery in a two-tone (Black, Blue-accents) colour scheme with ‘R’ logo embroideries (front seat backrest).

The front gets electric-powered (driver - multi-way/lumbar/memory, passenger - multi-way backrest) R-design sports seats with active climate function.

The rear gets a bench seat (60:40 split-fold, load-through) with heating (outboards). Included are armrests (front - centre console, rear - centre seat fold-out).

Heightening the layout is an R-design headliner (Black), a panoramic glass sunroof (electric - tilt/slide), and LED footwell illumination (front - passenger, driver).

A four-door hatchback (five-seater cabin), it offers ample interior mobility courtesy of its borderline wide body. Sufficient head-, shoulder and leg-room.

Mounted is an R-design sports steering wheel (three-spoke-flat-bottom), wrapped in perforated leather (Black, Blue - stitching, lower-spoke trim, ‘R’ backlit logo).

Features are multi-switches (haptic-touch - media, drive modes, vehicle telematics), R-design paddle shifters, heating, memory, and column adjustments (tilt, telescopic). 

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Numerous storage areas. E.g., side door/back seat/armrest pockets, centre console partitioned/caverned spaces, and a decent-sized glove box.

Provided are four cup holders (two - front, rear) and four bottle holders (one - side door pockets).

Several charging outlets. E.g., four USB ports (two - front, rear), two 12 V power sockets (front, boot), and a wireless charger (front).

Accessing its button-operated (key fob/remote) tailgate, opens up to 381-Litres of load capacity.

The new Golf R features the IQ.Drive suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped are Travel Assist (TA), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop/Go, Active Side Assist (SA - Blind Spot Monitor - BSM), Rear Crossing Traffic Alert (RCTA), Front Assist (FA - Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring), Emergency Assist (EA), Lane Assist (LA - Lane Keeping System), Rest Assist (driver alert system), Proactive Passenger Protection System, and Automatic Post-Collision Braking System. 

Others include, Park Distance Control, Park Assist (Parking Steering Assistant), Dynamic Road Sign Display, Light Assist (high beam control), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), Traction Control (ASR), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Hill-Start Assist (HSA) and Tyre pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver-passenger, front side, front-rear curtain), seat belt (anchors, pretensioners, reminders), ISOFIX (front, rear), parking sensors (four - front, rear), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), door ajar warning, auto-speed-sensing door locks, anti-theft alarm system (interior monitoring, backup horn, towing protection), and electronic engine immobiliser.

Six selectable drive modes (Comfort, Sport, Race, Drift, Special, Custom).

Fitted is a seven-speed DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox - dual-clutch) automatic transmission with Tiptronic.

Power is transmitted to all four wheels (AWD), via Volkswagen’s 4MOTION All-Wheel Drive system.

Incorporated is an engine Start/Stop system with regenerative braking and Performance Torque Vectoring (rear-axle).

Acceleration from 0 to 100 KM/H is done in 4.8 seconds, and the top speed is 250 KM/H.

Fuel tank capacity is at 50-Litres, and the fuel consumption is rated at 7.8 L/100 KM.

Installed is a three-zone automatic climate control system, featuring automatic air recirculation and allergy filter (no rear air-vents).

Propping-up the chassis is a suspension setup of MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear) with anti-roll bar.

Incorporated is the Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) adaptive damping system. Overall, the ride quality is very driver-oriented with agile steering.

Good sound insulation, with all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects of the build accounted for. 

The cabin is able to suppress engine, wind, road and tyre noises well, making them barely noticeable at all speeds.